Don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t think so. Jews, Muslims, Wiccans Oh MY! How can you even think of being a Chaplain? For the beard of course!
Misconceptions:
“How do you feel about having to marry homosexuals?”
“How do you feel about saying Muslim Prayers?”
I won’t have to marry homosexuals and I will never be forced to pray a Muslim prayer. The Army is clear about one thing: No Chaplain will ever be forced to pray a prayer or perform any ceremony which directly violates his or her own faith or the beliefs of the endorsing agency of said Chaplain.
I am endorsed by the North American Mission Board, a division of the Southern Baptist Convention. I have been examined and recommended by the elders of Carpenter's Way Baptist Church, an SBC church of which I am a member in good standing.
The bottom line is I have had to answer a myriad of questions regarding my theology and there is no way any of the folks who approved me would be okay with me doing anything that violated my faith.
But I heard…
Yes, I know what you have heard, especially regarding don’t ask don’t tell. While it is true that homosexual soldiers can now serve freely in the military and Chaplains now have the option to marry said soldiers if they so choose…it is not, nor do I believe it will ever be, mandatory for any Chaplain to perform said services…because of the aforementioned paragraph and the whole violating your faith thing.
So, what about them Muslims?
They need the love of Christ just like any other person. As a soldier, they will see and experience many stressful situations and endure much hardship. No matter what ones personal beliefs or faith system, they still need edification, encouragement, care, and concern.
I would be glad to put my arm around any soldier, including a Muslim, and let them know they are loved and cared for…that I will pray for them and their family. That if they ever need to talk, they can come to me. I would hope any Christ follower would do the same.
Would you give them The Qur'an?
You bet. Now that is part of my job. I am to ensure that all soldiers are given access to the proper items to practice their faith freely. A soldier, regardless of his faith. deserves access to these items. Restricting access is both unloving and unconstitutional.
Denying a soldier a right to a Satanic Bible, a Wiccan’s SpellBook, The Book of Morman, or a Watchtower Magazine does nothing to bring them closer to Christ. In fact it only makes them even more bitter towards Christians and simply reinforces the “Us V. Them” stereotype.
Can You Proselytize?
Not directly, no. But neither can a lot of people at a lot of jobs. A school teacher can’t attempt to directly convert his/her students in the classroom, can they? Of course not! But what they can do is offer love, care, concern, and dedication to the task at hand. And I have found that these alone can be enough to engage the conversation that can lead them to Christ.
The point is if I show each and every soldier that I truly care about them…that I pray for them…that I am there for them…and that they are loved…those that are seeking the Truth will come and ask me about Him. They will ask me why I am the way I am, why I love them, why I care, why I pray. And it is then I will have the opportunity to freely share my personal testimony.
In Conclusion…
I hope this very brief article has helped some of you who continue to question my decision understand why I am choosing the path of Chaplaincy. I feel a calling to serve my fellow brothers and sisters in arms and show them the path that will lead them to adoption into God’s wonderful family. And all men and women need Christ…regardless of their religious background and beliefs.
