Liberty University

The Chaplain in Today’s Military

A paper submitted to Dr. Charlie Davidson
In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the course CHPL 600

Liberty Theological seminary

By
Jonathan Keene

Lynchburg, Virginia
Friday, October 11, 2013

Table of Contents Introduction 3 Legal Boundaries 3 Theological/Biblical Justification for the Christian Chaplaincy 5 The Chaplain’s Present Ministry 6 The Future of the Christian Military Chaplain 9 Conclusion 12 Bibliography 13

Introduction The chaplaincy in the American Military is as old as the United States of America. Chaplains fought alongside General George Washington in the revolutionary war and served as officiators over many ceremonial precedings in the early days of United States history. Today’s military chaplain still fights alongside military men and women in austere environments around the globe. He is responsible for providing meaningful worship materials and services for the variety of faiths that are represented by individuals in the United States Military. It is through the policy of pluralism in an attitude of tolerance and compassion that the military chaplain is able to minister to service men and women of various faiths. Recent policy decisions by the United States Pentagon, the last few presidential administrations, and the leaders of the armed forces have created an increasingly difficult environment for devout Christians to minister as chaplains in the United States Military. This paper will focus on the activities of the current Christian military chaplain in regard to their legal boundaries, their theological justifications for being a chaplain, their present ministry, and their future ministry. Looking ahead, a larger portion of this paper will focus on the future of the Christian military chaplain.
Legal Boundaries In the presentation, “The First Amendment - Freedom of Religion,” Dr. Whittington stated that First Amendment consists of two clauses. The first is called the Establishment Clause and the second is the Free Exercise Clause. Understanding these two clauses brings greater meaning to the First Amendment.
Dr. Whittington states that the Establishment Clause protects the church; It protects it from the State. It created an environment that was totally different than anything known in Western History. Hutson asserts that “Everyone in England assumed that state–church cooperation was ancient and “universal,” stretching back, according to one writer, to “the Infancy of Civil Society.” It was the First Amendment that radically created an environment where the Church could be the Church and not a political body that governed laws and lives. This has freed the Church to develop into an organization that does not seek dominance over people and society. It has also allowed the Church to form many denominations because there has been no need to adhere staunchly to one religious view or interpretation.
The second clause, the Free Exercise Clause, protects the right of the individual. Mark Toulouse explains in his work God in Public, “The one thing the free exercise clause does not do is push religion underground. Religion in America does not have to be merely private. It is public as well.” This freedom that is guaranteed to the individual is essential for the establishment of a Church that is free from the constraints of the State. Dr. Whittington states, “If the government has the power to favor one religion over another, it usurps the religious freedom of all citizens. If, on the other hand, the government stifles the free exercise of religion in the town square, or dictates what the churches should believe or practice, it treads dangerously close to establishing a state-sponsored church…”
The First Amendment was created to not only establish freedom of religion, but it also protects the church, which is made up of individuals, from the sometimes abusive power of government. It is the privilege of the United States Military chaplain to ensure that all military personnel have access to a means of worship that is meaningful for them. It should also be the duty of the military chaplain to protect the religious rights of all military personnel. The military is made up of United States citizens who have the right to religious freedom under the First Amendment. By ensuring service men and women’s First Amendment rights are being protected, the United States chaplain is held to a higher authority than his superiors.
In 2012 President Barak Husain Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which infringes on the Bill of Right and in essence nullifies the Forth through the Ninth Amendments in the Bill of Rights. Since the signing of the NDAA, new “Hate Group” descriptions, and groups labeled as “Extremists” by the U.S. Military and Pentagon have emerged which infringe on the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution as well. It is within this legal and political mine fields that the Christian military chaplain will have to navigate in order to continue ministry to the servicemen and women of the United States Armed Forces. These mine fields will be described in more detail when discussing the future of the chaplaincy.
Theological/Biblical Justification for the Christian Chaplaincy A dominant question that people have about the Military Chaplaincy is, “How do you justify providing services to people of other faiths when you are a Christian?” It is a legitimate question. It deals largely with the Idea of Pluralism in the Military Chaplaincy. It is necessary for the armed services to provide chaplains that are trained to be pluralistic. They have to provide for all troops regardless of their faith. That does not mean that they are required to agree with or believe in the diverse faiths they come in contact with. Christians were given the Great Commission by Jesus, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Because of this mandate given by the Lord, Christian missionaries have traveled all over the earth to various cultures to share the Good News. In their travels they have encountered many people who didn’t believe in the same way. But, they had to go there if Jesus was to be preached. Consider Paul’s speech to the high council of Athens when he witnessed to them using their own idol to the unknown god. Paul would never have been able to reach these people if he had not been among them preaching the Good News of Christ. In the same way if the Christian chaplain is not among people of other faiths he or she would never be able to share the truth of the Gospel. In the book of the Revelation to John, there is a description of multitudes of people from every nation standing before the throne of God who had been saved through the power of Jesus’ name. “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.” God believes in reaching out to other people. He is not an exclusivist, he desires that we be in the World. The Christian chaplain has the unique opportunity to be in the military world and show the love of Christ through a ministry of presence. In this way when the military person needs to talk to the chaplain about what is real the chaplain will be available to give an answer.
The Chaplain’s Present Ministry
It is the intention of the military chaplaincy to provide a means by which all members of the armed forces can exercise their freedom of religion while on duty. It is logistically unfeasible for the armed forces to provide each unit or battalion with enough chaplains to provide one for each faith represented in the United States. Therefore, the United States chaplain must be available to minister to people of all faiths. “For decades, chaplains from all services have expressed their constitutional responsibilities in simple terms — providing spiritual care and moral advice to all troops — in worship, counseling, and ministry of presence.” Chaplains have been given the duty to provide for everyone. Dr. Whittington explains in the presentation, “Working Within a Pluralistic Culture - The Chaplain's Challenge” that “For the military chaplain, working within a pluralistic culture means nothing more than facilitating every soldier’s constitutional right to religious freedom.” This ‘facilitating’ means that the chaplain must provide a means for each person to worship in a way that is meaningful to them. For instance, if a Hindu has lost his copy of the Bhagavad Gita the chaplain has the duty to provide another. The chaplain does not have to believe in the tenants of the Hindu faith, he must simply provide a means of worship for that person. Not only that, but Chaplains do have the right to share their individual faiths with the Soldiers as long as the circumstances are right. “The chaplain must demonstrate compassion for all persons by sharing ministry action first. Only when given an invitation may the chaplain share the truth of his or her own beliefs.” In Christian history there is one example after another of people living among non-Christians and serving the people in Christ centered love. It is the same with the Christian Chaplain. Paul says in the scripture in 1 Corinthians 9:22b that, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (NIV). This verse speaks to the mission of the Christian Chaplain. They can’t save everyone, but they can save some. It Christian Chaplains didn’t exist in the military pluralistic environment then “some” may never be saved. It is important for the military chaplain to consider the fact that they are to legally facilitate the religious freedom of their parishioners (soldiers, marines, airmen, seamen, etc.). The AR 165-1 states in 1-6 b. and c. that “The Establishment Clause forbids any governmental authority from mandating a religion or way of prayer….The Free Exercise clause guarantees individuals the right to practice what their religion requires and conscience dictates.” It is the right and duty of the military Chaplain to not only protect the religious freedom rights of their parishioners, but to also properly express their own religious beliefs to their parishioners. The role of the military chaplain is one that represents the ecclesiastical endorser’s views and one that serves as a Soldier, Airman, Seaman, or Marine. It is a unique role because it is necessary to include chaplains in the military to ensure that each individual’s constitutional right to worship is made available to them. In a way the chaplain must wear two hats, one that is given him by his denomination, and one that is given to him by the government. But he is more property of the denomination in a way as Whittington and Davidson point out by saying that, “(1) The evangelical chaplain is not a pawn of the state and (2) is protected by the Constitution and Department of Defense policy directives to proclaim the denominational tenets of his Christian faith in the pulpit.” The role of the United States Military chaplain can be a fulfilling role for those who choose to answer the call. It is also becoming increasingly clear that the United States is no longer favorable to Christian beliefs, ethics, or language. These facts are making the office of the Christian chaplain a tenuous tightrope.
The Future of the Christian Military Chaplain
The future of the Christian Military Chaplaincy is on shaky ground. In recent years, during the last two administrations, more rights have been taken away from the American people than at any other time in American history. The War on Terrorism has created a fear in many Americans that has allowed the government to legislate laws and acts that were purposed to protect the American people, but have since been used to erode the Bill of Rights. This is important to the United States Chaplaincy because the primary function of the chaplain is to facilitate the religious freedom of the servicemen and women. This function is firmly rooted in the First Amendment.
As mentioned earlier the NDAA effectively nullifies the Forth through the Ninth Amendments in the Bill of Rights. But what about the first? While not taking direct fire from the current Administration, the First Amendment is being ignored by others. The War on Terror has caused many in the Pentagon, FBI, and CIA to begin to analyze who should be defined as a terrorist. This is important to them because the NDAA allows for suspected terrorists, who are legal citizens of the United States, to be detained, imprisoned indefinitely, and sentanced, without Miranda rights, trial or jury. Well, how have the above organizations defined a terrorist? In section 802 of the USA Patriot Act ‘domestic’ terrorism is defined as an, act that appears to be intended to: (i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping. “The definition of domestic terrorism is broad enough to encompass the activities of several prominent activist campaigns and organizations. Greenpeace, Operation Rescue, Vieques Island and WTO protesters and the Environmental Liberation Front have all recently engaged in activities that could subject them to being investigated as engaging in domestic terrorism.” The looseness with which the U.S. Patriot Act defines who a terrorist is has made many people uneasy.
In order to better battle the scourge of domestic terrorism the Pentagon has generated a list of “extremist” groups who might become engaged in domestic terrorism, so they can keep an eye on them. Among the “extremists” listed are: Al Qaeda, Hamas, Ku Klux Klan, Catholics, and Evangelical Christians. Catholics and Evangelicals are extremist? “The materials we obtained establish that the U.S. military violated its appropriate apolitical stance and engaged in a dishonorable mischaracterization of multiple faith groups,” said Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance, an organization that represents thousands of military chaplains.”
The US Army sent out a policy letter to “leaders” in which “hate groups” were listed in alphabetical order. This letter was leaked to Todd Starns of Fox News. In the FOUO e-mail, the following summary was given of the hate groups described in detail in the rest of the letter: “Anti-Gay, Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Muslim, Black Separatist, Christian Identity, Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Confederate, Neo-Nazi, Patriot Movement, Racist Skinhead, Sovereign Citizens Movement, and White Nationalist.” Some of these groups everyone understands are hate groups, but those who consider themselves patriotic? While Christian Identity is considered to have a separatist white supremacist theology the letter actually describes James Dobson’s Focus on the Family as a hate group. “For Christian Right leaders, the gay rights movement and its so-called “homosexual agenda” are the prime culprits in the destruction of American society and culture. In the words of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson; the battle against gay rights is essentially a “second civil war” to put control of the U.S. government in the right hands, meaning those who reject gay rights.”
It is becoming evident that the United States government is becoming clearly anti-Christian. It is the fear of the author that Christian chaplains will be forced to make ethical concessions or suffer discharge from the military. Already, chaplains have been discharged for praying in the name of Jesus. Will chaplains be forced to marry homosexual couples or face discharge? Will evangelical Christianity be allowed to endorse chaplains in the United States Military? By labeling Christians as a hate group, the First Amendment will become nullified. If the First Amendment is nullified so is the need for a chaplain that is distinctly anything other than a pawn of the state.
Conclusion
While the past of the United States Chaplaincy has been good, the future is less certain. The chaplaincy is largely dependent on the American Bill of Rights and the First Amendment. If certain religious groups are labeled as ‘hate groups’ then it stands to reason that the practice of those same religions will become illegal eventually. The First Amendment governs not just the freedom of religion, it also governs free speech. If religious groups that the government has labeled ‘extremist’ and ‘hate groups’ are censured then their freedom of speech is taken and their religious freedom is taken. As demonstrated, Evangelical Christians are already targeted as a ‘hate group.’ It is only a matter of time before Evangelical Christians are not allowed to enter into military service as chaplains without being endorsed by an ecclesiastical body that does not ‘discriminate’ against homosexuals.
The writing is on the wall, America has been weighed and has been found wanting. The devout Evangelical Christian and Catholic chaplains who are in military should evaluate whether or not the Lord desires them to go down with the ship. After all, if the chaplain were not in the Military World then all servicemen and women would be lost. It is better to save some while being destroyed than none. This could also become the greatest time in the Military Chaplaincy because when it is the darkest the light shines the brightest!

Bibliography

Bible Gateway. All scriptures quoted were copied and pasted from http://www.biblegateway.com/ (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).

Duin, Julia. “Military chaplain fired for praying in Jesus’ name.” The Washington Times. December 21,2005, posted on Jews On First.com. http://www.jewsonfirst.org/05a/sep036.html (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).

Hutson, James H. Church and State in America, Cambridge Essential Histories. Cabridge University Press. Kindle Edition. 2007.

Kain, Erik. "President Obama Signed the National Defense Authorization Act - Now What?” Forbes Online. http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/01/02/president-obama-signed-the-national-defense-authorization-act-now-what/ (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013). Starnes, Todd. “The Army’s List of “Domestic Hate Groups.”” Fox News Radio. http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/the-armys-list-of-domestic-hate-groups.html (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).

Starnes, Todd. “Pentagon Classifies Evangelical Christians, Catholics as “Extremists.”” Fox News Radio. http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/pentagon-classifies-evangelical-christians-catholics-as-extremists.html (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).

Whittington, Michael and Davidson, Charlie. Matter of Conscience: A Practical Theology for the Evangelical Chaplain. Liberty University Press. Kindle Edition. 2013.

Whittington, Michael. "CHPL 600 Presentations." Liberty University Online.

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[ 1 ]. Michael Whittington, “The First Amendment-Freedom of Religion,” Liberty University, http://bb7.liberty.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-22631222-dt-content-rid-158159358_1/courses/CHPL600_B03_201340/CHPL600_B03_201340_ImportedContent_20130812082519/Presentations/Module%201%20Presentations/index.html (accessed August, 22, 2013).
[ 2 ]. James H. Hutson, Church and State in America, Cambridge Essential Histories, (Cambridge University Press, Kindle Edition, 2008), 2.
[ 3 ]. Michael Whittington and Charlie Davidson, Matters of Conscience: A Practical Theology for the Evangelical Chaplain, (Liberty University Press, Kindle Edition, 2013), Kindle Locations 724-725.
[ 4 ]. Matthew 28:19-20, New Living Translation.
[ 5 ]. See Act 17:16-34.
[ 6 ]. Revelation 7:9, New Living Translation
[ 7 ]. Michael Whittington, Charlie Davidson, Matters of Conscience: A Practical Theology for the Evangelical Chaplain, (Liberty University Press, Kindle Edition, 2013), Kindle Locations 1321-1322.
[ 8 ]. Michael Whittington, “Working Within a Pluralistic Culture - The Chaplain's Challenge,” Liberty University, http://bb7.liberty.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-22631875-dt-content-rid-158157316_1/courses/CHPL600_B03_201340/CHPL600_B03_201340_ImportedContent_20130812082519/Presentations/Module%202/index.html (accessed August 28, 2013).
[ 9 ]. Naomi K. Paget, The Work of the Chaplain: Work of the Church, (Judson Press - A. Kindle Edition, 2006), 12.
[ 10 ]. Michael Whittington and Charlie Davidson, Matters of Conscience: A Practical Theology for the Evangelical Chaplain (Liberty University Press. Kindle Edition Kindle, 2013), Locations 1640-1642.
[ 11 ]. Erik Kain, “President Obama Signed the National Defense Authorization Act - Now What?” Forbes Online, http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/01/02/president-obama-signed-the-national-defense-authorization-act-now-what/ (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).
[ 12 ]. The US Patriot Act http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/Section802.html (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013.
[ 13 ]. The ACLU, “How the USA PATRIOT Act redefines “Domestic Terrorism,”” The ACLU, https://www.aclu.org/national-security/how-usa-patriot-act-redefines-domestic-terrorism (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).
[ 14 ]. Todd Starnes, “Pentagon Classifies Evangelical Christians, Catholics as “Extremists,”” Fox News Radio, http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/pentagon-classifies-evangelical-christians-catholics-as-extremists.html (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).
[ 15 ]. Todd Starnes, “The Army’s List of “Domestic Hate Groups,”” Fox News Radio, http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/the-armys-list-of-domestic-hate-groups.html (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).
[ 16 ]. Ibid.
[ 17 ]. Julia Duin, “Military chaplain fired for praying in Jesus’ name,” The Washington Times, December 21,2005, http://www.jewsonfirst.org/05a/sep036.html (accessed Friday, October 11, 2013).