Shaw Air Force Base – Nativity

You guys are clearly a communist, atheistic organization that knows nothing about religious freedom. Christmas is about Jesus. If people don’t want to look at the nativity scene, they can look the other way. The Constitution quote that you quote on your web site means that the Government will not establish a State run church that exercises control over the other churches, like what the Church of England did. That’s it, nothing else. The constitution talks about freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Any attempt to restrict religion is un-constitutional. Bottom line: The Government is never, ever, to interfere in the affairs of the church. The church is free to run rampant in society without any restrictions, regardless of what the courts say. The constitution trumps all Air Force regulations that people try to hide behind. Your organization needs to promote religious freedom, not restrict it.

(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld),

I have been asked to respond to you.

I have to admit that your email is the most illogical I’ve ever read.

I can’t believe you don’t even know what communism is and yet you call us communists. Let me help you. Here’s the definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

com·mu·nism

noun \ˈkäm-yə-ˌni-zəm, -yü-\

: a way of organizing a society in which the government owns the things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, ships, etc.) and there is no privately owned property.

That leaves us out.

We are not an atheist organization nor are we anti-Christian. 75% of the Board, Advisory Board, volunteers and supporters of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) are Christians. In fact, 96% of our almost 36,000 soldier clients (1 can represent 50) are Christians. So, we fight for the rights of Christians more than any other religion.

You wrote:

Bottom line: The Government is never, ever, to interfere in the affairs of the church. The church is free to run rampant in society without any restrictions, regardless of what the courts say. The constitution trumps all Air Force regulations that people try to hide behind.

I see you don’t believe in following any laws concerning religion that you don’t like.

I’m assuming you are a Christian. Do you follow God’s laws? How about these:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

“Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” Romans 13:2

Ah, judgment for you!

You do know that you will be accountable at the Judgment Seat of Christ for writing your words that basically call us evil (and stupid) and some of them are in conflict with Jesus’ teachings, don’t you?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36

So, go ahead and continue to spout your ignorance and fail to obey the courts and the Air Force rulings. Let’s see what Jesus has to say about it when you face Him.

Good luck with that!

BTW – Go to our website, click on “About” and then click on “Foundation Voices.” Check out the military people there. We rely on their knowledge because they know a whole lot more about how the military and religion in it works that you will ever know.

Pastor Joan

MRFF Advisory Board Member