Have I Violated My Oath of Enlistment?

You know what they say folks…if ya can’t beat em, insult em!

That is the tactic of a specific God - hater that frequents the myspace chatrooms.

He’s latched on to one of the small bits of personal information I’ve let slip about myself. For those of you who don’t know, I am in the Navy.

This guy has tried to argue, that since I practice Christian apologetics on the internet that I have somehow violated my Oath of Enlistment.

Is this true? Could I really be such a low down snake?

Well, before we look at the Oath itself, I would like to point out that I AM a low down snake! In fact, I deserve death for all my sins. Every insult leveled against me, I deserve. I just don’t really consider myself that great of a person (it’s taken me a long time to get this humble, and I’m dang proud of it!)

That said…I have some wonderful news for myself, (and anyone else out there who may feel the same way.)

God used a Donkey once, and if a jackass is worthy enough of holding, and passing on the truth of God, then so is a low down snake like myself!

Paul was exactly right when he said that us Christians have a great treasure bound up in a jar of clay.

So…my apologies to the God-hater who tries to make ad hominem appeals to win an argument. No matter how terrible of a person I happen to be…the message God has given me, is the greatest message ever.

All that being said, lets look at the Oath of Enlistment itself, and see if I’ve been faithful to it or not.

Oath of Enlistment:

I, (Shotgun), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

If you’ll notice, this oath is made before God, and establishes God as a covenental witness.

Is it me, or does that mean that God Almighty Himself is the overseer of my military commitment? I know thats what I took it as when I made the oath.

I am bound to serve my country however the officers over me deem necessary. Serving the country, means, upholding, and defending the Constitution of the United States.

This means that I must defend the concepts of objective truth, and moral absolutes.

These things are only possible given the Christian worldview.

To the degree that I defend the Chrsitian worldview, I fulfil my oath before God, and my Country.

What of the UCMJ? Well, there certainly isn’t any rule there that says I cannot defend my Christian worldview in a public setting, (at least in my private time.) None of my officers have ordered me NOT to defend my faith in the mannar that I do; in fact, my supervisors, and friends all support my persuits and are supportive of my philosophical views.

To conclude: Have I violated my Oath?

Umm, no.

I guess it just goes to show you, some folks just can’t handle being told off by a donkey, (even such a good looking and charming one as me…)