Posted on 07/05/2012 12:21:44 PM PDT by madprof98
Col. Timothy Wagoner has been an Air Force chaplain for 20 years, serving a denomination — the Southern Baptists — that rejects same-sex relationships.
Yet here he was at the chapel he oversees, watching supportively as an airman and his male partner celebrated a civil union ceremony.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Wagoner said at the McGuire Air Force Base chapel, days later. “I don’t feel I’m compromising my beliefs … I’m supporting the community.”
Wagoner didn’t officiate at the ceremony — he couldn’t go quite that far. But his very presence at the gathering was a marker of how things have changed for active-duty clergy in the nine months since the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was repealed and gays could serve openly.
Prior to repeal, various conservative groups and individuals — including many conservative retired chaplains — warned that repeal would trigger an exodus of chaplains whose faiths consider homosexual activity to be sinful. In fact, there’s been no significant exodus — perhaps two or three departures of active-duty chaplains linked to the repeal. Moreover, chaplains or their civilian coordinators from a range of conservative faiths told The Associated Press they knew of virtually no serious problems thus far involving infringement of chaplains’ religious freedom or rights of conscience.
“To say the dust has settled would be premature,” said Air Force Col. Gary Linsky, a Roman Catholic priest who oversees 50 fellow chaplains in the Air Mobility Command. “But I’ve received no complaints from chaplains raising concerns that their ministries were in any way conflicted or constrained.”
(Excerpt) Read more at standard.net ...
It won’t take too long before we have the same warrior culture in our military as the Dutch.
All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
They probably didn’t think they were evil.
He is a Souther Baptist so hardly a Priest.
The Khmer Rouge probably didn’t think they were evil ...
The Viet Cong probably didn’t think they were evil ...
The Sendero Luminoso probably didn’t think they were evil ...
The Red Brigades probably didn’t think they were evil ...
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front probably doesn’t think it’s evil ...
To a moral relativist, that’s probably all that matters.
Probably smugly self-justified, just as we are becoming today. They didn't start at the extreme end of the spectrum. First they refused to worship and honor God. Then they gave themselves over to wickedness. The He "gave them over".
I firmly believe the length of time from that moment to the bitter end was, and is, a testament to God's mercy, longsuffering, love and grace. He doesn't just blow a rebellious people off the map lightly (their sin has to "come up before" Him).
But at some point of His choosing He does so "with none to rescue".
To the individuals also...but do you really think you can bundle this whole issue along with those groups you mentioned? That’s an incredible stretch to compare those groups with the whole gay issue.
Col Wagoner is a disgrace and I encourage other SBC members to write him and tell in so in the direct tough love manner baptists have ever been known for dealing with those who are doctrinally challenged. a couple hundred letters would probably give this weak man some pause. He is< I note a full colonel, so he could certainly retire today with lose of benefits or pension. He is such a jellyfish I wonder how long he has been an 0-6. I think one has to serve in grade three years to be able to retire in the highest grade one served at. This is perhaps small of me but I wonder if he doesn’t have some months to go before he can retire as an 0-6 rather than an 0-5. The difference in retired pay is Col. Wagoner’s 30 pieces of silver. While it would cost a bit sending this gentleman 30 silver dimes might make a dramatic point to him.
Not at all ... Those committed to evil, whether it's mass murder of adults (Khmer Rouge), or mass murder of infants (Planned Parenthood), or sexual perversion (subject of this thread), or prostitution (mafia), or political corruption (democrat Party) ...
They all convince themselves that they're not doing evil, and proclaim their supposed "good intentions" to the world at large.
A moral relativist has no standing to say them nay.
Oh there are two of them. One is a Southern Baptist at the beginning of the story who witnessed the “marriage” and then the Priest who is in charge of 50 Chaplains. Thanks!!!
LOL!
Would it be too much to ask all Christian pastors and priests to resign from the military? Is it correct to say they must choose serving God & Christ or a rapidly deteriorating state?
Please keep in mind that I was responding to the comment about how those people must have felt. There is a lot of what we call evil in the world, and if you want to lump all of them together, good on you.
For Christians, there is no choice. One must obey God, regardless of the consequences. As a pastor, this man will face worse condemnation for what he is doing.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what the left hoped would happen when Obama lifted the pseudo 'ban' on those practicing homosexual behavior serving 'openly' in the military. 'Gay' military personnel would 'come out' and service members would have to 'accept' it or face disciplinary consequences. Effectively forcing our military personnel to endorse homosexual behavior. This would have to include the Chaplaincy. This Colonel is just one example of how that is going to unfold. With 'Christian' Chaplains attending the faux 'marriage' ceremony of two homosexual service members - and pretending that he heartily approves. How sad for this 'man of God'.
Unfortunately for him, while he can make a fool of himself he cannot fool God and will one day answer - as we all will - to God for his actions that disgraced the name he took. That of "Christian'.
Yep ... I merely amplified the point.
There is a lot of what we call evil in the world,
A fact not likely to change. Ever. And we call it evil because that's what it is.
if you want to lump all of them together
It's a matter of recognising that various forms of evil differ in degree, not in kind.
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