Is The Army Harassing Christians?

I am a proud former United States Army officer. As a younger man, getting my commission the hard way, through Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, was one of my proudest moments in life. And, reading some of the recent stories coming out about MY ARMY has got me boiling.

My wife had to work a double shift last night in her nursing job, so I had time to write and reflect when I would have otherwise been getting ready for her return home.  I pondered and sat on my deck under the stars and prayed to God to help me control my anger and my emotion. 

Now if you haven’t been following the news, you may not know what is going on in MY ARMY, a combat force that I love dearly.  So lend me a bit of your time so that I might explain.

An Army Reserve training program on terrorism is listing Catholics and Evangelical Christians as potential terrorist sources and they rank it at the same level as Al Qaeda.  An active Army officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jack Rich, supported this view by stating that these Christian groups don’t represent Army values.  This is so sickening that I almost want to throw up thinking about it.  But instead, I want to respond to Colonel Rich, misguided soul or left wing ideologue that he might be.  He is entitled to have any personal opinion that he wants but he is not entitled to try to force this garbage on others.  And, senior Army leaders also are not authorized to make these unsupported statements as part of their work, no matter what view the Administration they work for might hold.

To Colonel Rich:

RE: Your comments regarding Christians as a potential terror group:

No group of American citizens have ever served in our nation’s military with more distinction, honor, integrity, and talent than we Christians.  Christians don’t want to fight wars; but when they must they do so with valor. And they also know that when they must fight, they must do it within an appropriate range of conduct and, when the battle is won, to treat the losers with decency and compassion.  I can think of no other group in America that can meet any higher standard of conduct, and it carries over into all aspects of our lives.  Judging by your comment, Colonel Rich, you don’t have a clue what values are.

And I’ll add one other thing that hit me later in life.  After my service was complete, and being a lay leader in a church of a major denomination, the leadership team was discussing a proposal to disallow ROTC programs at our denominational church colleges.  And I clearly remember asking this question: Who would you rather have as a commissioned officer in the US Army, particularly in wartime: a God-fearing Christian man possessing Christian values and compassion, or someone devoid of these values?

When I asked that question, our minister, who was quite liberal, looked pale and embarrassed.  The subject was quickly tabled and we moved on to something else.

So, Colonel Rich, I say to you that if you think Christian values aren’t Army values you don’t understand anything about the real Army and real values.  Christianity supports the rules of good living which are found in the Ten Commandments; the teachings of Jesus which reiterate these rules; and the tenets of the Constitution, which are based on our God-given, not man-granted rights.   And if you fail to recognize this, not only will you ultimately fail in your mission, you will find that all the good Christians in uniform will not listen to your words.   Remember, orders are not to be followed if they are unlawful, and your viewpoint here is clearly a major transgression.

May God and Jesus always be respected by the United States Army and the entire structure of our federal government. Separation of church and state can in no way be construed to mean Christianity should be condemned or maligned.   God the Father and Son are watching and They Know.  So why don’t you go back to your classroom or office and issue a complete public apology for your not only inaccurate but also totally unauthorized words.  Man up and mend your ways; it’s the least you can do.

And may God infect your soul with His Love.  You certainly need His help. But we Christians still love you, Colonel Rich, but we just strongly condemn your words and actions.

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