What if I told you that a young United States Marine, a Lance Corporal, who just happens to be black, was court-martialed for having a Bible Verse displayed on her computer?
You would probably accuse me of being a couple of fries short of a government-regulated McDonald’s Happy Meal.
Unbelievably, as Bill Murray and his squad shouted at the General, in the movie, “Stripes”,
That’s a FACT, Jack!
The Christian Post reports that
A United States Marine who was convicted at a court-martial of putting a Bible verse declaring “no weapon formed against me shall prosper” on her computer because it was “contrary to good order and discipline,” is now looking to have that decision appealed under the protection of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Lance Cpl. Monifa Sterling, who was convicted while stationed at Camp Lejune in North Carolina, was prosecuted for displaying a version of Isaiah 54;17 that reads: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”
In 2014, Sterling was court-martialed for refusing to obey orders to remove the scripture from her desk, according to Fox News. After representing herself in court, she was found guilty of disrespecting a superior officer, failing to go to an appointed place of duty, and four charges of disobeying the lawful order of a non-commissioned officer. She was discharged from the Marines for bad conduct and was demoted from lance corporal to private.
Liberty Institute and volunteer attorney, Paul Clement, have asked the Court of Appeals for the U.S. Armed Forces to review Sterling’s case. The government found that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act did not apply to Sterling because simply displaying a Bible verse does not constitute religious practice, which Sterling and Liberty Institute argue is untrue.
“If the government can order a Marine not to display a Bible verse, they could try and order her not to get a religious tattoo, or go to church on Sunday. Restricting a Marine’s free exercise of religion is blatantly unconstitutional,” Mike Berry, Liberty Institute director of military affairs and senior counsel, said on Liberty Institute’s blog.
“If a service member has a right to display a secular poster, put an atheist bumper sticker on their car, or get a Star of David tattoo, then Lance Cpl. Sterling has the right to display a small Bible verse on her computer monitor,” Berry added.
The military argued that Sterling’s choice of scripture “could easily [have] been seen as contrary to good order and discipline. Maintaining discipline and morale in the military work center could very well require that the work center remain relatively free of divisive or contentious issues such as personal beliefs, religion, politics, etc.,” court documents obtained by Fox News stated.
Unfortunately, because of the bad conduct discharge, Sterling is reportedly having trouble finding a job. She remains unemployed but hopeful that Liberty Institute and Clement can get the charges reversed; Clement has had great fortune in the court, helping arts and crafts giant Hobby Lobby secure the company’s successful defense of religious freedom in the landmark Hobby Lobby v. Burwell case before the Supreme Court last June.
The Liberty Institute’s lawyers plan to argue that Sterling’s case should have qualified for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act despite the government’s decision.
Rev, Franklin Graham posted the following comment on his Facebook Page, yesterday…
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” This is the Bible verse (Isaiah 54:17) that Marine Lance Corporal Monifa Sterling was court martialed over. Unbelievably, she was criminally prosecuted by the U.S. government for displaying this encouraging Scripture on her computer in her workspace. Give me a break—really? Can our society be at a point where a supervisor can order a young Marine to remove a Bible verse from her computer? Others are able to display secular message…s without any opposition, but Sterling was targeted by her supervisor. Today there’s a tolerance in our culture for everything—except the things of God and His Word. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces has been asked to review LCpl Sterling’s case—let’s pray that this kind of targeting and persecution of Christians by our government will be stopped.
This past Monday, I wrote about my Daddy (Southern colloquialism for male parental unit) and my Uncles, and their service in World War II. I have also had friends that served over the years, and one who is still serving in the Air National Guard.
All of these men were/are Patriots. They enlisted out of a duty to God and Country.
“God and Country”. Now, there’s a phrase that you may not hear much anymore.
You see, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, (our Lord and Savior, as Jamie Foxx referred to him) is on a Crusade to remove Christianity and any reference to the God of Abraham and Isaac, from our Armed Forces.
In 2014, the Pentagon was caught teaching soldiers that the Christian Evangelical “American Family Association”, was a “Terrorist” Organization, needless to say, after Americans gave them “H – e – double hockey sticks” about that stupidity, they had to stop that training class.
After that, the Obama Administration, through their operatives at the Pentagon, decided to remove the phrase “So help me God” for the oath that Americans take, when they enlist in the United States Air Force. It is now “optional”.
The Obama Administration’s quest to remove the God of Abraham from America’s Armed Forces is the result of the influence of Mikey Weinstein.
Who is this clown, you ask?(You probably did not use the word “clown”, but I did. And, I’m holding my temper.)
Weinstein is the head of an organization, known as the “Military Religious Freedom Foundation”.
Established in 2006, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) describes itself as “a watchdog group” that is “dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled …” The organization’s primary objective is to eradicate the religious bias and “coercion” that it deems prevalent among high-ranking Christian members of the U.S. military. Toward that end, MRFF functions as “a clearinghouse for violations reported by military and civilian personnel,” offering “complete anonymity” to all complainants.
Headed by retired Air Force lawyer Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, MRFF declares: “At a time when the United States is encouraging greater religious freedom in Muslim nations, it is imperative [sic] upon America to show by example that religious pluralism is a viable and preferred option. Any sign of hypocrisy in United States policy … toward the free exercise of religion within the military makes it more difficult to convince others to follow our nation’s chosen path.”
In December 2006, MRFF issued a “Compliance Report on the Pervasive Violations of the United States Constitutional Religious Freedoms of Military Personnel.” “Military and civilian personnel,” says this document, “are subjected to blatant and unlawful displays of religiosity at mandatory formations, religious bias, and illegal proselytizing by their peers and superiors alike.” The report identifies “pervasive violations of United States Constitutional religious freedoms of military personnel” in five major areas:
(a) Blatant displays of religious symbolism on military garb.
(b) Placement of a biblical quotation above the door of the Air and Space Basic Course classroom.
(c) Illegal use of official military e-mail accounts to send e-mails containing religious rhetoric.
(d) Attempts by missionary organizations to train active-duty military personnel to evangelize their subordinates and peers.
(e) Military leadership openly discussing their commitment to bring religion into the military.
Notwithstanding the disclaimer, MRFF states: “[S]erious violations were committed by prominent figures featured on the organization’s ten-minute promotional video. … [S]everal members of military leadership appear in the video, dressed in full uniform openly discussing their personal connection to Jesus and how they make this connection part of the work they do in their professional capacity each day. {They] state that, among other things, with the help of Christian Embassy, they hold bible studies while on duty in the workplace, many times in their offices.”
Ohhhh….how horrible. Why…morality and ethical behavior may break out at any moment!!!
And, Lord knows, this Administration does not want that to happen.
It is no coincidence that the Marine Corps Motto, Semper Fidelis, is Latin for “Always Faithful”.
Lance Cpl. (now Private) Sterling remains always faithful.
She did not deserve her mistreatment.
America’s population remains 74% Christian, no matter what the latest politically-driven poll says.
Our Religious freedom is Constitutionally Protected.
It is not subject to the whims of Popular Culture or a Petulant President.
Those who were responsible need to remember one thing:
God always has the last word.
Until He Comes,
KJ
Kingsjester's Blog 