Chaplaincy and discipleship
My friend Mark is an Episcopal priest, and an Air Force chaplain candidate. He was commissioned a few years ago, has served on several bases in training, and is awaiting only the necessary endorsement of the national church to be officially designated chaplain. In light of the dustup in recent months over accusations of overzealous proselytizing, and countercharges of religious supression, he is musing about the call of military chaplaincy-- the work he does, and the structures and strictures under which he does it. Does one need to pray "in Jesus' name," every time, in order to be true to Christian teaching? When does evangelism include talking about one's faith, and when is it best done simply by living it?
Please stop by his place, to read and comment at will.
Please stop by his place, to read and comment at will.
posted by Jane Ellen+ at
10:35 AM
9 Comments:
IMHO it is not necessary to pray in Jesus' name every time.
However I do believe that it is necessary to not be afraid to pray in Jesus' name.
The main problem with the Air Force regulation (now changed) is that it intimidates people into being afraid to pray in Jesus' name.
Tell me that Imans are required to not mention Mohammed or Allah in the Air Force.
It is only Christians who are pushed around, and the reason for that is because so many of them lack the courage of their convictions.
The rule applies to every faith and every service branch across the board, not just Christians.
I agree that one shouldn't be afraid to use the name of Jesus, especially in prayer. We just work in a very unique mission field, one with some particular restrictions. Restrictions that I can choose to work with if I pray at public ceremonies. I can also choose not to pray in those settings. In which case the chapel services I conduct are wide open.
When did the regulation change? Last I checked all of us still had to keep public prayer neutral.
I should add that "pushed around" may be an extreme way of putting it. As far as I know these regulations have been in force for quite some time, and I can say with certaintly that they apply to everyone.
The government isn't trying to push anyone around on this one. They're trying to walk a very fine line: Allowing the presence of chaplains in a government organization that cannot official or unofficially promote any religion.
(Incidentally I'm moving these three comments to my blog.)
Are Imans allowed to pray in the name of Allah?
Having been at the receiving end, countless times, of some extremely obnoxious proselytizing by Christians who wanted to "convert" me out of my own faith tradition into their particular understanding of Christianity -- obnoxious evangelists are their own worst enemies. They make it harder for everyone else who has to work in a sensitive area like chaplaincy. Among other things, they seem to have very little faith in the Holy Spirit's ability to do the Holy Spirit's job, and very little respect for Christians whose Christianity doesn't look or sound like theirs.
If the position of a chaplaincy is so sensitive that one cannot mention the name of Jesus, then perhaps one should ask oneself precisely Whose chaplain one is: The military's or Jesus'.
And again, are Imans forbidden to call on the name of Allah? Or does "sensitivity" in military affairs mean different things for chaplains from with convictions (such as Muslims) than it does for chaplains from dying denominations?
Shari: Mark answered your question. From his first comment, above:
"The rule applies to every faith and every service branch across the board, not just Christians." (emphasis mine)
Additionally, if you read his blog, you will see that this applies only to public prayers, where attendance is often mandatory for personnel. In worship, or more private or small group prayer, one is permitted-- indeed, encouraged-- to pray as one needs or desires, in accordance with one's faith.
As it happens, the vast majority of military chaplains are Christian. there are a small minority of Jews, and only a very few Muslims in the chaplain corps (there was, I believe, only one active duty imam in the USAF last year). So if the directive impacts Christians more, it is not out of preferential bias, but simply numerically.
Shari et al - This would be easier if you would post comments on my blog where the post really is. That would save me running around checking this site and mine, plus make it easier on anyone wanting to follow this thread.
Once again, I'm going to shift a couple of comments manually over there.
In the meantime thanks, Jane, for clearing that up again. It isn't just the Christians who are being "pushed around". It is everyone. The government doesn't support one religion over another, so everyone gets equal treatment.
Also, Shari, it isn't as though we can't say Jesus at all. We cannot do so in public prayer outside of the chapel. We're asked to limit our evangelistic efforts in mixed company, and when those efforts might be unwelcome. I know the analogy is far, far from perfect, but take sexual harassment. Flirting has a place and time, but when the other party isn't interested, it ceases to become fun and becomes pushy, uncomfortable, off-putting, and illegal.
(The first person to claim that I just equated sex and coming to know Christ will be exiled to Mars. I know the analogy is limited, but the feelings evoked by unwanted advances, religious or otherwise, run parallel.)
Can't reallyy comment on this one for a whole host of reasons, but wanted to stop by and say hi and I hope things are well.
Post a Comment
<< Home