JUST SAY "NO" TO THE MILITARY

Your Brother Daniel

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Just Say “No” to the Military

The military has become a hostile place for Christians. Just recently Todd Starnes of FOX reported that:

·       The Air Force Academy removed a Bible verse posted on a cadet's whiteboard after it determined the posting had offended other cadets. The [offending] cadet wrote the passage on the whiteboard posted outside his room. "I have been crucified with Christ therefore I no longer live, but Christ lives in me," [Gal. 2:20]. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/03/11/air-force-academy-removes-bible-verse-from-cadet-whiteboard/

Mickey Weinstein, director of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, complained that:

·       "It clearly elevated one religious faith (fundamentalist Christianity) over all others at an already virulently hyper-fundamentalist Christian institution," he said. "It massively poured fundamentalist Christian gasoline on an already raging out-of-control conflagration of fundamentalist Christian tyranny, exceptionalism and supremacy at USAFA."

While Weinstein demanded disciplinary action against the cadet and his superiors, the AFA demurred. Retired General Jerry Boykin, executive vice president of the Family Research Council responded:

·       "Once the academy allowed cadets to use these whiteboards for their personal use, censorship of religious commentary is unacceptable. Either the Air Force Academy is very confused about the Constitution of the United States or they don't really believe in the liberties that are provided by that document."

I wonder if Weinstein would protest if instead a cadet had drawn an obscene sexual drawing or if he had advertised a gay pride event. Certainly, others would have been offended by such expressions. After all, everyone is offended by many different expressions. If mere offense became the basis for our laws and regulations, we would all have to live in isolation.

While it is understandable that the Christian faith is offensive to some, it is equally understandable that the secularist faith is offensive to others. In fact, every law is offensive to somebody. Clearly, we shouldn’t attempt to get rid of everything that causes offense. Instead of bringing us together, our present form of secularism has driven us apart into hostile and competing camps, elevating some forms of offense over others.

Instead, we need sane laws – laws that will enable us to live together and at peace with our varying worldviews. To this end, freedom of expression and religion, as protected by our Constitution, must be reaffirmed.

Until this time, those who have become the victims of an increasingly militant and totalitarian secularism will be coerced to run-for-cover. Perhaps it’s time for Christians to avoid the military until guarantees for their rights can be reaffirmed.