The following excerpts are pulled from this link,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33807907/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/
The shooter in the Fort Hood incident, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s exchanged e-mail with Anwar al-Awlaki, once a spiritual leader at a mosque in suburban Virginia where Maj. Hasan worshipped. Those e-mails indicate that the troubled military psychiatrist came to the attention of the authorities long before last Thursday’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood, but left him in his post.
Mr. Awlaki, an American citizen born in New Mexico to Yemeni parents, wrote on Monday on his English-language website that Mr. Hasan was “a hero.” The cleric said, “He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people.”
He added, “The only way a Muslim could Islamically justify serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army is if his intention is to follow the footsteps of men like Nidal.”
At another site we learn,
Several former colleagues have come forward to say Nidal would tell them: “I am a Muslim first and an American second”.
The reason I note these snippets are as follows,
1.) Mr. Awlaki, Major Nidal’s former cleric insists that the inconsistency of a Muslim fighting against Muslims is what pushed Major Nidal to resolve the contradiction in the direction of killing Americans at Ft. Hood instead of killing Muslims in Afghanistan.
Major Nidal understood there was a contradiction between being a Muslim and being an American soldier in a war killing Muslims. Now, what Major Nidal did was reprehensible and justice will only be served if he gets the death penalty but it does cause one to ask why American Christians in military can not see about themselves what Nidal saw about himself, and that is that they proclaim to be adherents to a faith but they are in an organization dedicated to snuffing out the faith they say they adhere to. Christians by being in the US military are supporting an institution (US government) that is committed to snuffing out the Christian faith. I’m saddened that Christians can serve in an army that is a instrument of a government that is at war with the individual Military Personnel’s own Christian people, without the slightest pangs to their Christian consciences.
The truth of the matter is that most American Christians don’t feel the contradictions that Nidal felt because they have compartmentalized their faith. For example, did any Christian serviceman feel the contradictions between being a Christian and bombing into oblivion Christian Serbia? For example, did any Christian servicemen feel the contradiction between their involvement in Iraq and the reality that that involvement led to the necessity of the indigenous Iraqi Christian community having to flee from Iraq for their safety due to the oppression they were suffering — an oppression that had official US government sanction? For example, did any Christian servicemen feel the contradiction between serving in Afghanistan and knowing that their Chaplain corps were destroying Bibles so that their usage wouldn’t be offensive to their host Muslim country? Instead the American mindset is, “Jesus saves my soul and that being so it doesn’t matter that I am one of those that the State uses to implement its humanist agenda in order to build an anti-Christ globalistic tower of Babel.”
2.) Is it really so surprising that Major Nidal would say, “I am a Muslim first and an American second?” What would we expect any true son of Allah to say? I would hope that Christians in the military would say, “I am a Christian first and an American second.” The difference is, is that Nidal saw the contradiction between being an American and being a Muslim while most Christians, being imbued with a kind of “Civil religion Christianity,” never pause to consider the things that Nidal considered.
I shouldn’t have to write next what I’m going to write, but just so as to ward off the kooks, I’m not saying that Christians in the military should start shooting up the place like Maj. Nidal did. I am saying that Christians should think long and hard about joining the US military as it is the enforcement arm of a government that is four square in favor of building up a anti-Christ globalist humanist Kingdom.
It’s just a shame that Maj. Nidal didn’t have a Muslim version of R2Kt that he could have used to resolve the contradictions between being a Muslim and being an American. A Muslim version of R2Kt would have allowed to be at peace with being Muslim while acting in a non Muslim fashion as he followed the magistrates orders.
An estimated 800 guests will gather to pay special tribute to our men and women in uniform. http://bible.postedpost.com/
Why would we pay tribute to those Christians in uniform who by being the muscle of the US are the mercenaries of the New World Order which desires to crush Christianity?
Conner,
I looked at your website. Your a Pentecostal gnostic not a Christian.
Well put. The consistency of Mr Hasan in his murderous spree shows a level of integrity that Christians lack in today’s culture.
I checked out the site…isn’t “Pink Ray” one of the Village People (don’t go to the site just to make this joke make any sense…it’s not worth it)
And kudos to your post, Pastor.
Jay
You’re a Pentecostal gnostic, not a Christian
I especially enjoyed “The Delicate Pink Ray of Archangel Chamuel”
Excellent post Brother. An oath to uphold the Godless, Secular U.S. Constitution is treason to King Jesus. Enough of this compartmentalized, compromised faith! Christians, recover your love for Christendom!
There are times when “speaking the truth, in love” means (I hope) keeping my mouth shut. We had our third lecture review in Walther’s “Law and Gospel,” tonight. Our pastor is pretty pro-war, as far as Iraq goes, as he sees it as justifiable use of the sword by the state to punish those who took innocent lives in NYC. My normal rabid anti-war sentiment is forced to take a back seat to my love for this man and his family, because I recognize he is unable to be objective — his son was killed by an IED in Iraq. I must simply mourn with him in his loss, and not actively join in his heartfelt (and he admits, somewhat sinful) cries for justice, in the form of annihilation of all that is Mohammedan. Maranatha, please, so that these times will pass away!
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but it strikes me as haughty and pharisaical.
Christian servicemen stand ready to defend America. They put their lives on the line for their country. Many have given their lives. Your post here belittles and demonizes Christians who do not view military service the way you do. That is religious arrogance.
Your harsh words would be better directed at the politicians and other powers that send send brave, dedicated, idealistic young men (and women) off to die in wars that are immoral and have little to do with defending America.
Many a young person has come to Christ during their military service, as a result of the influence of another military person who was a Christian. I’ve heard numerous such testimonies over the years. God works in different people’s lives in different ways. He may work through those believers in the days ahead in ways that you, with your narrow judgementalism, can not imagine.
To hurl accusations of wrongdoing at Christians who are in the military is counterproductive. There are much more important issues at hand.
That’s my opinion.
First, Herrick, allow me to thank you for your book. I read it with profit.
Second, people who disagree w/ my take on government schooling likewise call me “haughty and Pharisaical,” so I’m used to it. I would note that casting aspersions does nothing to make your case.
If all Christian Servicemen were doing was defending America I wouldn’t have written what I wrote, but the point of the matter is, is that Christian Servicemen are being used as pawns for the extension of Secular Humanism empire. What else am I to conclude when I read stories of Military chaplains destroying bibles so as to not offend our Afghani hosts?
This from a ABC news story,
Now, Herrick, you can call me “arrogant” all you like but when Christians sign up for Military service where Bibles are being collected and destroyed by the Chaplaincy it is past time to start asking questions about whether or not Christians should join the US Military.
Believe me, if you peruse this blog you will find plenty of harsh words for them folk, but at some point harsh words need to be pointed at not only the head but the rank and file as well. If, over a long course of time, it becomes apparent that the US Military is being used to support a non Christian agenda then eventually “just following orders” is no longer an excuse.
Secondly, women have no business being in the Military. That fact that women are in the military should cause sincere Christians to question whether or not this is the place for them to be.
I know of a guy who got saved in a Brothel. Does that mean Christians should support Brothels? In the Old Testament God saved someone through a talking Donkey. Does that mean I should expect talking Donkey’s to keep on appearing for the work of salvation?
I have no doubt that people have been saved in the Military. Praise God!! But that can not serve as a reason to go into the military any more then the fact that God saved people while in a Brothel can serve as a reason to go into Brothels.
Look, I am not a pacifist. I have no problem, by way of principle, with Christians being soldiers. What I have a problem with is Christians, through military service, supporting a State that is committed to the destruction of the Christian faith … and this State is committed to that end. Herrick, the US Government is the whore of Babylon and it makes no sense to sign up to work for the agenda of the whore.
That is the same thing that people who have their children in government schools tell me.
For me to point out the inconsistency of Christians serving in the US military is not an accusation and neither is it counter-productive.
And now you’ve been shown why that is a wrong opinion for a Christian to have.
I salute the service of military personnel because most of them don’t know any better. My Grandfather fought at the Battle of the Bulge. My Dad was a paratrooper in the Korea War. I honor their service. But I also recognize that in Grandpa’s war the end result was turning Communism into a international power. Did Grandpa understand he was fighting in order that the Iron Curtain could fall over Europe?
It is time to take the sentimentalism out of military service and start realizing that the American State is Babylon the Whore and any service in the State is service for building a Secular Humanism Tower of Babel.
Cheers,
Well, I’m certainly not going to defend the American State or the Babylonian system that we live within (of which the military is a significant part). Nothing I wrote hinted at that. Nor would I consider defending the concept of women in the military. And I sure wouldn’t defend any recent actions of the military. My point is that the soldiers themselves (Christians in particular) do not deserve your condemnation.
You think they do. I understand your reasoning. I don’t entirely disagree with it. But I won’t go so far as to disparage individual soldiers who choose to serve their country in the military.
The closest I’ll come to that is to consider them victims of manipulative government propaganda.
Beyond that, I found it odd that you wrote:
“I salute the service of military personnel because most of them don’t know any better.”
That seems kind of lame.
On the one hand, you condemn them and on the other hand you salute them? Now I’m confused. Are you saluting the ones who don’t know any better because they don’t know any better? Or are you saluting them because of their service, even though they don’t know any better? This seems like something of a contradiction? Or were you slipping into sentimentalism? 😉
You might better just condemn the whole lot of them and leave it at that. Don’t be wishy washy about it.
In the final analysis, you and I agree on a whole lot more here than we disagree on.
But I’ll salute the service of individual American soldiers without reservation (Christian soldiers too)… because it’s the least I can do.
I’m saluting them because I don’t hold them entirely responsible for their naivete. I understand they are being manipulated. At the same time, I am suggesting that it is past time for them to see that they are being manipulated and to commit their nobility, bravery, and zeal to a cause more worthy of them.
So you see I am neither slipping into a contradiction (they are naive but if one looks past the naivete one can see noble character quality even if it is misdirected) nor am I being sentimental for the courage of these people is undeniable.
The difference between us is that you salute them w/o reservation and I salute them w/ a deep reservation that would beg of them to quit supporting a system that is not worthy of them.
Cheers Herrick,
Well said!
Nobility. Bravery. Zeal. Courage.
Those words, those sentiments, were nowhere in your original post.
And there was no saluting of the soldier in your original post.
And you seemed to be holding Christian soldiers entirely responsible for their naivete.
Thank you for your well-stated clarification.
I agree with you.
Thank you then Herrick for drawing my beliefs out. I will end by saying though that once the State is clearly exposed for what it is and once Christian Military personnel are exposed to that truth then no matter how much Nobility. Bravery. Zeal. Courage. they may have those qualities will not excuse them for linking those character traits to a anti-Christ State’s agenda.
Translated Bibles imported to a theater of operations for the conversion of foreign people are contraband and as such, must be confiscated and destroyed. If we return them home, as we once did, they just get sent right on back here.
So yes, we take them out of circulation permanently. This is a measure for the protection of troops, not for the suppression of Christianity, which pretty much does not exist here in Afghanistan anyway, aside from enclaves on the FOBs.
You are a fool if you think a zealous and xenophobic population like the Afghans would somehow love our troops more if they started handed out religious conversion literature in their native languages.
You can’t imagine the RIOTS that occur when there’s even a rumor of such things. American troops are injured and die in this kind of violence — so get your priorities straight. Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
We are NOT over here to spread the Kingdom of God. But if you want to put your body where your big mouth is, feel free to buy a ticket, bring a crate of Dari-Pashto Bibles, and see how long you last before the locals rip you limb from limb. The Church can always use another martyr — so lead the way, brother.
Dear Mr(s). Cline,
1.) I’m glad seized Bibles gets “sent right back there.” One can be absolutely certain that as long as the people don’t have an opportunity to to read God’s Word Christianity will never “pretty much exist there.”
2.) Regardless of the reason that you say you destroy Bibles that are written in the native language the result is the suppression of Christianity. Having said that, I have my serious doubts that there aren’t people in the Chain of Command who have a passionate desire to “suppress Christianity.”
3.) Let me get this straight …. You’re worried about offending a culture and population that you are seeking to suppress anyway?
4.) On your whole stupid Caesar point you might want to take the time to consider
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Matthew 22:21
The question that begs being asked here is, “what exactly belongs to God?”
Clearly the answer is everything, including the State.
The next question then becomes, “what exactly belongs to Caesar?”
Clearly the answer is only one thing and that is the authority to enforce God’s law, for His glory and the good of His church.
Romans 13 causes us to lean in this direction as it calls Caesar ‘God’s minister’ to do us good. As long as they ACT like God’s minister, by doing us good we are to obey them. When they begin to act like Satan’s minister, by doing us evil, then we must obey God rather then men.
Anything less then this view is impotent gnostic pietism. The Presbyterians of 1776 would not recognize the Presbyterians of today.
5.) I never said or implied that the Afghan population would love us more if we handed out God’s Word. However if the goal is, as it seems to be, Nation Building (subdue population and rebuild the nation) then such a goal would be far better achieved by spreading Christianity as opposed to spreading secular humanism.
6.) You’re right … you’re not over there to spread the Kingdom of God. You’re over there to spread the decadent West’s Kingdom of man. Many people in the US Government would consider it real progress if there was a abortion clinic on every corner of Kabul by the time things were finished there.
7.) I’m to busy basking in the glow of your affections for me to give it up to bask in the glow of the affections of the Muslim Afghanis. Besides, the West is so messed up it needs its own missionaries that it can rip from limb to limb. By the tone of your comment you wouldn’t mind starting with me.
In the end the Military presences is about a change of culture. Such presences always are. The question isn’t one of whether or not occupied peoples are going to love us. Occupied people seldom love their occupiers. The question is one that asks, “How are we intending to change this culture.” The obvious answer for the US is “not in the direction of Christianity.”
Finally, given the way this Commander in Chief is not going to fight this war I would just as soon as see our Troops come home. Obama is a coward and a Muslim “kiss butt” and we might as well get our people out of the way of the harm he is going to cause.
Please clarify for me some things. I am currently in the military and am struggling with this same question. I am searching and praying that God would show me the answer to this controversial question (which is obvious by the previous posts). My heart is truly to do his will and until recently I felt that I was in Gods will. I am not saying that I am not in his will now its just that this question is argued in both directions very well and I would like someone elses opinion on this matter.
These are some verses and views that I have. Please tell me your opinion of these views. (Without ripping it apart)
From what I have gathered over my time in the military that there are mixed feelings about whether a Christian should serve in the military. Some people believe that Christians shouldn’t be in the military because you are carrying out the orders of a nation whose views are not biblically based. Also that God commands us not to kill (murder). I believe God can use anyone anywhere at anytime. Romans 13:1 “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” If God is directing the king and I am to obey the authorities placed above me then how can I not be used for his will as a SF soldier? Psalms 144:1 “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” I have always had a heart for the helpless and the weak. God has called people to help the weak and the oppressed. Some people do that by being a missionary and spreading the gospel. I feel I am called to help those people that missionaries may not be able to reach. I am using the Army as a means of doing that.
The motto for the Special Forces is “De Oppresso Liber”, which means To Liberate the Oppressed. Psalms 82:3-4 say “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless, maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” God has called us to help out our neighbors to defend the helpless. SF soldier and all members of the military risk their lives to protect the rights of those who are being oppressed by rulers of other nations. They do this so that everyone may have freedom. I see this as being honoring to God.
I once heard a story from a friend of mine who served with me in Iraq. Im know he got it from somewhere and Im not sure where but I remember it quite well. The story went something like this. There are three types of people. Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs. Sheep are people who have no capacity for violence but are a healthy productive citizen. Wolves are people who have a capacity for violence and no empathy for their fellow citizens. The wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. Then there are sheepdogs. Sheepdogs are people who have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for their fellow citizens. The sheepdog is a warrior and a hero. The sheep think the sheepdog is weird because he is always sniffing the ground, barking at things that he hears, and wanting the righteous battle. The sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is constantly reminding the sheep that there are wolves in the land. They gripe and complain about the sheepdog when he keeps them from going astray. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go baa. Until the wolf shows up, then the entire flock is looking for the sheepdog and trying desperately to hide behind the one lonely sheepdog. The difference between the sheep and the sheepdog is this. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. I believe that I am a sheepdog and I will do whatever it takes to protect the sheep and help the Sheppard.
Please shed some light on this dilemma I am facing.
Neal,
I believe I’m a sheepdog on steroids, so we share the same self-understanding.
I will return to your comments later and flesh out an answer for some of your questions.
Bret
Maybe the few Covenanters left are on to something. I find it appalling that Christians would uphold a government that as a matter of policy was making the world safe for Islam.
Tom,
Safe for anything but Biblical Christianity.
Thanks for commenting Tom.