Posted on 09/14/2006 10:59:33 PM PDT by goldstategop
As I sat in the hearing room, I felt a cold chill – like the chilling effect this court-martial will have on our free speech. For this analogy to be accurate, however, I would need to be sitting in a freezer. At issue in the court-martial of Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt, chaplain for the United States Navy, is a name and the freedom to speak it. That name is Jesus. And, according to this week's ruling, the freedom to speak it depends on the context.
Before I could go through the metal detectors to get to the courtroom, a Navy official had already taken Jesus' name in vain. No trial for that. No penalty. No problem. But use the name in reverence, in honor or in prayer, and you'll find yourself looking in the face of a court-martial. Welcome to the criminalization of Christianity.
This case is really about Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter, who ordered that every chaplain in the Navy worship his god – the "government god" of "non-sectarian" goodness who has no name and certainly no son by whom someone might be offended. But Chaplain Klingenschmitt told Navy Secretary Nebuchadnezzar, uh, I mean Winter, that he couldn't bow to his government god and had to proclaim the God of the Bible – who has a Son with an illegal name.
So Chaplain Klingenschmitt spoke the Gospel aboard ship, prayed in that illegal name and preached from that "offensive book" – much to the detriment of his career. But it's a good thing he did, particularly for a sailor who heard the message of the Gospel and dedicated his life to Christ – just before being killed in a motorcycle accident. A secular memorial was held, but many sailors approached the chaplain and asked that he hold a Christian memorial service to honor the sailor's faith. So he did. Attendance was voluntary. But the chaplains "above" him didn't like the content of his sermon. Mentioning Jesus in the chapel (you know, that building with the cross on top), they said, is just "too exclusive." Just who was it that hung on that cross depicted on the official Navy chaplain uniform, again? Maybe they can tell people it's really a lower case "t" – standing for "tepid," "totalitarian" or "triangle" until the new shapes can be issued.
In fact, Klingenschmitt was punished in writing for reading an "illegal verse," and Naval Judge Anita Blair upheld the reprimand. What was the illegal verse? [WARNING! If you are a member of the United States Navy, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT read this verse out loud, or face court martial!]
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. – John 3:36
The judge ruled that the chaplain's freedom wasn't really restricted since he was free to preach a sermon on "other" topics besides Jesus. Like, the measurements of the ark, for instance. Just don't go quoting Bible verses from the New Testament of Jesus Christ and actually mention Jesus Christ.
The chaplain then went on a hunger strike until the Navy said he could pray in uniform again. They said "no speeches" or "opinions," but he was allowed to wear his uniform for "religious observances." That brings us to the event in question – March 30, 2006, where the chaplain engaged in the "religious observance" of prayer. He didn't give a speech. Didn't voice his opinions. In fact, he even turned down questions from reporters because he was wearing his uniform. Quite different from other Navy officers who went on national television and national radio espousing "personal," "partisan" and "political beliefs" while in uniform without any prior permission. The difference? Oh, they were blasting Klingenschmitt, and the Navy agreed with the content of their speech.
Then, Judge Lewis T. Booker, the judge overseeing the court-martial, ruled that the right to "public worship" doesn't include "worshiping in public." Judge Booker said essentially that "public worship" is allowed for one hour on Sunday, and you better use it, because that's the only free exercise of religion you have left, sailor.
And now, five years after we were attacked, our troops are fighting overseas for the freedom of those who pray in the name of Allah at the same time a U.S. chaplain has been court-martialed for praying in the name of Jesus on American soil. Does anyone besides me see something wrong with this? On Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, we gathered to sing "God Bless America," but how likely do you think God will continue to bless us if we are forbidden from using His Son's name?
And where is our beloved commander in chief? The man I worked to elect, who personally told me that the "most important thing" I could do for him was to pray? Cannot our military have that same "most important" right? His number, by the way, is 202-456-1414.
As I was leaving the airport in Norfolk, I saw an advertisement that read: "America will always be the home of the free because it is the land of the brave." When I read it, I cried … because America is no longer the land of the free. Thankfully, there are still are brave Americans like Chaplain Klingenschmitt. If you are among the brave left in the land of the free, I urge you with everything in me to use your freedom while you still can.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is reportedly "still undecided" as to whether the freedom of religion should apply to chaplains. He sits on the conference committee for the Defense appropriations bill, H.R. 5122, and is a critical vote on Section 590 – the amendment that will let the chaplains of all branches of our military pray according to the dictates of their conscience. The toll-free number to reach him is: 1-888-355-3588. Use it to call Sens. John Warner and Carl Levin while you're at it; they're key votes on the committee, as well. The message? Simply: "Let the chaplains pray" – something our Founding Fathers thought was so very important that one of their first acts of the first Congress (after ratifying the First Amendment) was to establish chaplains to do just that.
Of course, you have "the right to remain silent," but if you use that right much longer, those are the words you'll hear before you see the inside of a prison cell. Because if they criminalize Chaplain Klingenschmitt today, tomorrow it's you.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
ping
He was convicted of wearing his uniform at a political meeting, disobeying a direct order re: said uniform - not for his prayer.
The scriptures say that we will be hated for His name sake. The Word is coming to life before our very eyes.
If so, no one else was held to the rule. Can we call it "selective enforcement?" He certainly wasn't accused of proseltyzing. I doubt he would have gotten a reprimand for going to a strip club. The Navy has changed and not necessarily for the better.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
You know something is very strange when someone goes
out of their way to suppress something like the mention
of the message of Christ...if it is false, why be afraid?
No one tries to suppress someone who says that
Santa Claus is real...they just humor them...and
chuckle behind their back...
someone sounds like they are afraid of the good news
of salvation from this decaying world....
...there will be gnashing of teeth someday...
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 5122 (line 590) to let chaplains in every branch of the US military "pray according to the dictates of their conscience." This legislation is pending in the Senate, and has not yet been signed by the President. "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_James_Klingenschmitt"
This article is a total load of crap. Funny it doesn't mention anywhere that Klingenschmitt wasn't brought up on charges for preaching on a ship in the name of Jesus, like the article implies, but for disobeying a lawful order and appearing in uniform at a political rally.
No it’s not!
It’s the don’t ask don’t tell PC crowd. Trying to do to the military what there doing to schools & government.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10575660/
http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=12051&PN=1&TPN=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_James_Klingenschmitt
His web page
http://www.persuade.tv/
The "Nazi" version of "free speech."
What lawful order?
That's simply not so.
Navy chaplains pray in Jesus' name every day. Under law no chaplain can be forced to participate in rites that are a violation of his/her conscience.
If a chaplain doesn't want to to to a public ceremony in which the commander does not want a sectarian Christian prayer, then that chaplain can turn down that mission.
There is an issue here, but the media keeps misstating it.
The issue is requiring a certain type of prayer at a general, non-religious gathering. No arm of the government should be allowed to accept only types of prayer that are supposed "neutral."
In doing so, they favor some religious denominations over other religions. That's dangerous constitutional territory.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Matthew 6:5 KJV)
He also violated numerous other commandments about following the orders of your superiors in your work. Here's a few:
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; (Ephesians 6:5 KJV)
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (Titus 3:1 KJV)
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:22-23 KJV)
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (1 Peter 2:18 KJV)
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (Titus 2:9-10 KJV)
He had every right to pray in Jesus name. He did not have every right to stand before the cameras in uniform at a political rally in front of the white house and pray a prayer (that Jesus himself would have condemned for its ostentatiousness) in Jesus' name.
He created a media circus and now he is allowing false information to be spread about his alleged "conviction for praying in Jesus name" which was not what happened.
We cannot be expected to win this fight to change the rules if we take the low road. Chaplain Klingenschmitt and WND seem to have embarked on that road. Let us hope they do not do anymore damage to the cause in the interim.
Wonderful home page. Thanks.
BTTT
No you are the one spreading misinformation and confusion.
The events around the court-martial was the set up, excuse the technicality that could be twisted to convicted him. It goes much deeper. Read the history. He’s been a thorn in the side of the PC gang.
I think Nurnberg had something to say about blindly following your superiors.
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