Nitwits for Jesus
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By David Glenn Cox Atlanta Liberal Examiner
There are no atheists in foxholes, it is said. In Afghanistan, in the midst of war, social and societal upheaval, the Nitwits for Jesus are hard at work. Perhaps if we all raise our hands to the sky and shout hallelujah at the Taliban they will throw down their arms and shout hallelujah back at us.
The irony of the words of the Prince of Peace being delivered by bayonet-wielding soldiers goes right over their heads. Former Afghan prime minister Ahmed Shah Ahmedzaihas called for an inquiry after Al Jazeera broadcast footage showing Christian US soldiers appearing to be preparing to try and convert Muslims in Afghanistan.
The US Army has responded by saying, "Most of this is taken out of context ... this is irresponsible and inappropriate journalism."
Yes, it is no wonder the irony goes over their head. Despite being against US military regulations, as well as being against Afghan law to proselytize any religion other than Islam to the public, certain members of the US military seem to be getting their marching orders from another source.
In the Al Jezeera footage, Sergeant Jon Watt, a future military chaplain, said during a Bible study class; "I also want to praise God because my church collected some money to get bibles for Afghanistan. They came and sent the money out."
It was Jesus himself who said, "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet"
Translated, if they don’t want to hear it don’t force it on them; just keep moving.
But Jesus never had to deal with modern American evangelicals, just as modern evangelicals never have to deal with the real Jesus. These glassy-eyed automatons have every intention of shoving the word down the throats of the long-suffering Afghans, whether they like it or not.
"It's a national security issue ... our constitution says nothing can take place in Afghanistan against Islam," said Sayed Aalam Uddin Asser, of the Islamic Front for Peace and Understanding in Kabul.
"Do we know what it means to proselytize?" a military chaplain asks the gathering.
A soldier replies, "It is General Order Number One."
"You can't proselytize, but you can give gifts," the leader of the Bible study class offers. "I bought a carpet, and then I gave the guy a Bible after I conducted my business."
He seems to have forgotten that while it is legal to peddle carpets in the marketplace, it is not legal to peddle your religion. But what is at work here is an evangelical synergy; a blending of God and patriotism mixed together in a noxious cloud of arrogant zeal.
I once made a sales call on an evangelical church / Christian school and in the lobby on an easel was a large picture of Jesus kneeling before the Liberty bell with his hand outstretched, touching its edge reverently. You see, to them Jesus worships America; it's all one and the same.
American soldiers should, and I quote, "Get the hound of heaven after them, so we get them into the kingdom. That's what we do, that's our business." When merged with their role as soldiers it boils down to kill them or save them. It is an insight into a world of religious extremism, American-style religious extremism that knows no bounds.
God is country and country is God; if a regulation or law stands in the way of religion, it is wrong and can be ignored. Conversely, if as soldiers they are called upon to wage war in a third world country, they will do so with no questions asked because Jesus loves America. And perhaps they can convert the survivors to the words of the Prince of Peace. The words that they hear but do not understand, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
They see themselves instead as persecuted for their righteousness, both as Christians and as Americans because if you question either, you are a heretic to both; God and country become the same.
This is why they see the secular world as on a crusade to destroy America and Christianity. What most of us see as religious freedom they see as consorting with the devil. It is always all right to attack the devil or an abortion doctor or the funeral of an Aids victim. We the secular are persecuting them just by questioning them. They are dangerous by their obedience.
I once asked an evangelical if atheists should be allowed to vote and he answered, "They can vote but they should not be allowed to hold office." I asked why and he answered, "Because this is a Christian nation and to hold office you must be a Christian."
Partly for clarification and partly just being a smart-ass I asked, "What about Jews, Hindus, Buddhists or Moslems?" His answer was certain, "No, of course not."
Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Hensley, the chief of the US military chaplains in Afghanistan, tells soldiers that, as followers of Jesus Christ, they all have a responsibility "to be witnesses for him."
"The special forces guys - they hunt men basically. We do the same things as Christians; we hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down."
But the Lt. Colonel is wrong, dead wrong. His obligation and his responsibility is to follow the orders of his commanders and to minister to his flock. There is no exception for insubordination in the name God. He should be a witness as to how fast officers can be removed from the military for failure to follow orders.
"Render unto Caesar thosethings which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s"
Comments
Your tax dollars at work. Every military chaplain should be funded by their church body and never be above the rank of E-1. My nephew has some real horror stories of Nitwits for Jesus using their commissioned officer status.
As a United Methodist minister and former Army Chaplain in Vietnam, I believe in the chaplaincy -- as it was intended to be, not as it seems to have become.
It's a constitutional free speech right for civilians to offer their faith in a non-abusive situation. But that right goes away when you have the power to compel others to hear.
That means it's an abuse of power for a commander to promote his faith to subordinates, and it's an abuse of power for armed men to promote their faith to those who are not armed. Furthermore, when you wear the uniform, you are not representing your own views, but the views of your country. General Order #1 is very clear -- no proseletizing.
The events in Afghanistan represent a direct challenge to General Order #1. Any chaplains complicit with what is shown in the video, which I have seen, need to be court martialed. The soldiers who passed out Bibles need to be disciplined too for violations, but the officers are the greater offenders.
these tools need to all be court martialed.
they put their beliefs above the constitution & should not be trusted.
There should be no such thing as an official chaplain. If soldiers want to get together and pray, fine. If they find a soldier who is also a minister to lead them, fine. It should never go any farther than that. Anything more is a clear violation of the First Amendment.
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