Military Won't Take Graham at Faith Value
Almost nine years after 9-11, the Pentagon is the site of a new attack--this time on religious freedom. After a few days of speculation, the military advanced its policy of political correctness to bar Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the evangelist Billy Graham, from speaking at the Pentagon's National Day of Prayer event. Apparently an outside group had complained about Graham's statements about Islam and the evil perpetrated under its banner. Their concerns were fueled by his unapologetic view that only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
As political correctness envelops the nation under this administration's watchful eye, Christianity is being tossed from the public square. Military spokesman Col. Tom Collins tried to defend the decision by saying, "We're an all-inclusive military." But to be "inclusive," as the Pentagon defines it, is to exclude Christianity. Contrary to what Col. Collins says, this has nothing to do with tolerance and everything to do with the military's new hostility toward the Gospel. Franklin Graham is a man of courage and integrity whose biblical beliefs should not preclude him from sharing the message of Jesus Christ.
Under President Obama, we're witnessing the First Amendment, designed to protect the religious exercise of Americans, retooled into a sword designed to sever America's ties with orthodox Christianity. As believers, we cannot sit idly by and watch our freedoms be swept away. When I was disinvited from a prayer luncheon at Andrews Air Force base, it was because I made comments supporting the law banning gays from the military. Some dismissed that as a result of my involvement in public policy. Rev. Graham, whose ministry has served to the physical and spiritual needs of millions of people (including Muslims!) around the globe, was making some key distinctions between Christianity and the religion that flew radicals into the Pentagon.
So to those Christian leaders who say they want to avoid the controversy of political issues and "just preach the Gospel," wake up! It's the Gospel that's at the heart of the controversy--and the freedom to preach it that's at stake!
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