Todd Starnes, a contributor to Fox News and one of those people who keeps a close watch on the moral structure of our nation, wrote an interesting article published last week. You can find the article at: www.toddstarnes.com/faith/army-chaplain-faces-possible-court-martial-over-religious-beliefs. "A decorated Army chaplain at Fort Bragg in North Carolina could face a possible court martial and even military prison after he explained to a soldier he could not conduct a marriage retreat that included same-sex couples because of his religious beliefs, his attorneys allege. An Army investigator under the command of Major General Kurt Sonntag recommended that Chaplain Scott Squires be found guilty of 'dereliction of duty' for taking three business days to reschedule the 'Strong Bonds' marriage retreat he was prohibited from facilitating. Squires, who was officially accused of discrimination, is endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board (NAMB).
"According to NAMB policy, chaplains are prohibited from conducting 'Strong Bonds' events for same-sex couples. The policy clearly states 'endorsed chaplains will not conduct or attend a wedding ceremony for any same-sex couple, bless such a union or perform counseling in support of such a union...nor offer any kind of relationship training or retreat, on or off a military installation.' When Squires realized he could not participate in the 'Strong Bonds' event, he rescheduled the conference to accommodate a lesbian couple with a chaplain who could oversee the retreat. However, the couple chose not to attend.
"Had Squires participated in the marriage retreat he would have risked losing his endorsement by the Southern Baptists. Likewise, the Army requires its chaplains to adhere to their endorsers' rules and religious tenets. 'I simply did what I'm required to do under Army regulations and my endorser's rules,' Chaplain Squires said. 'I am shocked that I would even be investigated, let alone threatened with punishment, for following the rules.'"
Friends, we have witnessed this kind of threat too many times these past few years. We have heard of floral-shop owners, bakers, photographers, and banquet hall operators who have been arrested, charged, and penalized because they took a stand for their religious convictions and beliefs. Yet the First Amendment to the United States Constitution grants every American the right to freedom of religious expression. Just this past summer the United States Supreme Court ruled that an individual cannot be targeted just because of his or her religious beliefs. This Army chaplain was acting according to the rules and regulations of the Department of the Army and the Southern Baptist Convention. He took the time to reschedule another chaplain who was free to participate in an event in which a same-sex couple could be free to attend. He did all the right things. The threat of litigation is a "bully-club" the left enjoys using in order to get their own way. But it is time that Christians take a stand for biblical truth. The vacillation has got to stop. Either there is a Truth worth defending or there is just non-truth. I can only hope that the Army will stand with this Chaplain because he took a stand for what was right and he did it in a right way.
There was a fascinating article, written by Linda Goudsmit, and titled "Trump derangement syndrome: A prelude to anarchy," that was also published last week. You can find this important article at: www.renewamerica.com/columns/goudsmit/180805. The article begins with a powerful opening paragraph which sets the tone for the remainder of the article. "The election of President Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the emotional stability of those living in subjective reality because they cannot tolerate the threat of objective reality that President Trump represents. The clash between subjective reality and objective reality has launched what is known as Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDR) or more recently Trump Anxiety Disorder (TAD). The incursion of objective reality is so threatening to Anti-Trumpers that they break down psychologically and require medication and psychological services.
"Mark Alexander posted an article he wrote 8.1.18 titled 'Therapists Rebrand "Trump Derangement Syndrome" exploring the subject: 'The pop culture Urban Dictionary defines Trump Derangement Syndrome as 'a mental condition in which a person has been driven effectively insane due to their dislike of Donald Trump, to the point at which they will abandon all logic and reason. Symptoms for this condition can be very diverse, ranging from hysterical outbursts to a complete mental break...I would suggest that the increasing frequency and intensity of hysterics associated with TDR is greatly exacerbated by the unmitigated, constant consumption of hateful Democrat/mainstream media propaganda, 24/7/365. The result is a mass movement of those so intent on undermining Trump that they are now far off the reality reservation and utterly obsessed with defeating peace and prosperity.'
"Anti-Trumpers were groomed to become global citizens in the mythical land of income equality and social justice. They believed the myth of collectivism because it made them FEEL good - no mention of failed socialism - no talk of Venezuela - until President Trump. Objective reality is the world of facts - subjective reality is the world of feelings. The United States of America was founded on the principles of ordered liberty articulated in our Constitution and supported by objective reality. The Culture War that is attacking America is an attack on ordered liberty, the Constitution, and objective reality. The Culture War is supported by subjective reality and its world of feelings. ... The left is pressuring society to accept Orwellian doublespeak. They want you to accept feelings as facts, subjective reality as objective reality, and insanity as sanity. ... The divisiveness in America is now a war over reality. The country is divided between those living in objective reality and those living in subjective reality."
Let me close with a couple more paragraphs from this insightful article. "Our elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities have been politicized by educators and administrators who embrace the Marxist doctrines of collectivism lauded by our enemies. Political correctness, moral relativity, and historical revisionism are the tenets of the new religion of leftist liberalism that has replaced traditional religions and traditional education in America. Obama's 'resistance' movement is an anti-American coalition of groups who identify as marginalized and victimized - they are a coalition of identity politics who refuse to accept the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. They refuse to accept objective reality.
"In 1950 the goal of parenting was to help your child become a self-sufficient adult. In the 60s the goal of parenting shifted from self-reliance to insuring your child's happiness. Schools adopted the shift in the 70s and 80s and continue to be agents of social change. Schools abandoned individualism and the meritocracy and replaced them with collectivism and the happiness standard. Schools abandoned facts and adopted 'feelings' as the standard and every student became a butterfly. From the time they were in elementary school students were pressed to live in subjective reality so their feelings would not be hurt. They were lied to and told they were all butterflies - not true - some kids are smarter than others. They were lied to and told that they could do anything - not true - some kids do not have the aptitude or physical strength to do what they wanted to do.
"We are now watching these butterflies come undone at the university. It is not surprising that they refuse to accept the outcome of the election- they still live in subjective reality and lack the coping skills to absorb disappointment. They are so fragile and so emotionally underdeveloped they need Play-Doh and safe spaces to protect themselves from unwelcome ideas on campus including unwelcome election outcomes. We are witnessing a generational failure to mature - the unwillingness to accept facts - the student anti-Trumpers refuse to accept objective reality.
"Objective reality is an existential threat to those living in subjective reality. Subjective reality is an existential threat to the stability and future of the United States of America. As President Trump exposes the fiction of subjective reality his enemies are getting more and more desperate to stop him. Trump Derangement Syndrome is a prelude to anarchy."
Friends, this is an incredibly well-written and honest assessment of where our nation is right now. Once again we see how we have replaced truth with opinions, with feelings. It is only truth that can set a person free. Because we have willingly abandoned truth, we are becoming a nation becoming enslaved to the opinions of others. Soon it may be said of us as it was of ancient Israel, "In those days there was no king, every man did that which was right in his own eyes." And, friends, that is anarchy.
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