Flawed
Brother Andrew shares the story of Andy van der Bijl, a former commando who struggled with flawed thinking and the consequences of his choices, to illustrate the importance of seeking guidance from God's word.
Brother Andrew shares his harrowing experience as a young soldier in 1947, recounting how his bravado led to a tragic incident where he participated in the massacre of innocent villagers after a landmine explosion killed a comrade. This moment of violence haunted him, leading him into a downward spiral of guilt and reckless behavior, as he struggled to cope with the weight of his actions. Through his story, Andrew illustrates the profound impact of sin and the desperate need for redemption and forgiveness in the face of our flawed humanity.
Text
As a youth of 19 in 1947, Andy van der Bijl was a commando in the Dutch East Indies when the Dutch were fighting Indonesian 'rebels'. Andy was no half-hearted soldier either. He was the most daring of the daring. He once single-handedly captured ten armed guerillas on sheer bravado. He defiantly wore a bright yellow hat so the enemy could see him better.
"Get smart. Lose your mind!" chorused Andy and his buddies.
But one patrol soured everything.
As Andy's unit drove through a village, an explosion shattered their ranks. One of Andy's buddies was killed by a landmine buried in the road. The angry Dutch commandos condemned the entire village, reasoning the inhabitants had to know about the mine to avoid it themselves.
Andy and his buddies raked the village again and again with semi-automatic weapons. Andy only realized the depth of evil he had done when he saw the bodies of a young woman and her nursing baby - freshly killed by just one bullet. For the next two years Andy cycled from drunken lechery to daredevil killing, each vice drowning out the guilt of the other - for a while...
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Flawed Thinking
- The Cycle of Guilt and Vice
- Drowning Out Guilt with Vices
- The Consequences of Flawed Choices
Key Quotes
“Get smart. Lose your mind!” — Brother Andrew
“For the next two years Andy cycled from drunken lechery to daredevil killing, each vice drowning out the guilt of the other - for a while...” — Brother Andrew
Application Points
- We must be mindful of our actions and their consequences, and seek guidance from God's word to avoid flawed thinking.
- Flawed choices can lead to guilt and harm, but seeking forgiveness and making amends can help us overcome these consequences.
- God's guidance and forgiveness are available to us, and we can find freedom from the cycle of guilt and vice by seeking Him.