An Intolerable Insult
One of the greatest sources of pride for our nation is the
incredible sacrifices that members of our military and their families have made
to defend and promote freedom. How many
men have given their lives for a cause that was greater than themselves? How many widows have cried over flag-draped
caskets as they faced the prospect of raising children on their own?
We used to honor those sacrifices; now they are being spat
upon, by the very military that demanded them.
This week the latest in a series of shameful stories about the values of
our military emerged, when it was revealed that the army classified the American Family Association as a
domestic hate group, alongside the Ku Klux Klan and the Neo-Nazis.
The AFA is a Christian
ministry that defends life, marriage and religious liberty. When challenged, the army responded that the
organization is unfriendly to homosexuals.
Has it ever resorted to threats, violence, intimidation, or hateful
speech? No, but it has taken a position
in favor of traditional marriage.
This is not altogether surprising, since Catholics and
Evangelical Christians have previously been so labeled by the army. What’s worse is that soldiers are prohibited
from associating with this Christian ministry under the threat of punishment.
So the freedoms that men once gave their lives to defend are
now being persecuted by the very military that once honored those sacrifices.
Recently I heard the story of a military band member who was
distressed because he felt he was required to play for a gay pride parade, without respect for his religious beliefs or conscience objections.
As Americans we want to respect our armed forces. We want to believe that the values they
promote are noble and good. Can we
honestly say that? Many members of the
military themselves would certainly say that we can not.
Please do not misread what I am saying. I am not questioning the service of any
member of our military or intending to lessen the sacrifices they all
make. Quite the opposite. I wish to honor them, and the only way to do
that is through real reform of our armed services.
Christians know that their duty is to God first, well above
their duty to country. Given some of the
tragic attitudes our military has in many places adopted, Christian soldiers
often have no choice but to disobey the spirit and perhaps even direct orders
being handed down to them.
This is a terrible disgrace, an unfair burden on all men of
virtue in our military, and an intolerable insult to those that have gone
before. Please pray for our military,
especially our Christian servicemen, that with God’s Grace, they can be true examples
of honor to those who may need that light to once again find their way.
Update: The Pentagon has
said the army’s designation of AFA is not ‘official doctrine,’ and that the
ministry is not a hate group. Praise
God!
