Thread: Rear Admiral Will Not Back Down From ‘My Right Under the Constitution’ to Share Faith

Rear Admiral Will Not Back Down From ‘My Right Under the Constitution’ to Share Faith

04 May 2013
religious faith, the Constitution, US Military
by J.C. Derrick

Photo Credit: National Day of Prayer Task Force

Faith in the military took center stage Thursday at the 62nd observance of the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C, as lawmakers and faith leaders gathered on Capitol Hill.

After a series of speakers addressed those gathered at the Cannon Office Building, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. William D. Lee, took the microphone to represent Americans serving in the military. Lee told the crowd he had 10 minutes of carefully prepared remarks, but he decided to leave them in his chair and “speak from the heart” instead. Lee, who described himself as “a man of deep abiding faith who happens to wear a uniform,” went on to defy any efforts to stop military personnel from openly sharing their Christian faith—a topic sparking widespread controversy in the media this week. (See “Religious battle lines” by Edward Lee Pitts.)

Lee mentioned last year’s record high number of military suicides, 349—roughly one per day—and said every 65 minutes a military veteran will take his or her own life. “I want you to remember that number,” he said.

He recounted a recent meeting with a 24-year-old soldier who had attempted suicide but survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Lee said when he heard the man’s story, he knew the rules said he should send the man to a chaplain, but his heart said to give him a Bible.

“The lawyers tell me that if I do that, I’m crossing the line,” Lee said. “I’m so glad I’ve crossed that line so many times.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Read more: http://joemiller.us/2013/05/rear-adm...#ixzz2SQ4hylmS

PULLING NO PUNCHES

Memo to Christian troops: We've got your back

Exclusive: Matt Barber urges armed forces, 'Stand tall and proclaim your faith proudly'

Published: 2 hours ago
Matt Barber

When NBA basketball player Jason Collins recently announced to the world that he’s sexually attracted to other men, Michelle Obama tweeted, “So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back!” Jason even got a personal call from the president.
Lovely.

But even as the Obama administration is busy validating lifestyle choices and values that fly in the face of Christian sexual morality, this president is just as busy undermining the free exercise of the very Christian faith that dares to acknowledge morality even exists.

In a statement released last week, President Obama’s Pentagon threatened military personnel: “Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense … Court Martials and nonjudicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis.”

Although the Pentagon has walked back its new anti-Christian “proselytizing” policy within the realm of public relations (a policy drafted in concert with foul-mouthed atheist and anti-Christian bigot Mikey Weinstein) the DoD has yet to offer evidence that it intends to walk it back within the realm of application.

Merriam Webster’s defines “proselytization” as an attempt “to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause.” Sounds an awful lot like the Pentagon is threatening to court-martial any service member who obeys Christ’s central command to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

Hard to read it any other way.

And so, to any member of the armed services who is harassed, demeaned, reprimanded or charged by this Obama Pentagon with obeying Jesus – with endeavoring to “recruit or convert” others to His exclusive saving grace – we at Liberty Counsel are delighted to say, “We’ve Got your back!” Pro bono. Free of charge.

How are we able to do this? Through the generous financial and prayer support of more than 1.2 million Liberty Counsel donors and supporters. So please, get this information to every member of the armed forces you know. If you (or they) are being persecuted in any way, at any time for sharing the love of Christ, let us know. Call us right away at 1-800-671-1776, or by emailing us at liberty@lc.org.

“Making it a crime to share your faith is outrageous and morally unconscionable,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “There has never been an administration more committed to its secularist philosophy at the expense of religious liberty. Liberty Counsel will do whatever is necessary to defend the religious liberty of our men and women who defend our liberties in the armed services,” promised Staver.

You’re trained to fight. So are we. You risk your lives to defend us every day. Let us risk our time and money to defend you. It’s the least we can do. We’d count it a high honor.

I’ve got news for Barack Obama. In America, serving God and serving country are not mutually exclusive. They never have been. In fact, until this president came along, the two went hand-in-hand.

In his farewell address, George Washington underscored the critical role religion and morality play to our nation’s survival. He warned of people like Barack Obama and Mikey Weinstein. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports,” he said.

“In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. … [R]eason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

It seems the central goal of this president and his Pentagon is to do that – to “subvert religion and morality” wherever they find it. George Washington called that unpatriotic.

I agree.

Mark Twain once wrote, “The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” Twain’s sage advice seems a slight variation of Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might …” In short, if you want to find happiness, find what God created you to and do it well. Do what you love and you’ll love what you do.

I love working for Liberty Counsel. I’m incredibly blessed to part of one of the fastest growing (if not the fastest growing) civil rights organizations in America.

Every brave service man or woman I’ve ever known loves serving this great nation. Every Christian I’ve ever known loves serving the one Holy and Sovereign Creator of the universe – King Jesus.
If President Obama or any other anti-Christian radicals believe the American people are going to just lie down and allow them to rip God from country, they’ve got another thing coming.

I’m always proud of what we do at Liberty Counsel, but, having served 12 years in the military, I’m especially proud right now. It can’t be easy, laboring under an incompetent commander in chief who, over and again, has displayed overt hostility toward Washington’s “indispensable pillars” of religion and morality. It can’t be easy to serve under a president who constantly attacks your faith and freedom.

“It is beyond ironic that this administration chose to attack the religious liberties of the men and women who are charged with defending our nation’s freedom across the country and around the world,” Staver said.

“The military has a unique relationship with chaplains in order to meet the spiritual needs of our soldiers. To threaten court-martial to anyone who shares their faith is reprehensible and un-American. This absurd policy will undermine the military and destroy morale. It must be rescinded immediately, and those responsible for instituting it should be disciplined.”

But until then – and once again – to those in the military, don’t forget: Stand tall and proclaim your faith loudly and proudly. If Obama tries to muzzle you, don’t sweat it. Liberty Counsel’s got your back.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/memo-to-c...got-your-back/

http://www.alipac.us/f9/next-shoe-dr...punish-277653/

http://www.alipac.us/f9/religious-gr...stians-277564/

Battle Hymn Of The Republic sung by Jim Nabors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=2xfZ0K4Nd68