Published February 4, 2006 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time
IN THEORY
Q: The number of mainline military Protestant chaplains has reportedly decreased recently as evangelical Christians have enlisted in the chaplaincy. Critics have reportedly complained that some evangelical chaplains are preaching to service men and women that the only way to salvation is through Jesus -- a claim new chaplains say is only natural, adding that restricting the impulse to preach about Jesus would be a restriction of religious freedom. Are you concerned about how service men and women are being ministered to, and do you think the influx of evangelical ministers, if it's disproportional to other faiths, could be detrimental?
A: Of all the people to play head-games with, soldiers might be considered the easiest targets. As the saying goes, there are no atheists in foxholes.
Thoughts of God and salvation are very comforting to most humans and are craved even more when stress levels are high.
We can only imagine the added stress on the lives of our soldiers. They have been separated from family and friends, living on foreign soil. They witness carnage daily and face the reality that life can be over any minute. And so, if a minister is able to offer these young men and women a bit of comfort or stability or a ray of hope, more power to them.
The success these chaplains have is not based only on their message, rather it is a combination of factors, and the chaplain's ability to lead by example weighs in the heaviest. That is, if the chaplain is offering serenity and a helping hand, our soldiers find a home in that faith.
Religion at its best should be all about making sense of the senseless -- bringing order to chaos. I can't think of a more appropriate place to begin than on the battle fields, whether in Iraq, on our streets or in our lives.
FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN
Armenian Church Youth
Ministries
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