When I was in my twenties, I was a steadfast contributor to H.A.L.T. (Help Abolish Legal Tyranny). The organizers recognized that the legal industry was positioning itself as a funnel through which all ethical questions had to be resolved, and that a predatory core was using client-attorney privilege to hide criminal activity taken on the behalf of their patrons. The most disgusting examples occurred at the turn of the millennium, where CEOs (involved in financial scandals) and presidents (Bush and the absurd doctrine of the “Unitary Executive”) alike stated that “Well, I did what I did because my attorney advised me that it was legal”, and the attorneys protected their briefs behind “client-attorney privilege.”

The scales were always unbalanced in H.A.L.T.’s struggle, and as it wore on, the founder became more and more strident in his diatribes. I eventually sent him a letter advising that he take care of himself, and plan to pass the baton to the next generation.

I see something similar happening to Mikey Weinstein at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. There is a core cabal in the military that attempts to force Christian practices and declarations upon their subordinates. They have also sent death threats to Weinstein’s home.

Obviously, this as contrary to Christian principles. But Mikey’s recent tirades against Air Force sentries offering “Have a blessed day” give me concern that a simple expression of personal good will is being attacked as though it was a tool of repression. Weinstein is trying to control personal behavior, and beginning to come across as not too different than the people he opposes.

While I wish that I could do more to help you, I see the problem this way, Mr. Weinstein:

Love does not force things to comply. It helps them to manifest their greatness. That was the experience of the Apostles under the tutelage of Christ.

Yes, Jesus would not force anyone to pray – he would confront them with a problem too big for them to solve, and then give them the strength to solve it.

And for the base commanders:

Asking “What Would Jesus Do” is one thing – acting as though you are Jesus when you don’t have the powers of Christ is quite another. Force is something used by people that imagine Jesus with their own limitations. It is simple hubris to suppose “Well, if Jesus had my limitations, what would he do?”, and then to force other people to live accordingly.

No, Jesus would not force anyone to pray – he would confront them with a problem too big for them to solve, and then give them the strength to solve it.