THE EMPTY ATHEIST

  From the age of Adam and Eve, the biggest sin of all was the fact that man thought he was equal or God's superior.  Having partaken of the fruit, man became like God "knowing good and evil."  From that point on, many have used their God given abilities and intellect to elevate themselves using "human reason."  Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but can be used for evil purposes.  Unfortunately it has been used in prideful ways to such an extent that humanity has suffered the consequences of human reason for selfish purposes. 
  There is a movement underfoot in American which exalts human reason, empiricism over spiritual truth and rationalism as an end to itself.  This type of thinking has seen its nadir in historical movements and has been brought to its dead conclusion in the past.  Unfortunately, we as people do not learn from our mistake.  As a result, this month's blog addresses the truth behind this yet another wasteful human construct.  We hope you enjoy this month's article based on the real truth behind the movement known as "Those who Know..." 

 

The Adversarial Atheist

By

George J Jefferson

  As I sit in the quiet of my office writing this, it is Christmas.  Christmas with all of its hype is still the best time of the year.  While some focus and obsess on the hypocrisy of this special time, one can quickly become a naysayer. As I ponder the human condition in my forced solitude, I’m forced to recall those who don’t like this holiday are usually the ones who are the first to complain about it. Yet, somehow these same individuals who are great at articulating their distaste are the same ones who enjoy the benefit from this day.  They get a day off, they get to spend time with their loved ones and heaven forbid, they are forced to be reminded this holiday seeks joy and peace by positing a God who actually loves us. 

  What class of people am I talking about?  I’m talking about those who call themselves atheists.  Of course this is a personal choice, but unfortunately there is a small, but very vocal minority who are trying to destroy the very fabric of who we are as a collective nation.  These are people who think that those who believe in a personal God and even Christians at large are idiots and dangerous.  Worse yet, they would destroy all that is good for the sake of their own ideology.  They are the purveyors of what is good and bad and they would establish their own morality based on what they perceive as right and wrong. 

  Without name calling, let’s take a look at their world view and for the sake of logic, let’s follow this tragic line of reasoning.  After all, this is their unending mantra: Human reason.

  What does a world with faith in Jesus Christ offer for us today?  Christmas celebrates a holiday based on hope, love and joy.  In a Christian world view, that is an easy one. Now let’s contrast this with a humanistic viewpoint.  What big day is there for us humans?  “Earth Day?”  Wow, that’s inspiring! Makes one want to make up songs, Hold a holy vigil, do a jig and celebrate with one’s family.  Not much of an inspiration unless one worships mother earth.  However, that goes against all logic.  Nope.  No candidates for holidays.

  How about human logic and faith as found in the arts? Let’s take music for instance.  Can we compare faith-based music with that of human reason.  Which type moves and captivates our hearts and minds?  Is it fair to compare fickle pop trends which only appeal to our basic instincts with music that inspires not only generations, but decades and even centuries of people? The best music the world has ever seen is faith based.  As Steve Martin once said in one of his songs “Atheists ain’t got no music!” 

  Another aspect of human reason versus faith is the world of literature.  Literature exists to explain the human condition.  While there are many stories written to explain this topic, the atheistic viewpoint is pretty mum on this front.  Not many truly classical stories without some sort of faith in a deity is presented from all of antiquity to the present.   Unfortunately for the atheist the Bible has been the number one best bookseller in the world for the past two hundred years. It is a good source for literature and explains many of the sources of the Human condition.  Maybe that is a good reason that the first book ever printed was the Scriptures.   

  Its’ obvious Human reason cannot trump Christianity’s contribution to the arts and holidays.  Perhaps atheists view their pessimistic outlook on life based on their superior knowledge as found in their rational approach towards the human existence as found in Government.  In a Christian worldview and in the mind of our nations’ Founding Father’s, there is an a priori assumption of the doctrine of sin and of human nature. They knew the importance of freedom of conscience, so they implanted a failsafe system of checks and balances into how people would be governed.  This same system was based on religious principles which presupposed God who ruled in the affairs of man (quoted by Ben Franklin at the Constitutional convention). 

  However atheists and many modern lawyers would have us believe that wasn’t the case because the Constitution never mentions God (Never mind that a Deity is mentioned in all of the States Constitutions).  Of course they have only a superficial understanding of American history and never mention that Congress actually paid to have Bibles published with government money for the evangelism of Native Americans, the building of Christian Chapels, paid clergy for public prayers and many other state sponsored Christian endeavors.   There are many other examples, but the point here is to say with 100% certainty we are what we are today based on our faith in God and His grace in our country’s welfare. 

  Compare our country’s historical origins with those countries who have embraced the belief of atheistic “human reason” and we end up with examples of dictators and despotism found in Cuba, North Korea and the former Soviet Union.  Need I say more about all of these receptacles of human misery because these countries embraced a believe system based on their love of “human reason” devoid of a God based worldview.  

  The American Revolution and the French Revolution are illustrative and occurred at roughly the same time.  The former recognized ultimate accountability to God and birthed a nation of Liberty, the latter exalted human reason.  The French Revolution’s highpoint was the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789.  What followed was not a new birth of freedom but a chilling mutation of the revolution.  Moderate French orator, Pierre Vergniaud summed it, "The Revolution, like Saturn, is devouring its own children."  Over 35,000 lives were brutally extinguished in the ten-month Reign of Terror.  This “Enlightenment” demonstrated quite clearly what a revolution without God could achieve.  The French people, exhausted of the senseless slaughter, eventually embraced the opposite extreme (of freedom), Napoleon's absolute despotism.

  However, to me, the worse aspect of this type of human outlook is devastating to who we are as human beings.  In a Christian world view, we are in a state of rebellion against a God who desires a covenant with us through His Son Jesus Christ.  This covenant is a loving relationship and is not based on consumerism.  A covenant is an agreement between two individuals who make a decision to work through problems and have faith in each other whether easy or hard. A covenant takes work because it is binding and agreements hold each of us accountable for our actions. Consumerism on the other hand looks to work only if there is a benefit to an individual.  If an individual no longer gets what they want from others, they break the agreement.  No personal benefit, no relationship.   

  We are in a society where people are selling human reason over a relationship with God.  With this atheistic consumerism, one can do whatever they want, whenever they want without any consequences.  It sounds great and like a sugar cookie, tastes great. However, this sugar cookie has no substance and cannot sustain life.  Atheism promises, but cannot deliver. It has no solutions or answers.  It cannot promise anything or create something good.  That is because its main premise is terribly flawed.  This was demonstrated over 150 years ago by a man named Arthur Schopenhauer when he proved logically that atheism’s goal is pure selfishness of the individual over the greater good.  The exaltation of Human reason by itself has nothing to offer.  The only good it can bring is when it is used in the context of praising God.  Duh!    

BEWARE THE JABBERWOCKY Part 2

IN the last blog, we took to task the fallacious logic of atheistic attacks on Christianity.  This second part tells the prophetic and omnious story of how atheism brought to its logical conclusion will destroy the very heart of who we are as humans.  READER BEWARE, this is our legacy if we are to believe those who want to destroy the foundation of Christianity in our land. 

BEWARE THE JABBERWOCKY Part II

OR

Where Lies the Humanistic Lie

By

George J. Jefferson

   One of the old episodes of the TV series “Twilight Zone” was written with a futuristic view of how twisted a government can get without a belief in God.  In the episode “The Obsolete Man,” a man is put on trial for being “obsolete.”  His crime?  He is a librarian who believes in literacy and God.  His world view believes in the dignity of man and a personal belief that adheres to an old fashioned idea:  There is a higher authority than the State, namely God.

  As the story begins, there is a judicial scene of a high state Chancellor condemning him for his crimes.  In the name of the state, the Chancellor sentences the man to death and the man is given his choice of how he is to be executed.  The condemned man requests for a personal assassin to be sent to his room before midnight and the event is to be televised for all the masses.  Sensing a chance to demonstrate how useless this man is and what he stands for and how superior the State and human reason is, the Chancellor himself shows up at the condemned man’s room at 11:16 PM to do the deed. 

  Once the Chancellor comes in the room, the condemned man locks the door and tells him they both will die because he has planted a bomb which will go off promptly at midnight.  For the next 44 minutes, the calmness of the condemned man is apparent as he invokes Scripture and visibly shows the stark contrast of a man facing death with hope versus that of the panicky and desperate Chancellor.  Finally with seconds left to go before the bomb blows up the Chancellor cries in desperation “For the love of God, please let me go!” to which the “Obsolete Man” opens the door and lets the disgraced Chancellor out.  As the bomb goes off, the Chancellor barely survives the blast.

  The next scene shows the Chancellor himself in the same courtroom being condemned himself.  He is accused of being a coward and an enemy of the state.  After he is forced out by his compatriots, the scene fades out and then the author of the episode appears with a comment.  He ominously says “Any state, any entity, and any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity and rights of man, that state is obsolete!”

  That piece was written over 50 years ago and has a clarion ring for us today.  Throughout history many despots thinking their rationalism trumps anything that has to do with spiritual and moral truth has gone on crusades to eliminate free thought and personal choice for those who have faith.  Friends! Such is the thinking of atheists in the guise of rational thought who attempt to take over our governmental institutions.  Don’t believe me?  This is happening right now in many branches of our military in leadership positions.  While claiming supreme knowledge (of course it’s only found between their own personal ears), their destruction and hatred will destroy anything with virtue, merit and value.  Rom 1:22 clearly states “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” 

  We are in a spiritual battle!  Time to put on the whole armor of God  (Eph 6:10-20).  Time is of the essence and we must be vigilant against such tyranny! 

THE EMPTINESS OF ATHEISM

  In Psalm 119:64-68, the Psalmist in his agony uses the obvious evidences of God's multiple goodness to plead his case for the end result:  He simply wants to learn God's ways.  The reason why he is in anguish is because "the arrogant has forged a lie against him" (vs. 69).  The lesson from this passage is for a believer to do what is right, despite what evil ones may say.  Be encouraged that as believers, we know the final outcome of those who oppose the things of God.   God is not mocked and He will have His vengeance eventually (Rom 12:19).
  However, the Scriptures are also clear that as believers, we need to expose the unrighteous deeds of the wicked (Eph 5:11-13).  Such is the case with those who blast religious people, especially those people who dislike Christians without any reason whatsoever.   Worse yet, they make grandiose, but empty rhetoric against those they disagree without offering anything in its place.  Those that peddle this type of inflammatory language are not capable of working for cooperation or reconciliation, but only want their own view of reality. 
This month starts a series exposing the latest attacks against the clear teachings of Scripture.  "Beware the Jabberwocky" is an expose and warning against those who would do us harm in our military.  Written by John J Madison, it addresses some needed things against this new foe which would leave us to the fiat and foibles of human reason, instead of the Word of God. 

BEWARE THE JABBERWOCKY, MY SON

 by John J Madison.

  Lewis Carroll of Victorian England was a satirist.  When rules of conformity for meter and rhythm were at an all-time high for poetry, he wrote a nonsensical poem about an imaginary animal called the Jabberwocky.  The poem which was originally used to mock his peers ended up being a huge hit.  The “Anti” poem became “The” poem.   To Carroll’s cynical amusement, everyone who was somebody tried his hand at what the nonsensical jargon meant.  For the time being, the culture that had brought the world Dickens and D.H. Lawrence spent their time and energy in a meaningless pursuit of nonsense.  Unfortunately for us in the present, we are now at the same place dealing with a new old fad called “Atheism.”  Atheists prefer (and condescendingly so) to be known today as Freethinkers or Brights.  The Holy Scriptures rather bluntly call them “fools” (Psalm 14) for they intentionally suppress indisputable evidence (Romans 1:18-22) placed within them (they might as well deny their own existence).      

  Christians need to confidently respond to the nothingness of atheism.  Sensing blood from a shark feeding frenzy of judicial fiat, atheists are spewing out their poison against our society’s institutions on an altar of human reason.  By using hateful speech, legal threats, and bullying tactics, atheists are making some serious inroads.  Carroll’s poem is a satire that is not supposed to make any sense, so also this human belief system (atheism) has nothing to offer a culture and society: NOTHING. 

  Our Country’s Founders in the Declaration of Independence openly attested to the role of Divine Providence in the birth of the United States.  They subsequently and wisely included in the Constitution a Bill of Rights to protect among other freedoms, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion.  The Government shall not prohibit the free exercise of Religion.  Our Founders recognized the wholesome value of Religious Faith in the new Nation.  John Adams said, “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”  James Madison agreed, “the belief in a God All Powerful, wise and good, is essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man.”  Our religious freedom (not religious tolerance) was one of the “certain unalienable rights” endowed to us by our Creator.

  Atheism is characterized not by defining what it can do for the people of the United States (its benefits), but it exists rather to attack the perceived excesses of the religious… and in so doing seeks to characterize these religious excesses as the norm.  It is a logical fallacy to believe that one bad apple makes the whole bushel bad.  However, there appears to be a hidden agenda for something far more sinister.

  One of the biggest proponents of the newest form of tolerated hate speech is found in the leader of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).  Mikey Weinstein’s tirade against Christian Military Chaplains reveals that the MRFF is a misnomer, for in practice; the MRFF is really the Military Freedom from Religion Foundation.  Note a quote from one of his recent diatribes about a proposed congressional prayer amendment included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“Section 530 of the NDAA promises to hand over a colossal government-issued blank check to those within the United States military who seek to exploit and misuse their rank and uniform for their own parochial and brazenly unconstitutional Christian supremacist purposes. Section 530 would allow every bigoted slimeball within the American armed forces – the homophobes, Islamophobes, anti-Semites, misogynists, anti-Constitutionalists, fundamentalist/dominionist Christians, and/or all of the above – to be given absolute free rein to slither out of their stinking closets of putrid prejudice and spout their twisted, Christian-jihad poison.” (from: http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/press-releases/2013/Rodda-Weinstein_TO_6-19-13.html)

  Mikey Weinstein is free under our Constitution to believe whatever he desires, and to publish and practice his beliefs.  A good number of “Christians” have died to safeguard his freedoms.  But, come on…really?…“bigoted slimeball,…slither…stinking closets… purtrid … Christian-jihad poison?”  His animosity toward Christians is evident!  His foundational belief seems not to be his “love” of the Constitution.  Is this someone one that an Air Force Lieutenant General should take seriously, especially in seeking his counsel in the areas of Religious Diversity and Tolerance?  Beware the Jabberwock, my son!  This is a path that makes no sense. 

  In Weinstein’s writings he uses the seemingly innocuous rubric that there should not be any government religion at all.  History and precedence are all moot points.  He shuts down his opposition by masterfully using the “Heckler’s Veto,” that is, he gets the government to give a heckler in the audience veto power over a speaker’s content, context, and viewpoint (because it might offend him).  This deceptive ploy has been declared unconstitutional in our courts.  Furthermore, the virulence of his vindictive writings expose and betray a hidden hatred of anything he disagrees with.  Worse yet, he bases it on a common modern ignorance of the history and making of the Constitution and the belief system of the people behind it.  He makes the logical fallacy of not truly knowing American history and using reductionist (life is just economic, social and political) and revisionist history to turn it into his own personal invective against religion (read Christianity).    

  Beware!  This is the kind of philosophy that would destroy all of our cherished freedoms because these people believe they are the true intellectuals and self-proclaimed demi-gods who feel compelled to protect humankinds’ freedoms.  History has proven repeatedly that Atheism and Gnosticism lead to anarchy and a true reign of terror because they think they are the only “rational ones” who know what is best for all.  Once in power, they become autocrats and suppress everyone else.  They do not tolerate other views and subject people to all aspects of their own personal whims based on “rationalism.”  Might makes right!  Need examples, France in the late 1700s and more recently, the Soviet Union, where the STATE was supreme.  Our Constitution and nation must become a godless entity.  How we quickly forget the lessons of history, the lessons of what godless government bring.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…Beware the Jabberwocky, my son. 

 

Next month:  Beware the Jabberwocky, My Son: Part Two- “Exposing the Agenda of Atheism”

DEADLY CONSEQUENCES: Women in the Front Lines of Combat

 For the first time in the history of the civilized world, our government in their infinite wisdom is allowing women to fight in the front lines of combat.  While liberals and progressives taut their hidden agendas to compromise our nations' safety in the guise of civil rights, Robert Maginnis (LTCOL, US Army-ret) has written a well thought out and documented book exposing the fallacies of this new reality.  Citing DOD studies which overwhelmingly show why this is a bad idea, he builds a case why this will fail and ultimately, hurt the United States.  He answers many questions like "what about Israel and Russia who have let women fight on the front lines" to which he answers "some nations when faced with total destruction from a foreign enemy have used all and any able bodies to protect their nation in times of great emergencies."  This book passes the common sense test.
  In using man's wisdom (Rom 1:22 tells us what God thinks of that), this is just another example of equality gone amok.  In a Christian world view, one sees the world from a holistic standpoint.  Truth and reality are seen from a spiritual foundation as found in the Word of God.  From there, one's world view is consistent with what is good, right and helps in the order and discipline of individuals and the society they live in.  If a culture chooses to deviate from God's principles of life and how to live, there will be consequences.  This axiomatic truth is found in all walks of our lives starting from marriage to finances to government.
  Dr. Dick Mayhue in this months' "Shofar" journal reminds us of the spiritual foundation of why "women in combat" is not only a bad idea, but why it is wrong before a Holy and perfect God.  As God judges our nation from deviating from His truth, we need to know what to do and where we as believers need to take our stand.  This article will help us in our quest to fight the good fight. Reprinted with permission from Answers in Genesis (www.answersingenesis.org).

Daughters and Wives in Combat?

Dr. Richard Mayhue

Leon Panetta, then U.S. secretary of defense, shocked the nation when he announced in January that he had lifted the ban on women serving in combat. While I was discussing when it’s okay for daughters and wives to fight, a friend reacted in the same way many others feel, “I can answer in one word, ‘Never!’”

It’s not a new question. The first known Christian scholar, Clement of Alexandria (ca. AD 155-220), would have agreed wholeheartedly. “For we do not train our women like Amazons to manliness in war; since we wish the men even to be peaceable” (The Stromata, Bk IV, Ch VIII).

 

Concerned citizens have adopted multiple approaches to grapple with this vexing question, appealing to morality, physiology, nature, tradition, emotion, history, politics, and psychology. As a naval officer who piloted a hovercraft in the dangerous northern waterways of South Vietnam, I could also speak from personal experience. But what gives one person’s opinion greater authority than any other? God the Creator’s perspective takes precedent over all others, so I have chosen to appeal exclusively to the divine authority that resides uniquely in Scripture. Surely, the Bible has an answer to such a pressing contemporary query.

While we are not under the Law (Hebrews 8:6–13), the Old Testament provides a framework for understanding God’s intentions. The military requirements for Israel set a pattern that we should consider carefully. Has God revealed any underlying principles about gender roles that reflect His higher purpose for all nations?

1.     Only men were counted to go to war. This practice continued all the way from Moses’ time to David and Amaziah (Numbers 1:2–3; 2 Samuel 24:9; 1 Chronicles 21:5; 2 Chronicles 25:5).

 

2.     Only sons were chosen for war. Samuel reported this fact to Israel as the word of the LORD (1 Samuel 8:11). Israel’s first king, Saul, did exactly this (1 Samuel 14:52).

3.     Only men went to war. God the Father is pictured as a warrior on behalf of Israel (Isaiah 42:13). The military bodyguard that protected Israel’s king is referred to as “the mighty men of Israel” (Song of Solomon 3:7–8). When reading through the historical books (Genesis to Esther), we frequently encounter male armies but never a mention or even veiled suggestion of women co-combatants. Pagan armies that fought against Israel were male only (1 Samuel 4:9–10). God even prophesied that the male Babylonian army would fight without strength as though they were women (Jeremiah 51:30).

No matter what era one examines in the biblical history of Israel, fighting units were exclusively staffed with men. When Abram gathered a quick-strike force to rescue Lot from his kidnappers, he chose men (Genesis 14:14–15). When Moses assembled an army to attack the Midianites, he selected “men of war” (Numbers 31:3, 21, 49). When God elaborated on rules for temporary absences from combat duty, the excused soldiers were men (Deuteronomy 20:5–8). When the Jews marched around Jericho, the males marched (Joshua 6:3, 7, 9). When Joshua attacked Ai, he did so with a male army (Joshua 8:3). Before Gideon went to war, God reduced his fighting force to 300 men (Judges 7:7). Saul’s army proved to be only male (1 Samuel 11:8). King David’s bodyguard was comprised of mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8–37). Jehoshaphat’s army enlisted only men (2 Chronicles 17:10–19).

4.     Daughters served in domestic roles. Samuel reported this as God’s word to Israel (1 Samuel 8:13).

5.     Wives and children did not go to war. While men went forth to conquer (Deuteronomy 3:18), the women and children remained behind (Deuteronomy 3:19–20; Joshua 1:14–15). Additionally, Deuteronomy 24:5 says that male soldiers in their first year of marriage were to remain at home with their new brides in a domestic setting rather than go to war with their fellow-soldiers. Nehemiah urged the men to fight for their families and homes (Nehemiah 4:14).

6.     Women welcomed men back from war; never did they return with them. Such was the case when King Saul and David returned from battle (1 Samuel 18:6–7).

“What about Deborah and Jael?” many people ask. Deborah reluctantly went into battle with the Israelite warrior Barak, not as a female combatant but as a judge of Israel, possibly to shame his cowardice (Judges 4:4–9). The woman Jael killed the enemy general Sisera, not in battle but while doing her domestic chores in a tent where Sisera had retreated to hide (Judges 4:17–22).

    While the Old Testament says much, the New Testament is virtually silent on this specific question. It does reiterate the distinction between women’s and men’s roles first established in Genesis 1–2 (Matthew 19:4–6); and it confirms the scriptural authority of the Old Testament (2 Timothy 3:16–17). It also speaks of unavoidable spiritual warfare for believers in Christ, whether young or old, male or female (Ephesians 6:10–17; 1 Peter 5:6–9). But, it does not directly address the question at hand. However, two texts urge the New Testament reader to consider the instructions and examples of the Old Testament: Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11. When done, the Old Testament pattern speaks clearly and with divine authority. It does so both prescriptively and descriptively to provide crucial scriptural guidance on this issue. Based on Paul’s assertions, believers should employ the historical pattern found in the Old Testament—informed by the New Testament and with the Holy Spirit’s guidance—as the pattern for all their decision-making today with respect to the possibility of women in combat.

The most celebrated early-church Bible expositor, John Chrysostom (ca. AD 344–407), apparently preached and wrote with these very same convictions in mind (Homily V; see Titus 2:11–14): “Woman was not made for this, O man, to be prostituted as common. O ye subverters of all decency, who use men, as if they were women, and lead out women to war, as if they were men! . . . You suffer women to bear arms, and are not ashamed.”

While I still cannot answer with just one word the question, “Should our daughters and wives serve in combat?” I can now do it authoritatively with three, “Never, biblically speaking!”

Take courage, we have the divinely authoritative Scripture and the testimony of Christian scholars and teachers from the early church on our side as fellow-soldiers in the ongoing battle for truth.

 Dr. Richard Mayhue, Executive Vice President and Dean of The Master’s Seminary since 1990, has authored, edited, or contributed to over 30 books, including Coming to Grips with Genesis.

 

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Welcome to the AGC Shofar magazine and blog for Chaplains who have a heart for God's truth.  A lot has happened in the past few months which will change the landscape of America and how Bible Believing Chaplains will minister to those in the military.  It is with this in mind that our two articles this month focus on who we are before the Lord. With so much confusion today it is time to get back to basics and what is truth.  This starts from a godly perspective and what is right before God.    
   President Steve Brown reminds us in the first writing who we are as Chaplains and our responsibility before God and others as an ordained clergy.  Concepts which focus on our duty before a holy God and not on what is popular or the latest political fad.   The second article is from our National Field representative Pat Doney.  Pat brings us an edifying missive on God our Father and how it relates to Father's Day.  Even though Father's Day has past, it reminds us what a Father is and how God our Father loves us. 
  With that said, enjoy this months' articles.  Read and meditate on God's goodness and pray for our country.  God bless.

The Definition of a Chaplain- by Steve Brown, President AGC (CAPT-ret, USN) 

Background:  Well over 100 Endorsing Agencies send "Chaplains" to serve in the Military Services, Hospitals, Prisons, and Public Safety Departments.  The "Religious Requirements" to be endorsed as a Chaplain vary with each Endorsing Agency.  Some Endorsing Agencies do not require ordination (the military services do not require this either).  Some Agencies endorse women.  Some view serving as a chaplain as a lesser ministry than that of a Pastor, and so they place a lesser requirement on their Chaplains.  A Pastor once said of a Chaplain Candidate, he does not meet the Biblical standard to be a Pastor, but I would recommend him to be a Military Chaplain.   

Every AGC Chaplain is first a God-called Pastor who has been ordained (set apart) for the Gospel ministry.  You are a Pastor in Uniform.  We pray that you will excel in this calling as a Pastor (serving now for a time as a Chaplain). While not every tour of duty will require the traditional and repetitive Preaching/Teaching responsibilities of a local church Pastor, you are always a Pastor.  It is God who called you into the Gospel ministry whether you serve in uniform or in civilian garb.  His calling is what really matters. It is that calling that will sustain you when (not if) the going gets tough! 

AGC Endorsement requires Ordination, and Ordination is the work of a Local Church.  While "the AGC" has the capability to "ordain," we will use this capability only as a last resort and always in support of a local church we represent.  Ordination is a local church's prerogative to recognize and celebrate God's call on the life of a man, culminating in his public "setting apart" to the Gospel Ministry.   

Biblically, a candidate for ordination must not only be doctrinally sounds, but according to the apostle Paul, a person desiring the office of "bishop" and/or seeking the pastorate must meet the following qualifications (drawn from I Timothy 3 and Titus 1):

A desire to serve 

• Blameless 
• Husband of one wife
• Temperate - self-disciplined
• Sober-minded - contemplative and not given to irrational or irresponsible thinking / behavior
• Good behavior
• Hospitable - friendly, compassionate, and welcoming
• Able to teach
• Not given to wine
• Not violent - should not be abusive
• Not greedy for money
• Gentle and not quarrelsome
• Not covetous
• One who rules his own house well 
• Not a "novice" - the pastor should be spiritually and emotionally mature
• Solid testimony and reputation

In summary, while there are varied interpretations of the I Timothy 3/Titus 1 list above, and the Pastor is never a "perfect man," the Pastor clearly ought to be an exemplary Christian Leader in his Private, Public, and Pastoral Life.  He should be a model for others to follow.  

An AGC Chaplain is not a second class, throttled-back, version of a Pastor, a sort of "Pastor-Lite."  He is a Pastor in Uniform, on loan from a local church, accountable to that church even though he is represented by the AGC to the Military, a hospital, a prison, or a Public Safety Department.  

BLUF: Every AGC Chaplain is a Pastor who meets a local church's biblical requirements to be ordained to serve as a Pastor, Elder, or Bishop (all three are used interchangeably).  The Pastoral Standard while variously interpreted is intentionally high, placed there by God Himself in the inspired Text.  

May we be empowered by His grace to serve in such a way that others cannot help but see the difference (Titus 2:10-15) and desire the One we serve. 

Be wise as a Serpent and Harmless as a Dove!

 

 

PAT DONEY- AGC FIELD REP

 

                                                     FATHER'S DAY

                                                       BY

                                                  PAT DONEY

 

On June 16, we celebrate Father's Day. This is a wonderful and meaningful American tradition. God's Word has a lot to say about fatherhood: of the Devil, human fatherhood, and the fatherhood of God Himself. Jesus told His critics in John 8:44, "You are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it." The LORD Jesus has given us a thumbnail sketch of our Adversary the Devil who Peter warns us Believers not to take lightly: "...your Adversary, the Devil, walks about seeking whom he may devour..." If that sounds scary, it is! For sure, we fathers need to ensure that we are a full 180 degrees away from this terrible example of fatherhood. Moving on to our role as human fathers, we are told in Psalm 105:13, "Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear Him" So we fathers are to be like our Heavenly Father, full of compassion and tender mercies. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:4, "And you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD." The story of the so-called Prodigal Son is such a great example of a father's love and compassion to a son: "...This, my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found..." Luke 15:11-32. The father also has the responsibility of discipline: notice Hebrews12:7,ff, "...for what son is he whom the father chastens not..." Being a good Dad requires mentoring which we can get from our own dads, but more importantly from our Heavenly Father. And He is our Father; Galatians 3:26 says, "For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (This debunks the old ideas of the universal fatherhood of God, and the universal brotherhood of man.) In Romans 8:14,15, Paul reminds us that we are adopted into the family of God because of Jesus Christ, and we can call Him, "Abba Father." This is a term of endearment which demonstrates the intimate relationship we have because of our being born again by the Holy Spirit of God. I Peter 1:23 says, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which lives and abides forever." In 1:19, Peter makes it clear that our relationship to the Heavenly Father is through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus tells his disciples to speak to their Father saying when they pray, "Our Father, who art in Heaven..." This is about our relationship to the Almighty, Creator God. On this Father's Day, let’s get a renewed look at our relationships, not only to our dads and children, but to our loving Heavenly Father who sent His blessed Son, Jesus Christ, to vicariously atone for our sins, and to adopt us into the family of God, so that now we can come boldly to the Throne of Grace and find mercy to help in time of need, and say with confidence, ABBA FATHER. Happy Father's Day!

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

Welcome to this month's AGC Shofar Blog/magazine.  This month is the final installment in the series dealing with combat trauma and PTSD.  As our title so abtly suggests, somethings are not so clear.  In the Biblical context found in 1 Cor 13:12, the KJV mentions that the early Christians had only a partial revelation of understanding the difference between the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues and prophecy. They only knew things "Through a glass darkly."  This meant that at first God did not reveal everything to us and it caused some confusion, but now that Scripture was completed believers had the completed Word of God to make things easy to understand. 
  As believers, we do not have to wonder in the dark or "see through a glass darkly" when it comes to things like PTSD caused by combat stress.  God has given to us a wonderful blueprint to understand our humanity and use God's powerful Holy Spirit for healing.  It's quite simple, but yet powerful and profound.  The only prerequisite is for us to believe and do it God's way, rather than think we can solve our own problems.  So with that introduction, feel free to read the first two parts and then finish with the third part to understand this provocative part of how Christian Chaplains use God's Word to help our Soldiers', Sailors', Marines and Airmen. God bless. 

A NEW OLD WAY- Part three of three
  By Chaplain Tim Libertay
 

How Moral Injury Works and Solutions 

               In this new paradigm of thinking, we have postulated a new anthropology of how we are wired as people.  Furthermore, a new causation for the epidemiology of PTSD of moral injury is essential to understand the road to recovery for those who suffer from the said affliction.  Sin is the culprit and theology as found in the Scriptures explains it succinctly.  For the purposes of this study, there are two different types of sin which goes to the heart of why people suffer from PTSD.  There is sin which someone else does which affects an individual and sin which a person commits which tears them apart inside due to guilt.  

The Effects of Two Different Types of Sin

               The first type of sin is the one where an individual is the recipient of someone else’s sin.  Physical and emotional abuse takes this form.  Whether it is an abused child or spouse, many studies have already been done to demonstrate this effect on people.  When it deals with PTSD however, it takes a form which causes the individual to withdraw and become reclusive.   Excessive loneliness is a result.  The individual loses hope and lives in despair and of course it eventually takes a toll on the individual’s physical health.  The Psalmist describes it when He is a victim of other’s sin towards Him: “Do not take my soul away along with sinners or my life with men of bloodshed. In whose hands is a wicked scheme and whose right hand are full of bribes.” (Ps 26:9-10).  In this Psalm, the writer expresses a request to avoid evil.

   Furthermore, the feeling of oppression from others who have done wicked things and still oppress a person has its effects on one’s sanity and health: “The cords of death encompassed me, and the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.  The cords of Sheol (hell) surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me” (Ps 18:4-5).  

               In the examples, the Psalmist doesn’t understand how he could be innocent, but

                              

still suffer from the hatred of others.  In the context of the Psalmist, he has incurred the wrath of King Saul because of petty jealousy.  David is totally innocent and cannot find a rational explanation for why the King wants to kill him.  He has to flee for his life and in this moral question is seeking answers.  It affects his understanding of what he knows as right and wrong and just doesn’t make any sense to him.    He feels alone, dejected and has no answers.  He is a victim of someone else’s sin and hatred.

  With this Biblical illustration comes a true story of someone I counseled in the past who was diagnosed with PTSD.  I hesitate to use this story because it incriminates our own military and fighting forces, but in times of war, nothing is perfect.  I was sworn to confidentiality, so for the sake of this illustration I will use it.  I also understood that this is/was someone’s perception of reality, so it could be distorted as to the facts.  However, in this case, even perception was reality because the individual demonstrated the same effects of what they experienced as the Psalmist did. 

  This Sailor was assigned to a unit as support.  There was a convoy that went into a village and something happened where there was an indication of hostile intent.  A fire fight ensued and the whole village was leveled:  Men, women and even children.  As the Sailor told me the story, it was still vivid and real and evoked a terrible memory and brought tears.  As I asked questions one statement stood out: “I joined the military to do good things, not to be a part which kills people.”  This was definitely a case for Moral Injury if there ever was one.  It concerns one’s view of evil.

               The solution to this will be developed in the next chapter.  What is interesting is how the person got better and learned to deal with this event as a result of my counsel in reference to the moral question.  For now however, a simple summary is needed to bring out the main point of this illustration.  Sin caused by others has the potential to effect and cause moral injury to an individual’s peace of mind.  It is something certainly one cannot prove empirically, but has demonstrative effects on the well-being of a person who experiences this type of event.  This is one type of sin which I will call debilitating sin because sin caused by others can and does affect all.  It is the type that can induce guilt, (even though it doesn’t have to), but its horrific memories evoke a helplessness which

cannot be answered in one’s own world view or experiences.  In reality it’s a different side of the same coin, but the next type of sin has a more devastating effect on a person’s overall well-being. 

 The Mechanism of Moral Guilt

  To remind the reader, if one accepts the premise that we are all created in the image of God, we have an intrinsic sense of what is right and wrong.  We are all “hard-wired” sort of speak to know and understand morality.  Morality has traditionally been defined in terms of Theological constructs.  In other words, what is right and wrong for all people is inherent within us because God has put it there.   There are certain spiritual laws and to break them brings certain negative consequences.   

  For instance, we understand what love is because God is love (1 John 4:8).  We know what righteous (a state of being right) judgment is because God is a Righteous Judge (John 7:24).  Judgment is something we know exist and seek after it.  These are of course moral and hence, non-empirical truths.  However, we know these truths to be self-evident.  These are truths which cannot be confirmed empirically, but deep down we know them to be true nonetheless.  They exist and to deny they do not exist is to deny obvious truth.    

  It is in this realm that the key towards “moral injury” dwell.  A working knowledge of theology is essential at this point because without it, one is totally in the dark.  This is where modern education has fallen because up to a generation ago, all education included it.  Even if one was not a believer in it, at least those of the past had a working knowledge of it. Scientists understood it as being part of the greater whole.  Even a deist like Thomas Jefferson when he started the University of Virginia felt it important to include the Scriptures in his introduction of a non-religious curriculum. 

  In the previous study of sin, one cannot answer the question of evil and all of the terrible things it wreaks on a society or individuals.  In moral guilt, one feels guilt, shame and other emotions due towards an action one has committed or not committed.  The mechanism behind feelings in our soul and spirit are due towards our falling short of what God desires, expects and wants from us.    It is this falling short of God’s standards which an individual uses to come to God through prayer or personal intercession.  If something is wrong, there is an inherent sense of guilt and shame.  As one has this sense, one can choose to ignore it or do something about it.  If ignored, the person can either live with this guilt or find other means to deal with the internal pain.  This is not a good thing because often this type of person seeks a cure which will only treat the symptoms, rather than get to the cause of the problem.  These are the people who seek after drugs, alcohol or other means to mask the pain.  This type of individual manifests destructive behavior found in self-destructive behavior or relationships.

  The other alternative to deal with moral guilt is for a person to use their pain as a means to approach a benevolent God and ask for forgiveness.  This is the key which unlocks the mystery of who we are as humans.  If one accepts the premise that there is non-empirical truth and we are indeed created by an Omnipotent and Omniscient God who has offered total forgiveness for our moral guilt (sins) through Christ, then this makes perfect sense.                                                                     

                                                          Case Studies

 

Tom (not real name) was a sniper for the SEALs.  We had worked together intermittently for about a year when I noticed that Tom had lost a lot of weight and he looked “tired.”  Furthermore, the word through the grapevine was Tom had just gotten divorced from his wife.  Understanding the symptoms, but not knowing the details, I invited Tom to lunch on my dime.  Eventually we developed not a close friendship, but a mutual acquaintance where we could talk openly about almost anything.  I had prayed for Tom and I asked the Lord to give me some opportunity someday to help him. 

  That day finally came after six months.  Tom came in and closed the door behind him.  It was here that Tom finally told me he was on an Op (SEALs are known as “Operators” and “operators” do “operations” or “ops”) and he took someone out.  He said he was good at what he did and he had excellent training to do his mission.  Even though he had done many such ops, this one bothered him because when he looked through his scope on what he had done, he could see the brain matter and blood splatter on the wall behind the individual he had just killed. 

  From this experience he started to “self-medicate” (drink) himself.  From an increase in alcohol abuse he said he started having nightmares, then daymares.   He was listless and couldn’t sleep and he said it cost him his marriage.  Now it was affecting his health and his life in the “Teams” (this is unit where other operators work).  He had gone to the Navy Psychologists and after a year of drugs, therapy and treatments; he still couldn’t get rid of the deep anguish he was going through.   He was desperate and definitely hurting. 

  This was an obvious case of moral guilt which led to his head and heart telling him two different things.  He did his job, but was not trained in how to deal with moral issues.  Understanding Ps 51 like I did, I then told him that he did what he was trained to do, but that we have a soul and a spirit that communicates with a Holy and Perfect God.  In this context, I was able to put his experience in Theological terms of sin, guilt, forgiveness and redemption. 

  Of course the redemption was the forgiveness of our sin through Jesus Christ’s payment on the Cross of Calvary.  At this point, Tom asked for forgiveness and I believe at this point there was also a spiritual conversion on his part.  I could see it in his eyes that he understood what had happened and there was a change in the air of our discussion.  Tom told me he felt that a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders.  The whole discussion took about an hour and Tom left to go home.

  The next day was a normal work day and I was curious to see how Tom was doing.  In the early afternoon, he stopped by my office and made some amazing confessions to me.  With his deep and penetrating look, he told me that he was able to sleep for the first time in about 2 years.  Not only that, but his nightmares and daymares were gone.  In his words, “he was a new man.”

  The big question now is: did it stick?  My answer is an unequivocal and emphatic “yes.”  Tom did grow in his Christian faith in the few months we had together, but I lost track of him over the years since.  Last I talked to him; he wanted to get back with his wife.   This was a complete success story of how a religious conversion makes a difference.  Not all of them end up like this, but all who have heard this explanation get better because they understand something that cannot be codified or empirically understood.  This is why it is essential to understand this question in terms of a theological answer towards guilt, Forgiveness and redemption.   This is shared in “Brian’s” (not real name) story.

Case #2

    Brian was also a SEALs sniper who had been home from his last deployment about four months.  He was drinking heavily and was having some serious fights with his wife.  He came in on his own recognizance because he knew there was something wrong with him and he didn’t want to “self-destruct.”   He had all of the same “symptoms” as Tom and many others like him who had gone through the horrors of multiple deployments in Iraq. 

  As I always do, I explained to Brian how the soul and spirit react towards doing something that goes against how God made us.  He was patient as I went through all of the theology of morality and the non-empirical world of spiritual truth.   From his body language however, I could tell that he wasn’t interested in some of the “God talk.”  When I told him that I wasn’t looking for a conversion because that is a personal choice and decision between him and God, I only wanted him to know and understand the mechanism of how his actions have caused him inner pain.  To which Brian expressed how he couldn’t forgive himself for what he had done. 

  There was something there that resonated with Brian.  Even though he was not a religious person, spiritual truth hit to the very core of who he was as a person.  It was a different reality for him and he had never thought in terms or categories of “sin,” “redemption,” or “forgiveness.”  Again, it was like a light bulb was turned on and it sparked something in him that made sense.  He had wrestled with some spiritual truths of good and evil and wasn’t able to put them in the proper perspective.  Now he had the tools to deal with his moral injury or moral guilt.  He understood what was happening to him and his inner anger.  Life once more made sense to him. 

  It was at this juncture I felt my time was ending with Brian. However, after a week he called me again to deal with some other questions he had in his life.  He did share that he was at peace once again and he wasn’t drinking anymore.  We saw each other for a few more counseling sessions.  He had a lot of questions which were spiritual in nature.  I never knew if Brian had made a conversion or not because I leave that up to the individual and God, but I do know that our first encounter helped him to put life into a proper balance. 

  These two examples are just two of many which typify and illustrate how moral guilt or injury is a factor in taking someone’s peace of mind.  Since it is a question which deals with our mind, emotions and will via the soul and spirit the best way to resolve it falls in the theological realm.  Of course with some this is not even an option due to their anti-religious bias, however, one cannot argue with success.  If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, common sense tells one that it usually is a duck.  

                                                          Conclusion

                There is a plethora of therapies out there which all have some very limited success.  Like the proverbial “blind men and the elephant” illustration, everyone thinks their method is the one which will help those suffering from military PTSD the most.  Science and modern psychiatry has come full circle now and is wrestling with a new concept which theologians have known for centuries: Moral Guilt.  Guilt destroys lives and crushes dreams.  It is an equal opportunity destroyer, especially for those who have done or experienced terrible things. 

  Much to the chagrin of atheists, scientists, therapists and agnostics, our humanity rests on our soul and spirit and its relationship to God.  It is just simply a fact of this life.  Whether one believes it or not will affect ones’ value system and world view and reveal bias’s which normally are never discussed or brought up in an empirical world. 

  As a result, I challenge the scientific communities to include theology in their training and discussions.  Not every fact in this world can be verified by the scientific method.  To ignore this truth is done at our own peril and will have severe limitations in the long run. 

  The logical conclusion of all this is to have a correct epistemology where all truth is incorporated and welcomed and has a place of the table of solutions.  We must understand the dual nature of truth.  One leg can be understood in the physical world and be verified by our senses.  The other leg is a reality where there is a spiritual dimension.  The two are not mutually exclusive, but have an intersection which affects our lives. 

  The Judeo-Christian world-view is one in which our laws, civilization and education is built off of certain axiomatic truths.  To ignore this aspect is to deny truth.  This is a mistake because answers to help our fighting men and women are found in this paradigm.   A true scientist will seek the truth of their data based on their research.  A true theologian will explain all truth while understanding how all of the disciplines come together through one unified whole, namely God.  This is an axiomatic truism which has always existed, we have merely chosen as a society and discipline to ignore.  We can do better.  WE must get beyond our bias’s and embrace anything which will help our country’s most precious resource: our fighting men and women in uniform.

  It is the least we can do to help those brave men and women who have given so much of their lives for the preservation of our country.    

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