News of Note: “Will the U.S. Military Court Martial Soldiers for Sharing Their Christian Faith?”

1. “Pentagon May Court Martial Soldiers Who Share Their Christian Faith”

“Breaking: Pentagon Confirms May Court Martial Soldiers Who Share Christian Faith” – Breibart reports that the Obama Adminstration is recommending that U.S. soldiers may be court martialed if they are found prostelytizing their faith. (Breibart)

“So President Barack Obama’s civilian appointees who lead the Pentagon are confirming that the military will make it a crime–possibly resulting in imprisonment–for those in uniform to share their faith. This would include chaplains—military officers who are ordained clergymen of their faith (mostly Christian pastors or priests, or Jewish rabbis)–whose duty since the founding of the U.S. military under George Washington is to teach their faith and minister to the spiritual needs of troops who come to them for counsel, instruction, or comfort. This regulation would severely limit expressions of faith in the military, even on a one-to-one basis between close friends. It could also effectively abolish the position of chaplain in the military, as it would not allow chaplains (or any service members, for that matter), to say anything about their faith that others say led them to think they were being encouraged to make faith part of their life. It’s difficult to imagine how a member of the clergy could give spiritual counseling without saying anything that might be perceived in that fashion.” – Ken Klukowski

“Will the Pentagon Prohibit the Great Commission?” – Joe Carter comments on the possiblity that soliders may be punished and court martialed for sharing their faith. (The Gospel Coalition)

“We should as a nation effusively applaud Lt. Col. Rich for his absolutely correct characterization of anti-gay religious extremist organizations as “hate groups” with no place in today’s U.S. military. But we are compelled to venture even further. We MUST vigorously support the continuing efforts to expose pathologically anti-gay, Islamophobic, and rabidly intolerant agitators for what they are: …die-hard enemies of the United States Constitution. Monsters, one and all. To do any less would be to roll out a red carpet to those who would usher in a blood-drenched, draconian era of persecutions, nationalistic militarism, and superstitious theocracy. Human history is all too festooned and replete with countless examples of such bleak and forlorn tragedies. If these fundamentalist Christian monsters of human degradation, marginalization, humiliation and tyranny cannot broker or barter your acceptance of their putrid theology, then they crave for your universal silence in the face of their rapacious reign of theocratic terror. Indeed, they ceaselessly lust, ache, and pine for you to do absolutely nothing to thwart their oppression. Comply, my friends, and you, too, become as monstrously savage as are they. I beg you, do not feed these hideous monsters with your stoic lethargy, callousness and neutrality. Do not lubricate the path of their racism, bigotry, and prejudice. Doing so directly threatens the national security of our beautiful nation.” – Joe Carter quoting Mikey Weinstein head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation

2. “The High Cost of Discipleship” – Mike Ratliff explains the high cost of discipleship. (Possessing the Treasure)

3. “Jason Collins, Chris Broussard, and Homosexuality: How Do We Respond?” – Brandon Smith’s post on how Christians should respond to the Jason Collins/Chris Broussard issue. (CBMW); Denny Burk also comments on his post: “Broussard, Bigotry, and the NBA”.

4. “A Deeper Beauty: Women, “Hot Wives,” and Christ” – Owen Strachan gives a thoughtful critique of Mary Demuth’s article on young evangelical men who refer to their wives as “smokin hot”. (CBMW)