Posted on 11/15/2005 5:43:24 PM PST by conserv371
A pattern of hostility to free speech - specifically the rights of Christians to pray - is on the rise in our country.
We saw it in our nation’s public schools ... where prayer was officially banned. We have seen it in our workplaces.
Now, our United States military seems to have “jumped on the bandwagon” ... with Air Force leadership recently releasing proposed guidelines that will restrict how Air Force chaplains can pray.
If approved, these guidelines may well be implemented throughout the entire Armed Forces.
This is an outrage that we cannot allow! Already, it is documented that chaplains are “feeling the heat” to restrict their prayers and mask their faith.
Christian chaplains are being told NOT to pray in the name of Jesus!
For many Christian chaplains, praying in the name of Jesus is a fundamental part of their beliefs. To suppress this form of expression would be a violation of their constitutional rights and religious freedoms.
Furthermore, to censor Christian chaplains is a disservice to the thousands of Christian soldiers in the military who look to their chaplains for comfort, inspiration, and support ... just as military soldiers of other faiths look to their chaplains.
Again, we cannot allow these proposed guidelines to be passed. We cannot sit idly by while our honored Christian military chaplains are singled out and silenced.
I have assembled a senior legal team at the ACLJ, including a 20-year military veteran who worked at the Pentagon. We are drafting a legal analysis and comments to be used in this process.
Thankfully, a group of Congressmen has joined together to call on the President to protect by Executive Order the constitutional right of military chaplains to pray according to their faith.
In response to this outrageous and blatant religious intolerance and infringement of free speech rights, the ACLJ has embarked on a nationwide campaign to PROTECT PRAYER and the constitutional rights of military chaplains.
In our Armed Forces, all faiths must be respected. Christian chaplains must be permitted to pray in the name of Jesus.
The ACLJ is working to generate a massive grassroots effort, to let the President know that we will not stand for this type of blatant religious intolerance in our nation’s military. President Bush must step in to protect religious freedom.
"Perhaps you missed my point."
No, I didn't miss your point. I disagree with it.
"Not everyone who loves God, and believes in God, think the the selected text(s) called the "Bible" in it's various versions and interpretations, is the literal word of the eternal God."
Well, according to the "Bible", which is the Word of God ... another verse you may want to examine:
2Tim.3:16
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The Hebrew and Greel check out with this verse and these verses:
Crucial Requirement..
John 15:16 ... that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 16:23 ...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you.
John 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
So the excuse of "various intepretations" and "versions" doesn't stand up.
I really don't understand that if one professes belief and some form of affection for Him, why they don't want to do what He asks ... pray in His name. It's such an easy thing to do but some refuse to do it.
It's just another form of rebellion as far as I am concerned because it is VERY CLEAR that He wants this. VERY CLEAR. I don't know why they bother to "pray" at all if they can't accomodate how He'd like you to pray.
Of course YOU do as YOU see fit.
"Mark Belling in for Rush today brought up the resident assistant forbidden from discussing Bible passages in his dorm room--I immediately said were it a Muslim and they forbid him to pray there would be nuclear winter on the university."
You are correct. It's very sad that the mass homocide islamic extremists inflicted on our country on 9/11 has reaped them these rewards; outcry from muslims is feared these days but it's open season on Christianity.
Thank you for your kind words.
some don't interpret praying "in his name" in the same way.
I am in full agreement with your post.
Indeed, it must be stopped. Thanks for the ping!
That's a great link...what church exists today with those grand old hymns? Open to suggestions. I cannot stand the music that caters to the rock set today while throwing out the traditional hymns. Thanks loads.
Just curious ... as a retired Chaplain, did you bother to Pray "in His name"?
Do a google on pastor and jail and you will see where this is eventual leading. I found pastors in Canada, Sweden, and Australia facing jail time for unpopular things they said about Islam and homosexuality.
That's right, from now on you'll just be an 'ian'. :)
That's right Belzebba. It's called atheism.
Wouldn't it be a little difficult for a Catholic Chaplain to say the Mass?
Go to www.ACLJ.org for more information>>>>>>
This is the latest email I have received from the organization, having signed the petition. In case you would like to read more go to the above address.
Dear ------,
Your name has been added to the ACLJ's Petition to Protect Military Prayer to President Bush.
Thank you for joining us in this important fight!
Now, I ask that you forward this email to every name in your address book ... to give all of your friends and acquaintances the opportunity to sound off on this issue!
We have gathered 80,000 signatures - but our goal is 125,000 ... so we need your help RIGHT NOW!
Let me quickly remind you what is at stake here:
We have joined a group of Christian Congressmen, led by Rep. Walter Jones, in calling on our President to enact an Executive Order protecting chaplains and their right to pray.
Chaplains in our United States military are being reprimanded for ''using overtly Christian language'' in public settings.
These men of God, who hold an officer's rank, have been criticized and scolded for using Bible verses and invoking the name of Jesus in memorial services.
This is blatant religious discrimination ... a violation of First Amendment rights! And it must be stopped!
That is why I ask you to forward this email and the Petition to Protect Military Prayer to President Bush to all of your friends, co-workers, and associates ... and ask them to sign it as well.
We have got to send a strong message to our President that we will not stand idly by while our brave chaplains are singled out and reprimanded for their faith!
And since the Air Force has now introduced proposed guidelines that dictate how Christian chaplains CAN and CANNOT pray ...
... it is more important than ever that we take a stand quickly!
If these guidelines - that say a chaplain cannot pray ''in Jesus' name'' - are passed for the Air Force ... they could soon be the standard for ALL branches of the military.
As Congressman Jones noted, ''Our chaplains should not have any second thoughts about how they should pray. Let their hearts speak with what God puts in their minds to pray.''
We agree! The ACLJ is working hard to protect the rights of Chaplains to fulfill their mission of providing spiritual comfort and aid to those serving to protect America.
Please help us send a strong message to our President by forwarding this email on to all of the names in your address book ... and asking them to sign our Petition to Protect Military Prayer today! Thank you.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
Apparently the AF has gone mad. Or some of them, anyway. The ones seriously infected with political correctness, a phrase which really means "Orwellian doublespeak". Please note comment 48 by xzins.
Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.
That's a great link...what church exists today with those grand old hymns? Open to suggestions. I cannot stand the music that caters to the rock set today while throwing out the traditional hymns. Thanks loads.
**
We are at an Indep Baptist Church, we sing all the old songs. I love the old hymns!
Some of the new songs are beautiful also - I love this song, the words are beautiful.
Artist : Chris Rice
Song : Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)
Lyrics :
Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!
Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!
And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!
Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!
O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!
And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!
Chaplain: "Here, eat this piece of bread, then drink this wine, but remember, I can't tell you why."
Thank you for your post.
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