Jack McLain is the vice-chairman of the Constitution Party of Florida. The following was posted on the Constitution Party’s Facebook page today:
Christians and Military Chaplains Defamed—Will Christians React?
Jack McLain
August 4, 2013
As far as official Washington is concerned, United States Military Chaplains have lost their First Amendment right to free speech. They no longer can preach or pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is this possible in America and will Christians offer any resistance to this move?
Mikey Weinstein, founder of the “Military Religious Freedom Foundation,” made this staggering statement: “Today, we face incredibly well-financed gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces.” (Italics added). (The New American, 7/1/13, Quick Quotes, p. 9).
Incredibly, this man, a professed atheist, “has been awarded consultant status with the Pentagon as he seeks to have chaplains who share their Christian beliefs punished via trial by court-martial.” (T.N.A., p. 9). At least one Navy Chaplain has already lost his rank, all pensions and health benefits, and tossed out of the military, simply for praying in the name of Jesus! Others have been silenced.
Can such lies and slander stand up in Congress and the courts of law in our beloved country which once was declared to be “a Christian nation” by the Supreme Court? Imagine the statement that Christians are now called “well-financed gangs” and “monsters” and our Chaplains “forcing” Christianity upon servicemen. When was Christ “forced” upon a serviceman? Not that I ever heard or experienced. In what sense are Chaplains “well-financed?” Compare the enormous financial waste of federal government today! How much is Weinstein being paid to slander Christians? Since when can an atheist judge true Christianity, calling it “weaponized and twisted?” An atheist has no standard for judgment, except a hard heart toward God and an eternity assured in hell—unless he repent!
Can a man simply found an organization to defame Christians and gain government recognition? Are not these terms of slander and discrediting of Christianity illegal under the current “hate speech” laws? Would Weinstein dare make such statements about Islam? His life might well be in danger!
A few years ago, as a Navy man from our church was leaving for duty as a Chaplain, I asked him if he had freedom to speak of Jesus Christ and to pray in His name. He told me that he had been assured that he had such freedom. In just these few years, all this is seemingly changed. Our leadership in Washington seems determined to destroy all references to the Savior of all mankind, but, since a Muslim is now in authority, we are supposed to accept that we are no longer a Christian nation, but soon will be forced to acknowledge Allah. Frankly, I do not think that to be an exaggeration.
American Family Association reports (7/29/13) the following: “The Air Force has again censored religious freedom, this time against a chaplain serving at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. Chaplain Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes wrote an essay entitled ‘No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave All in World War II.’ Shortly after his article was posted on his ‘Chaplain’s Corner’ page on the base’s website, the base commander ordered it removed and squashed the chaplain’s constitutional right to religious freedom.
“Avowed atheist Michael Weinstein, recently met with Air Force leaders at the Pentagon and urged the military branch to begin a ‘cleansing’ of any public expression of the Christian faith in the military. Based on recent events, it appears Weinstein’s demands are being met…base commander Col. Brian Duffy abandoned one of his own men under his command and waved the white flag without so much as a whimper.” AFA readers are asked to “Please, get involved today!”
Our Navy grandson and another man on board the destroyer U.S.S. Peterson, in 2001, held Bible studies on board the ship. Both were Christians and both subsequently lost their lives in the Persian Gulf. Have Christians, and others, died for the freedom and likes of Mikey Weinstein and his hatred of believers? Can one man founding an ungodly organization and worming his way into our federal government actually carry such unconstitutional authority?
Will Christians allow such restrictions in America to take root without strong and sincere objection? Sorry to say, many Christians will scarcely know of these events. Almost for sure, the TV news and the average controlled press will not make such events known. Will Christians imply that “God is allowing this to happen” and that we are to “expect persecution.” God has given us a tongue to speak out and hands to write with and we are to be “occupying till He come”—doing business for the Lord. When Peter and others were told by the unbelieving high priest that they were not to “teach in this [Jesus] name,” Peter answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Christians should be bold in the face of opposition, not silenced. (Prov. 28:1). If we do not stand firmly on our right to free speech, we assuredly will lose that right. Similarly, we have already lost some rights, perhaps scarcely noticed, until their full force is accomplished by an out-of-control government. Our “president” has openly declared that he will take away American gun rights with or without Congressional approval. Communism has always admitted that they need not be an a hurry, but only to take gradual steps toward total control. I’m convinced that many Americans still believe that, “It can’t happen here!”
Your Christian writer has taken steps to request an investigation of Weinstein and his slanderous and false statements. We know that Christians could never get by making such false accusations against the ungodly. Should we stand by without seeking to bring such men to justice? Why not lend your voice and your pen to the cause of Christ and His servants, the Chaplains? We must remember that we are a Republic, a nation of laws, a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” and that evil men are determined to enslave us. If we remain silent, we must then expect enslavement.