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Whats a Chaplain to do?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Dec 21, 2010.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Since the US military will be directed to allow homose*uals in the military, some have shown concern about Chaplains - as to whether they can preach Rom 8 - ie that the lifestyle is immoral.

    Lets take another approach. Suppose there was a Chaplain who sincerely believes that Blacks and Whites should not get married. Should that Chaplain be allowed to stay in the military?

    Note: please don't discuss the issue whether he is right or wrong - the point is that belief is a strongly held belief of his, thur his interpretation of the Bible.

    I contend that if you believe that a Chaplain has the right to preach against homose*uality in the military, the Chaplain next to him has the right to preach that the races should not intermarry.

    Thoughts
     
  2. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

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    Aww, Salty, you can't make conditions like that. The scriptures are silent about whether or not different races should marry. There's no foundation for a belief like that.

    On the other hand, there is a foundation for preaching against h*m*s*xuality.

    In either case, if a chaplain preaches Christ crucified and risen again, the Holy Spirit will take care of showing the new convert where he/she needs to make changes.
     
  3. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Unfortunately, you're incorrect in your assumption that scripture is silent on the racial subject. I don't know the exact verses myself, because I personally ascribe to Galatians 3:28; but I know of people and pastors and even entire churches that use scripture to justify the position Salty has put forth.
     
  4. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    They may (mis)use Scripture to demonstrate that position, but Scripture does not teach that.
     
  5. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    You sound like the world when you say this, basically equating hom***xuals to being a race.

    That's what they would like you to think too.

    Thinking like this is in error.
     
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I am NOT equating the two positions - What I'm doing is asking for a principal - if a chaplain has a firm belief, should we allow him to teach that without fear of retribution from his commanders?

    Suppose a COC preaches you must be baptized to complete your salvation - are we going to kick him out of the Army?

    Principal - I'm talking principal - whats good for the goose is good for the gander.

    Please no more of is it "right or not". I will repeat - if a chaplain has a firm belief, should we allow him to teach/preach
     
  7. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    I don't believe we should have any chaplains in the military. Does that count for anything? :)
     
  8. Gershom

    Gershom Active Member

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    A preacher has not so much the right to preach the truth as he has the duty to preach the truth. So the question becomes "what is the truth?" We know the truth in regards to homos*xuality. There is no confusion about that. Murder is wrong. Adultery is wrong. Stealing is wrong, etc. When you come to an area given to interpretation, then discuss it. When you come place of silence, best to not preach it as truth. Therefore in such a situation, then no, the chaplain believing inter-racial marriage is wrong should not hold that as truth to be followed or push it as biblical doctrine (in fact the opposite is taught plainly from the NT), as it cannot be supported biblically.
     
  9. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Perhaps, just perhaps, there are basics to the Christian faith, and in the military, I maintained the basics; trust Jesus as Saviour; be born again; live a clean and pure life in Him. We left the sidelines for home churches. I was never forced to sprinkle an infant, nor engage in liberal theology. My hands were full with the basics.

    Military chaplaincy is a whole other ministry and don't try to fit it into any one denomination. You will fail, believe me.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  10. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

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    Let me repeat myself:

    No rules against that, that I know of.
     
  11. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

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    You can't be serious but if you are, you need to rethink your position.
     
  12. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    They're two separate issues. To correlate them in the question is a fallacy.

    It only reinforces the wrong idea set forth by the world to make them a race.

    Here's the bottom line: The world doesn't see much wrong with h*m*se*****ity. Neither do many "ministers".

    Let's say you used pedophiles and ho*********** as an example, now we are comparing two types of se**al sin. Not apples and oranges.

    But then the argument wouldn't fit, thus you are using the wrong ammo.

    The ammo is this: Hom********** is condemned in Scripture. The only way this could be fought is on a Christian level accepting the morality of Scriptures as the basis for determination in serving in our US military, and the military adopting that as policy.

    That you use these two examples helps reinforce the fact that our culture has sifted into our mind set.
     
    #12 preacher4truth, Dec 21, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 21, 2010
  13. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I guess folks here do not have reading comprehension skills.

    Only Jim and Gershom were the closest to anwering the questions - but still a ways off

    If I was a moderator, I would close this thread,
    Moderators - please do so
    and delete any post that follows this one
     
    #13 Salty, Dec 21, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 21, 2010
  14. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Of course I'm serious. I believe in the Baptist principle of separation of church and state. Why, exactly, do I need to rethink my position?
     
  15. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Just because a thread in the debate section doesn't go along the narrow path that you want it to follow is no reason to call for it to be closed.

    We debate things here. We go off on rabbit trails. That's the way it works.
     
  16. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    You're absolutely correct in your final paragraph--which is why Chaplains have been given limitations in what they can preach. For example, the emphasis to de-emphasize the use of "Jesus" in prayers at official functions, in order not to alienate or otherwise cause discomfort of anyone attending.

    Most of the bases I've been at, had a chaplain staff of 1-3 chaplains, usually of the Catholic persuasion. If any Jewish military members wanted a Jewish service in the base chapel, they were encouraged to use the laity as the Jewish leader, and allowed to use the chapel. Same with Mormons and others. I haven't found any Muslim or Wiccan services on base yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they exist at some locations. I'm not a big fan of the chaplain/base chapel system, and don't usually go to the base chapel, so I'm not sure.
     
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