WASHINGTON, D.C. — By now the free world has heard of U.S.A.F. Maj. Gen. Craig Olson who publicly acknowledge and thanked God at a prayer meeting, while in military uniform, for his mercies and blessings upon him, his family, his country and his military career on the 7th of May.
This sent some on the political left up the nutty buddy tree and thus many, but not all are calling for his ouster, shades of former U.S. Navy Chaplin Lt. Gordon J. Klingenschmitt and his prayer vigil, while in military uniform, while in Lafayette Square Park, right across the street from The White House in 2006.
In fairness to Chaplain Klingenschmitt he was fighting a formal court-martial, on appeal, when he was ‘officially’ drummed out of the United States Navy in the later Summer of 2006.
But he still prayed, and continued to do so in the name of Jesus Christ the Song of the one True and Living God.
Admittedly, I am torn asunder at his story and that of Maj. Gen. Olson’s because and according to and organization called the Presidential Prayer Team Olson was formally invited to speak on his career and the ‘impact’ on his life that religion has. He was not formally asked to come and speak on such while in uniform, and neither was Klingenschmitt.
Air Force General Who Spoke of God Should be Court-martialed, Group Says
(5/18/2015 11:56:00 AM)
An Air Force general who recently spoke about how God has guided his career should be court-martialed, a civil liberties group is saying.
In a speech at a National Day of Prayer event on May 7, Major General Craig Olson credited God for his accomplishments in the military, and referred to himself as a “redeemed believer in Christ.” Now, the Air Force Times has reported that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has taken issue with Olson’s remarks, calling for the two-star general to be court-martialed and “aggressively and very visibly brought to justice for his unforgivable crimes and transgressions” In a letter to Chief of Staff General Mark Walsh, he group argued that Olson’s speech violates Air Force rules which prohibit airmen from endorsing a particular faith or belief. They condemned his acts as “brazenly illicit and wholly unconstitutional” in witnessing for Jesus Christ.
In an article on the group’s website, they say, “The United States Military has undergone a slow-motion fundamentalist Christian coup d’état.” They quote Sinclair Lewis, who said, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” The article states, “That time has come, my friends..”! During Olson’s 23-minute talk, he spoke of “flying complex aircraft, doing complex nuclear missions” and that only “God enabled me to do that.” At the end of his speech, Olson asked those in attendance to pray for the Defense Department’s leaders and for troops preparing to be deployed.
(Sources: Fox News, Air Force Times, Military Religious Freedom Foundation website)
As the Lord leads, please pray:
- For General Olson and the strength of his testimony for Jesus Christ to remain unwavering.
- For the Air Force Chief of Staff and others in the Pentagon not to be swayed by the demands of the organization pushing for General Olson’s court martial.
- For a wall of protection around religious freedoms and the freedom of speech in America.
Yet and still both he and Olson showed up in uniform knowing, fully, what the Uniform Code of Military Justice says about such an engagement while wearing the uniform.
So, in a larger sense, I have no sympathy for stupidity. But at the same time I truly appreciate both men, publicly, sharing and expressing their beliefs in God, and the role that He plays in there lives.
And I also wonder at what point do we say, as a Nation, whether it is good or bad to do such a thing(s) while wearing the uniform of our Armed Forces?
Because I happen to think that unless we answer this question, and clearly define, as a Nation, both to ourselves and the World where we stand on God and His Son Jesus Christ then we will, “be a nation gone under” as former President Reagan said. – And I share and agree in the open expression of one’s faith and beliefs in a God.
— Rhett.
Say What News?! 