Military Order Prevents US Soldiers From Practicing Christianity

Last evening as we watched the ABC news piece on “Jesus Guns,” my wife and I were outraged both as Americans and as Christians. Apparently the provider for our country’s rifle scopes, a Christian company named Trijicon, places Scripture references in tiny print near the serial number of the scope to reflect the company’s Christian identity. These particular verses (like John 8:12 and 2 Corinthians 4:6) speak of Jesus as the lighting shining out of darkness and as the light of the world. In and Out Burger (and other esteemed American businesses) do something similar, placing Scripture references on the bottom of their fountain soda cups.

The piece on the gun sights is not what troubles me the most. If they want to ask Trijicon to remove the verses from the serial number area of their product so that our liberal media can get out of their over-reaction-ICU-condition, then fine. But that is not the biggest part of this story! In launching this story, every American has heard that the US Military is not allowing our soldiers (US citizens) to practice Christianity in Afghanistan and Iraq. Apparently, the US Military has been given an order that prevents our soldiers from sharing and promoting their Christian faith to the indigenous peoples of Afghanistan and Iraq. Since when is the freedom of religion restricted for those who would fight to protect those same freedoms?

The truth of the matter is that in order to practice Christianity, a Christian must be actively involved in making disciples of Jesus Christ; this job does not end until until the message of Christ has been extended to every socio-political group or until Jesus returns at the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen (NKJV)

It sounds nice to say that our soldiers can “hold religious services,” but that is a far cry from allowing soldiers to practice their Christian faith. Intrinsic to a Christian walk is obedience to the command of Jesus Himself to make disciples.