Canadian weighing in.

Hey there Bonnie!

Just wanted to write in and say that I’m not sure that as a Canadian I am not sure I can speak to your constitution, although I have heard

it said that the constitution endorses freedom “of” religion not freedom “from” religion, and I also believe that any one religion endorsed by the government

is not promoted.

However, people of all faiths should feel the freedom to be open about their faiths. I just believe this is a human principle, and as such I can speak to

it as a Canadian. Unfortunately the people who represent the worst of each faith often come to the forefront. I’m sorry that Mikey was harassed and

treated with anti-Semitism, ironically by those who claim to follow a Jewish Messiah. I can only say that perhaps some of his mission is perhaps a misunderstanding

of evangelicals. We love the Jewish people, and people of all faiths.

Look, spiritual healing, etc. is outside of religion per se. Religion is a structure. Jesus Christ loved the religious, but didn’t have time for religious oppression.

I can only wish you peace and understanding. Dialogue with those of deep faith who are of goodwill and you’ll find out that they do not wish to impose anything.

The truth is our culture was founded on a Judeo-Christian ethic. If those principles come through, that is simply what our culture is based on, which includes, if you are religiously Jewish, your own faith as well.

Shalom,

(name withheld)

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Hi (name withheld),

Thank you for contacting Bonnie with your concerns regarding the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and Mikey. Your email was passed on to me so that I may respond from a Christian perspective because I am an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God and on the Advisory Board of MRFF.

The history of Christianity trying to force its beliefs in America fills volumes of books and is too long to get into here. Suffice it to say that it was an abysmal failure in making the Colonies a Theocracy. One sect of Christianity was murdering another sect. The Salem Witch Trials, caused by mass hysteria and lies, was the death knell of any attempt to force Christianity on the nation.

“More than once it has been said, too, that the Salem witchcraft was the rock on which the theocracy shattered.” George Lincoln Burr (January 30, 1857 – 1938) Professor of History and Librarian at Cornell University

Our Constitution was written explicitly to base America on secular rule – free from religious tyranny.

First amendment to the Constitution-

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

According to the Constitution America cannot be a Theocracy. People are free to worship any religion they choose without government interference. Though it is not stated that people are not free ‘from” religion, it is implicit because this document was written to free people from religious persecution in all forms, including forcing people to pay taxes to the local churches. So, anyone who says that we are not free “from” religion is reading into the First amendment something which is not there to fit their own agenda.

We in America are free to worship and speak with others about our faith but once they are in our military the rules change.

Our military is secular with a secular Commander-in-Chief…the President. All enlistees in the military take an oath to defend the Constitution (not the Bible) from our enemies – foreign and domestic. Anyone that wants to don the uniform of one of our branches of the military can do so regardless of their religious affiliation or lack of religion.

Article VI, clause 3-

“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

Because our military is part of our government this rule is in effect.

Our military has been hijacked over the past few decades by an extreme form of Christianity that believes they are the only true Christian faith and all other Christians that are not the “right kind” are doomed to hell and burning in the lake of fire for eternity. They have been promoted over the years to now have command over the Pentagon and only the “right kind” of Christian has been given priority over Command assignments and leadership.

We are not anti-Christian in any sense of the word. If MRFF was, I wouldn’t be here. We have the support of the California Council of Churches/IMPACT with over 5,500 churches, besides Chaplains and individual churches and Christians.

We currently have over 27,000 clients from all branches of the military including retired personnel. 96% of our clients are mainline Christians who have been harassed, beaten, given poor performance ratings, denied promotions, brought up on false charges and drummed out of the military all because they are not of the “right kind.”

This extreme form of Christianity believes that our military should be “Soldiers for Christ” and that every war is a Crusade. They believe they have the right to go after the un-churched which they don’t under our Constitution.

Our soldiers don’t have the freedom to ask their superior to stop proselytizing to them like we do when a religious organization knocks on our doors. If they do, they are singled out and sometimes have to go on a “heathen march”, be confined to their barracks doing menial tasks and have no access to their cell phones, internet or TV…all in the name of Christianity.

There is a shepherding cult called Cadets for Christ at the US Air Force Academy that preaches that a female should give up her pilot slot for a male. Cadets for Christ rule every part of the males and females in their group to the point of arranging marriages between them. They teach that every woman must be a “sheep” to her husband the “shepherd”, not work outside of the home and have a “quiverful” of children raised up to be “Christian Warriors.”

I could write a book here on all of the things we fight against. If you are really interested in finding out how deep and intrusive this extreme form of Christianity is in our military I suggest you read Mikey’s books – “With God on Our Side” and “No Snowflake in an Avalanche” – and Chris Rodda’s book “Liars for Jesus.” As a Christian you will see that the “right kind” of Christians in our military are acting anything but Christian.

Jesus said “My Kingdom is not of this world” yet these Christians believe that they have to cleanse the world of ALL non-Christians and those not the “right kind” of Christian so that Jesus can come back and rule for a thousand years. This throws out the whole book of Revelations that says it is Jesus and His “heavenly army” that will do that.

Jesus never justified war. He told us to love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek and live by the Golden Rule. I wish someone could show me in the New Testament where He does.

I fight with MRFF because according to the Bible – Methodists, Protestants, Episcopalians, Baptists, Catholics, etc. are all Christians. The Bible says to believe and have faith in Jesus and you are saved. No other denomination of Christianity has the right to say they are the only true way and all other Christians are false. This is judging and those that do it will be held to a greater accountability when they face the thrown of judgment. God reads the hearts of men and the last I heard it is Jesus who makes the final decision on who goes to heaven and who goes to hell – not we here on earth.

I would also suggest that you read the hate mail and death threats that come from Christians. CHRISTIANS! Go to-

www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org

MRFF is not stopping anyone in the military from practicing their faith. They are free to attend the church of their choice. But, they are NOT allowed to make a form of religion the basis for their advancement or career opportunities. Nor are they allowed to be proselytizing by in-your-face tactics. Nor can the Commanders and Officers support one religion over the other or take charge of religious activities that belong to the Chaplains. Not under our Constitution.

As Mikey always says-“The Bible says you cannot have any other gods before you but our Constitution says oh, yes you can.”

We are the biggest defender of our Constitution which is secular and in no way based on Judeo-Christian principles.

I hope this clarifies your concerns. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may still have.

Pastor Joan