So, last Sunday I passed our pastor in the hall. He looked at me with his goofy grin and said, "You know, you're very even." He swept a flat hand horizontally for emphasis. "Usually," I said. "Sometimes I get my Irish on." Later, joking around, he said, "Come'on. You should have a big smile." "I can't," I said. "It wouldn't be even."
I am fairly even; low-emotion. Usually. I like to analyze things and see how they really fit. Which is why I don't understand why someone would get all riled up about
a controversial story they have no solid proof for.
There are stories that I'm privy to. Stories I know are true because I heard them from those who experienced them. Stories about how society is changing around us for the worse. But even as I hear these stories, I try to be even. This is one of those stories.
There is a former Air Force officer named Mikey Weinstein—a lawyer—who has made it his personal mission to—in the name of "freedom of religion"—minimize the effect of evangelical Christianity at the United States Air Force Academy. He started the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group that those affiliated with the Academy can call with tips or complaints about inappropriate actions of conservative evangelical Christians at the Academy. (Well, theoretically they can call about any inappropriate religious behavior, but as far as I know it's just been about evangelicals.) His language is vitriolic. His actions are those of a bully. He often drives Academy faculty and staff to distraction with his unusual demands. If they ignore him, he gets louder. If they give in, he demands more. Despite his insistence to the contrary, his goal is to persecute Christians.
But he is not always wrong.
The United States Air Force Academy is a military academy and one of the primary sources for commissioned Air Force officers. It is a government university. As such, it has no religious affiliation. But as a military installation, it has an active multi-faith chapel. In regards to religion, staff and faculty are not authorized to share their faith with or give faith-oriented counseling to cadets unless the cadet initiates the discussion.
In the past, the culture of the Academy has been influenced to an unusual degree by evangelical Christian leadership. One's worldview, whatever it is, will inexorably inform one's actions and priorities, and there were pockets at the Academy that were known to be staffed predominantly with Christians who naturally lived their faith in subtle but influential ways. Not of overt proselytizing, but general mien and character.
I see no problem with this if the nature was truly Christian. It would not be a bad thing for the future leaders of a military branch to be exposed to ethics as God intended and Christ taught. Many of these cadets (bless their hearts!) walk in not understanding that lying is wrong. Or why cheating is a punishable offense. The post-modern world has conditioned them to ethical relativism. Christian ethics closely match the ethics of the military in general, and if a Christian cadre member were to teach Academy-consistent Christian ethics with secular terminology, it can do nothing but benefit the cadet and the military. There should be no line-crossing in such a case.
Where things get sticky, I think, is when Christian cadre believe that the Academy is a Christian organization. Even if/when the majority of leadership was evangelical Christian, the institution is a secular, state-run university. Even if/when the staff environment was particularly friendly to the Christian worldview, it is still the military, and military protocol must be taken into consideration.
In the early church, the spread of Christianity was largely dependent on the spread of Roman soldiers who took their faith all across Europe. I have no idea what religious restrictions were placed on Roman soldiers, although they may have been fairly severe considering the whole emperor cult thing. The U.S. military also has restrictions—especially when it comes to sharing your faith with someone of a lower rank.
There are reports that Christian cadre members have proselytized, preached, and bullied those of other faiths. I have absolutely no idea how many of these reports are true and how many are blown completely out of proportion. What I do know is what the Bible says about such things:
1. If you're going to do it—if you're going to break the rules and preach—you'd better be well-aware of the
consequences. If you really feel it's necessary to start an against-the-regs conversation about your faith in Christ, I'm not going to tell you not to. I am going to say don't start whining if you're persecuted for it. The Bible assures you will be (2 Timothy 3:12).
2. What is your motivation? Are you doing it because you care about individuals who need Jesus, or because you have an unrealistic view of your "rights" in a "Christian nation." America is not a Christian nation. The U.S. military is not a Christian institution. The Bible specifically states that Christians should act in love—not fear that their rights will be taken, or condescension toward someone they believe is wrong. Jesus came to save souls, not the culture.
3. For the love of Mike Wazowski, don't be a butthead about it. Being defensive, being offensive, and bullying are not Christlike. Shortly after a new Pagan worship circle was made on Academy grounds, a
wooden cross was found laid across it. There's no biblical defense for that. In no way does that show the love of Christ to those who need Him. It's a step in the direction of the Crusades.
These are things to consider no matter where we live and work. Love God, love others. Be kind. Be sacrificial. Don't be mean.
Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation have taken many calls from cadets and staff who say they feel threatened by evangelical Christian leadership, but they also initiate action based on their own feelings. Currently, they're involved in two different issues with the Air Force Academy. One involves the oath of honor—the oath cadets must take to prove their character. It goes like this:
We will not lie, steal or cheat nor tolerate among us anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and live honorably, so help me God.
In defense of atheists everywhere, Weinstein is leading the charge to have "so help me God" removed from the oath. The Academy responded by making that segment
optional. Weinstein isn't satisfied, saying that cadets would feel pressured to finish the phrase—"It exacts an unconstitutional toll on religious objectors." He prefers it be removed and cadets be allowed to add it if they choose, substituting whichever deity they prefer for "God."
I don't have a problem with this. Here's why.
Since 1984, Air Force Academy cadets have been swearing an oath that they will uphold certain standards "so help me God"—as far as God will help me. As far as I can tell, if the cadet doesn't believe in God, he is taking the name of God in vain. As his lips say the words, his heart is standing firm in the belief that the statement doesn't mean anything. The U.S. government is inciting him to lie in the midst of an oath during which he is swearing not to lie. So, despite Weinstein's annoying tactics, I don't disagree with this one.
The most current issue is that over a cadre member named Mike Rosebush. You can read a comprehensive (if very slanted) article from our Indy paper
here. Basically, Rosebush is a self-defined ex-gay activist who spent several years developing and working in reparative therapy with people who wished to get rid of their same-sex attraction. He worked for Focus on the Family and trained counsellors for Exodus International.
As you might guess, Weinstein has joined several voices in the LGBT community calling for Rosebush's dismissal.
Sound familiar?
The protestations are not based on Rosebush's job performance; in fact his work earned the 2013 Jon C. Dalton Instituted on College Student Values Best Practices Award. No, his removal is being demanded in fear that cadets may feel pressured. And in fear that his presence will adversely affect the "command climate within the Academy." Despite the fact he was hired two years ago and already has this award.
Needless to say, I do not agree with Weinstein on this one.
I heard about Rosebush from a friend who's still at the Academy. After reading the article, I said to him, "Well, I was going to say this isn't the end of the world, but who knows, it may be. The thing is, we're supposed to be separate from the world. And, really, we haven't been for a long time. Stuff like this is going to make us separate involuntarily. And although it's been nice to feel so comfortable, it can't last, and it shouldn't."
I understand my friends who rail against the hypocrisy of the government when it comes to freedom of religion. I understand my friends who rail against Mikey Weinstein and his shenanigans. But the "even" part of me reminds me to look at the situation objectively, without emotion and irritation and fear. Some of this stuff may be just what Christians need to get off the couch and start acting like Christ-followers.
But sometimes the even part of me cries foul and says the situation isn't fair. Then it sends me straight to what Jesus said in John 15:18-25:
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.'
And the ever-perspective-giving Ephesians 6:12:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places
It may be that places like the Air Force Academy (not to mention the rest of the world) become less comfortable for Christians. But the more persecution, the more we know what to pray for.
This is my prayer. That we will stay even. That we will see things through God's eyes. That we will see broken, lost hearts before we see an enemy. That we will always have a Kingdom perspective. That we will fight on our knees. That we will remember what our Christ-given commission is from Matthew 28:19-20:
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
(NASB—emphasis added)