A battle within our military

By: American Decency Staff

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”   II Timothy 2:3

This verse isn’t addressing war on the battlefields with guns and bombs, but the spiritual battles we fight in daily life.  Right now warfare – spiritual warfare style – is being fought behind closed doors as those in power surreptitiously create policies against Christianity.

Note this prophetic warning written in 1990 from Christian leader Dr. James Dobson:

“Bloody battles are being fought on a thousand fronts, both inside and outside of government.  Open any daily newspaper and you’ll find accounts of the latest Gettysburg, Waterloo, Normandy, or Stalingrad. 

Instead of fighting for territory or military conquest, however, the struggle now is for the hearts and minds of the people.  It is a war over ideas.  … For now, the outcome is very much in doubt.  …” 

This war is one that significantly targets the heart and soul of the U.S. military and, congruently, each and every one of us.

On May 2, 1778 the General George Washington issued the following orders to his troops at Valley Forge: 

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion.  To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished Character of Christian.”

Until recently, our nation has a long history of recognizing the importance of faith within the military.  Yet today there is a concerted attack upon Christianity in our armed forces.

Rear Admiral William Lee recently stated at a National Day of Prayer event: 

“Leaders like myself are feeling the constraints of rules and regulations and guidance issued by lawyers that put us in a tighter and tighter box regarding our constitutional right to express our religious faith.”

There are many recent examples of the military targeting Christians, as commentator Todd Starnes reports:

 •An Army briefing labeled Evangelical Christians and Catholics as examples of religious extremism – linking them to Al Qaeda and Hamas. In another incident, an Army officer warned that the Family Research Council and American Family Association were domestic hate groups.

•A War Games scenario at Fort Leavenworth identified Christian groups and Evangelical groups as being potential threats;

 •A 2009 Dept. of Homeland Security memorandum identified future threats to national security coming from Evangelicals and pro-life groups;

 •A West Point study released by the U.S. Military Academy’s Combating Terrorism Center that linked pro-lifers to terrorism;

• Evangelical leader Franklin Graham was uninvited from the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer service because of his comments about Islam;

• Christian prayers were banned at the funeral services for veterans at Houston’s National Cemetery;

• Christian crosses and a steeple were removed from a chapel in Afghanistan because the military said the icons disrespected other religions;

•Bibles were banned at Walter Reed Army Medical Center – a decision that was later rescinded;

•Catholic chaplains were told not to read a letter to parishioners from their archbishop related to Obamacare mandates. The Secretary of the Army feared the letter could be viewed as a call for civil disobedience.

And the most recent, quoting from Worldnet Daily,

Last month, Pentagon officials met with an activist committed to removing Christianity from the U.S. military.

Michael “Mikey” Weinstein, the head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, has called the practice of Christians in the service sharing their faith “spiritual rape.” …

Now Weinstein’s wants the Pentagon to vigorously enforce an existing policy against proselytizing in the military. The Pentagon’s responded by issuing this written statement:

“Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense,” the Pentagon statement read in part. “Court-martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis.”

A firestorm then erupted amid fears of court-martials for service members who share their Christian faith, and the Pentagon was forced to backtrack in an effort to quiet the protests.

“Service members can share their faith (evangelize), but must not force attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one’s beliefs (proselytization),” Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen said in a written statement.

That’s not good enough for retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, who is now executive vice president at the Family Research Council.

“We’d like to get a statement saying exactly what assurances Mikey Weinstein did get from the Air Force,” Boykin told WND. …

Activists like Weinstein argue any Christian witnessing should be off limits, while others say it should only mean service members cannot pressure or coerce others to convert.

“If they will tell us that and give us the assurance that living their faith and sharing their faith is a protected right then we’ll be satisfied,” said Boykin. …

If the pattern of religious hostility persists, Boykin says young people and their families will simply decide military service is not worth the assault on their values. …

As the saying goes, “there are no atheists in foxholes,” but there will be if Mikey Weinstein has his way.

As we commemorate Memorial Day, honor the brave men and women who fought for and died for our cherished freedoms.  Remember, too, the sacrificial service of those serving in the military today who are willing to die to protect the liberty we enjoy, yet are seeing their own freedom of religion under attack.

For those living in Michigan, you have an opportunity to hear Lt. General Jerry Boykin in person.  Come and hear Lieutenant General (Ret.) Jerry Boykin, one of the nation’s most significant leaders in our day: Thursday, June 6 at 7 PM at Matthews Auditorium, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, 3000 Leonard N.E. Grand Rapids MI

Also:  Lieutenant General (Ret.) Jerry Boykin – Friday, June 7 at 7:30 PM at First Assembly of God, 5650 S. Telegraph Rd., Dearborn Heights, MI  48125

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