Print 
PDF
The war on Christians and Christianity rages on.
The United States Military is one of several fronts in this war.
Friday I wrote a blog about the recent attack on Chaplain Lt. Col. Reyes at the Air Force base in Alaska.
Chaplain Reyes wrote an inspirational Christian essay on the base website. Atheists immediately contacted the Pentagon and within 4 hours, the Air Force had removed the essay and reprimanded the chaplain.
National atheist groups are now demanding more. They say the reprimand was not enough---Reyes must be further punished.
Now we have learned that there has been an effort in Congress to fund "atheist chaplains."
And several Washington State Representatives supported the idea.
Rep. Rob Andrews D-N.J. proposed an amendment to the bill that authorizes the US military budget that could have authorized the funding and hiring of "atheist" chaplains.
The amendment read, "The Secretary of Defense shall provide for the appointment as officers in the Chaplain Corps of the Armed Forces, of persons who are certified or ordained by non-theistic organizations and institutions, such as humanist, ethical culturalists or atheists."
Clearly this was an attempt to reclassify atheism and secularism as a "religion" in order to exploit those who serve in defense of our country in some of their most vulnerable circumstances.
Thankfully, Rep. John Fleming, R-La., rose to the occasion with an amendment of his own. One that defines what a chaplain actually is. And it's not an atheist.
Fleming told his colleagues in the House of Representatives, "When it comes to the idea of an atheist chaplain, which is oxymoron---it is self-contradictory---what you're really doing is now saying that we're going to replace true chaplains with non-chaplain chaplains."
Fleming's amendment defines a chaplain as "a minister of the faith...someone who believes in a deity of a spiritual life who is assigned to a secular organization."
Fortunately Fleming's amendment passed with 227 Republicans and 26 Democrats voting in favor.
However, this reveals a couple of very troubling facts.
It's troubling that we are at this point in our country. America is exceptional because our Founders saw us as "A City on a Hill," an exceptional nation---a nation of exceptional destiny. And generations that followed embraced that vision. Now two or three percent minorities are remaking and redefining America and the principles and values upon which we were founded.
It's specifically troubling to see Washington state representatives voting against Fleming's amendment in order to favor legitimizing "atheist" chaplains.
I reviewed the roll call vote on Fleming's amendment.
Keep in mind a "Yes" vote on Fleming's amendment opposes "atheist, humanist and ethical culturalists" from becoming chaplains.
A "No" vote on Fleming's amendment essentially supports redefining the chaplaincy to include and fund the hiring of secularists and atheists as "chaplains."
Here's how WA State's Representatives voted:
Jamie Herrera Butler--Didn't vote.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers--Yes.
Dave Reichert--Yes.
Jim McDermott--No.
Doc Hastings--Yes.
Rick Larsen--No.
Derek Kilmer--Yes.
Adam Smith--No.
Suzan DelBene--No.
On May 2, 1778, General George Washington told his troops at Valley Forge, "While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished character of Christian."
At the most recent National Day of Prayer event, Rear Admiral William Lee said, "Leaders like myself are feeling the constraints of rules and regulations and guidance issued by lawyers that put us in a tighter and tighter box regarding our constitutional right to express our religious faith."
I will be talking about this and spiritual warfare on the radio today live at 9 AM PDT and rebroadcast at 7:30 PM PDT.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Strong. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.
