Maj. General Craig Olsen

Published On: May 22, 2015|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

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Hello Mr. Weinstein,

 

I just wanted to let you know how disappointed I am that you have chosen to publicly call for the court martial of a man who has dared to profess his faith in public simply because he was wearing a government uniform at the time.  Your right to free speech does not end when you put a military (or any other) uniform on.  I celebrate our 2nd amendment rights and thank God that our founders believed that we were all “endowed” with certain “inalienable rights” by our “Creator”.   They believed in a man’s right to profess his face in Jesus, Allah or himself if he so chooses, regardless of what he is wearing at the time.   We enjoy freedom of religion in this country not freedom from religion.

 

You need to answer one question.  Jesus Christ is either the Son of Man and our Lord as he proclaimed he was, OR he is a liar (who went to His death proclaiming His divinity) OR he was crazy.   There is overwhelming historical evidence that He was neither a Liar or a Lunatic.  Not only did He go to His death proclaiming divinity, He rose from the dead (as witnessed by more than 5000) and his apostlles went to their deaths (except one) because they would not deny Him.  Millions have done the same since He was hung on a cross and they are still being slain today with His name on their lips (see ISIS).  You need to ask yourself why this is the case.  I hope you seek truth in this matter and set pride aside as you do.  It will set you free in your own life.   Whether you deny Him or not, you also have a Creator and I just want you know that I am going to pray for you that you call on Him for guidance the next time you take up a fight.

May the Lord’s grace shine upon you,

(name withheld)


 

HI, (name withheld)….thx for writing…..plz spare me your sanctimonious and pedantic prayers, sport…..I couldn’t care less about WHAT you believe……it’s all fine….I and MRFF only care about the time, place and manner in which you DEPLOY your version of The Great Commission (Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19)…..MRFF currently represent over 41,500 U.S. marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen…including nat’l guard and reserves and veterans….96% of our clients are practicing Protestants or Roman Catholics….maybe do a little more homework before contacting me or us again…we’re not the demons you read about in your right wing media…..like FOX etc…..be well always and celebrate your Christianity but do so only in accord with the Constitution and its construing caselaw

Mikey Weinstein


 

Hello Mike,

 

Thank you for your response.  I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect one.  I don’t doubt for a second that most of your clients are Protestants or Roman Catholics.  There are plenty of them who are lukewarm and afraid to stand up for what they believe in the public square.

 

You obviously have a pretty strong distaste for the Gospel and apparently do not understand that it is not my great commission but our Lords.  There has been great division within Christianity since the reformation which has led many to turn from it’struth, but there is one church that has never watered down or compromised it’s doctrines in any way and it is the Roman Catholic Church you mentioned.  Although, regrettably, you will find no shortage of Roman Catholics who take up your stance (however misguided), you will never have the endorsement of the Catholic Church herself because she will never deny the name of Jesus Christ in the public square regardless of the world’s opinon of her.

 

Major General Olsen is not forcing his views upon anyone, we are all free to believe or disbelieve according to our own will.  Thank God that he gave us that free will in the beginning because He loves us so much.  I’m sorry you seem so bitter and I will pray for you just the same.   There is no crime in professing your beliefs while serving your country.  Our belief in God is written all over our currency, our public buildings and it is written in our hearts even though many choose to deny it.

 

I’m just curious whether or not you are an athiest.  If you would rather not share your beliefs, I will certianly understand.

 

I have answered the question of our existence on this earth in my heart through much prayer, study and discernment by seeking truth in faith, in science, in history, in logic and in philosophy.  We are not here by a random jostling of atoms.  We were created by God whether we deny him or not.  I truly hope and pray you find Him.  You could do SO much good when you do…Your Father in Heaven loves you.

(name withheld)


 

Dear (name withheld),

Mikey took the time out of helping our soldiers to send you a brief response and asked me to address your concerns.

 

We also have Evangelicals (I am one), Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, etc. and they are not lukewarm but conduct themselves according to the rules and regulations set down by the military, the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Supreme Court rulings.

 

The problem is not that he is a Christian; the problem is that he spoke at a civilian, private, non-profit organization’s event that was broadcast on GOD TV around the world while he was in his uniform. If he showed up in civilian clothes there wouldn’t have been a problem.

 

Picture an atheist, Muslim (yes, there are many), Buddhist or any other soldier of a different religion showing up at a private event in uniform– being broadcast all over the world – and speaking the same words Major General Olson did:

 

Pray for them when they have to go back (to Iraq) that they can bear through that by depending on Allah.

 

I know there would be calls for his head by the media, clergy and civilians because he gave the appearance of speaking for the military.

 

We are not trying to take Jesus out of the military, but Major General Olson cannot be given an exception to the rules because of his rank or his religion.

 

Let me explain:

 

The National Day of Prayer Task Force is not the National Day of Prayer signed into law by President Truman in 1952.

 

The National Day of Prayer is celebrated by Americans of many religions, including Christians of many denominations, including Protestants and Catholics, as well as those of other religions.. On the National Day of Prayer, many Americans assemble in prayer in front of courthouses, as well as in houses of worship, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. Luncheons, picnics, and music performances revolving around praying for the nation are also popular observances. The President of the United States issues an official National Day of Prayer proclamation each year as well – by law signed by President Truman.

 

The National Day of Prayer Task Force is strictly a conservative evangelical Christian organization called the “National Prayer Committee” that was formed to coordinate and implement a fixed annual day of prayer (held on the same day as the original National Day of Prayer) for the purpose of organizing only Evangelical Christian prayer events with local, state, and federal government entities.

 

The National Day of Prayer is sanctioned by the government where the National Day of Prayer Task Force is not.

 

The Pentagon treats mainline Christians and other religions differently. I do not know where they prayed this year, but last year “the Protestants, except for those Episcopalian types, get the nice big event in the auditorium complete with world-class musical entertainment on the actual May 1 date of the National Day of Prayer. The Catholics get to have their event on the right day, but in the Pentagon’s chapel. Muslims have to wait a day for their event. Then there’s another Protestant gospel service thrown in the middle of all this. The Episcopalians, who are apparently not the same as Protestants have to wait until May 7. And, last but not least, there are the Hindus and Jews, who get to observe the May 1 National Day of Prayer on May 8.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/pentagon-to-join-in-one-v_b_5208018.html

 

Is this consistent with the original National Day of Prayer? No, it demeans soldiers of other faiths that they are not welcome during the one day each year set aside to pray for our country.

 

The wording and meaning of the original First Amendment was several times upheld by the Supreme Court as an accurate description of the Establishment Clause.

 

Jefferson’s concept of “separation of church and state” first became a part of Establishment Clause jurisprudence in Reynolds v. U.S., 98 U.S. 145 (1878). In that case, the court examined the history of religious liberty in the US, determining that while the constitution guarantees religious freedom, “The word ‘religion’ is not defined in the Constitution. We must go elsewhere, therefore, to ascertain its meaning and nowhere more appropriately, we think, than to the history of the times in the midst of which the provision was adopted.” The court found that the leaders in advocating and formulating the constitutional guarantee of religious liberty were James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. Quoting the “separation” paragraph from Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists, the court concluded that, “coming as this does from an acknowledged leader of the advocates of the measure, it may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the amendment thus secured.

 

The Supreme Court heard the Lemon v. Kurtzman case in 1971 and ruled in favor of the Establishment Clause.

 

Subsequent to this decision, the Supreme Court has applied a three-pronged test to determine whether government action comports with the Establishment Clause, known as the “Lemon Test.”

 

  1. Any law or policy must have been adopted with a neutral or non-religious purpose.
  2. The principle or primary effect of any law or policy must be one that neither advances nor inhibits religion.
  3. The statute or policy must not result in an “excessive entanglement” of government with religion.

 

If any government entity’s actions fit into one of these three, then it is a violation of the Establishment Clause.

 

Parker v. Levy:

 

“This Court has long recognized that the military is, by necessity, a specialized society separate from civilian society… While the members of the military are not excluded from the protection granted by the First Amendment, the different character of the military community and of the military mission requires a different application of those protections. … The fundamental necessity for obedience, and the consequent necessity for imposition of discipline, may render permissible within the military that which would be constitutionally impermissible outside it… Speech [to include religious speech] that is protected in the civil population may nonetheless undermine the effectiveness of response to command.  If it does, it is constitutionally unprotected.” (Emphasis added) Parker v. Levy, 417 U.S. 733, 1974

 

 

Our military is secular and by giving his speech on Christianity in uniform – which gives the impression to the world that we have a Christian military – demeans the morale of those of other faiths. His speech is constitutionally unprotected.

 

Air Force Instruction 1-1, Section 2.12:

 

2.12. Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause. Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion, including individual expressions of religious beliefs, and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disapproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief.

 

The violation of this – by speaking in uniform at a civilian event- is a potential felony under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

 

A person in uniform also cannot attend a political rally.

 

Civilian laws and military rules and regulations are different.

 

Major General Olson knows these rules but chose to ignore them with the backing of the Air Force.

 

We endorse the religious freedoms or lack thereof of all of our soldiers, but they must conduct their lives under the rules set out by the military while in uniform as to the time, place and manner.

https://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/about/our-mission/

 

I hope this clears up any concerns you had.

 

Pastor Joan

MRFF Advisory Board Member


 

Dear Joan,
Thank you for clarifying the difference between the National Prayer Day and the Task Force.  I also thank you for taking the time to answer my emails.  It is very kind of you and I respect your viewpoints and the fact that you believe you are operating out of the notion that your efforts are for the greater good of our country.  All commendable.
I’m sure as an evangelical pastor, you are aware that we are told by Christ to render unto God what is God’s and to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.  When the laws (or military rules) of our nation contradict God’s laws, we are called as Christians to hold fast to the laws of God first.  
I have no problem with the National Day of prayer being inclusive of all those who wish to pray to the one true God (Muslims included; although I believe as the Catholic Church teaches that they do not have the fullness of revelation in their faith).  I have no problem with a Muslim standing in uniform and asking others to pray for Allah’s protection on our troops if that is what he believes.  I trust that the one true God will discern the purity of the hearts that send those prayers and answer them according to His perfect will.  
Our country and many others have legally upheld many laws (and rules) that are contrary to the Gospel as I’m sure you are aware.  Abortion is the prime example.  I would love to know your opinion on that.  Jesus did not believe in a woman’s right to choose but our Supreme Court upheld that right and still does today.  Slavery is another.  I’m guessing that you would disagree that one man should be the property of another although, at one time it was the law of the land.
Case study is not perfect but Jesus Christ is.   Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian “sects”?  There was only one Christian Church for 1500 years after Christ and that Church still exists today.  Are we to believe that God had it wrong for 1500 years and then Martin Luther, John Calvin et al came along to set the Christian Church straight by splitting it and removing 7 books from God’s word that were in error since the time of Christ?  I hope you truly examine the answer to that question.  The answer to that question will bring you greater peace than you could ever imagine.  Christ is truly physically present in His one true church every day in the Mass and He is calling all of us to Him.  
We are all God’s children and I will continue to pray for you and your colleagues.
Blessings,
(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),
Thank you for your kind response.
I take scripture seriously and live by this:
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-2)
As a Christian, Major General Olson did not obey our governing authorities and their laws. According to God he brought judgment upon himself.
One cannot use Acts 5:29… Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men…because Peter and the apostles were preaching about Jesus in a Jewish temple. It’s totally different than what Major General Olson did.
 
I am fully aware of the divisions in the church and have done extensive research on it since the time of Jesus. I have an extensive library in my office. Someday – if I have the time – I hope to put all of it in a book.
 
Blessings back to you.
 
Pastor Joan
MRFF Advisory Board Member

 

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