Christian Ministry Attacks Obama and Lies About Bibles For Our Troops
(This is an adaptation of two pieces I wrote last month for The Public Record, "Obama Bashing Message from Pentagon Connected Ministry" and "Son of Obama-Bashing Minister Lies about Bibles for Our Troops." My initial reasons for writing these pieces were the clear 501(c)3 violation of Cecil Todd's political sermons and Tim Todd's lies about the military's distribution of Bibles, but, in light of the recent revelation of the Army's Public Affairs Office linking to an Obama-smearing blog in its "Stand To!" news roundup, I think it's important to keep an eye on other Pentagon connected forces at work in the campaign against Obama, in this case a Pentagon connected ministry. At the next Revival Fires campmeeting, scheduled to be held the last week of this month in Branson, Missouri, Cecil Todd will be delivering a sermon titled "America's Biggest Nightmare!" to a crowd of thousands. I don't think it's too much of a leap to suspect that this upcoming sermon will be similar to the sermon excerpted below.)
The almost incomprehensible attack on Barack Obama found below is excerpted from a "Sermon of the Month" by Dr. Cecil Todd, founder of Revival Fires International, a 501(c)3 ministry which, "at the request of the Chief Chaplains of the Pentagon," has been shipping Bibles to Iraq, via military airlift, since 2003. According to a Revival Fires press release this "full Bible is designed and authorized by the Chief Chaplains of the Pentagon." This Pentagon involvement and Bible distribution led Navy chaplain LCDR Brian K. Waite to Revival Fires.
In 2001, LCDR Waite, then a mega-church pastor and reserve chaplain, published a virulently anti-Muslim book titled Islam Uncovered -- a book which was pulled from the shelves in 2002 due to plagiarism and faked endorsements. A few months later, Waite was accepted into the Naval Chaplain Corps. As an active duty chaplain, Waite has not only endorsed Revival Fires in uniform on the ministry's website, but appeared on advertisements for, and as a featured speaker at, their 2006 and 2007 campmeetings. He is also scheduled to appear at their 2008 campmeeting, to be held June 24-28. Past speakers at Cecil Todd's campmeetings have included such notables as John Hagee, Rod Parsley, Tim LaHaye, and ex-Judge Roy Moore.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) recently exposed LCDR Waite's anti-Muslim writings, his plagiarism scandal, his blatant violations of military regulations in endorsing Revival Fires Ministries, and his diploma-mill educational background. Waite's anti-Muslim ideology led to his dismissal from the faculty of the Graduate Theological Foundation, a civilian institution where he was the director of a Military Ministries doctoral program, but no apparent action by the military.
The following are some excerpts from "Who I Want In The White House!," Cecil Todd's May 2008 "Sermon of the Month."
"Today, a fierce political battle rages across our nation, as once again the American people will be choosing who will lead our country as President, for the next four years!
"The top contenders in this race are Hillary Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama and John McCain -- all three of these Presidential wannabe's are U.S. Senators.
"Many sincere -- seeking Americans are asking 'WHO WOULD BE THE BEST PERSON OF THESE THREE PEOPLE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD?'"
[...]
"As a minister, I am forbidden by law to tell you how to vote! (I would never do that!) Yet, we all know this law is being broken again and again by many ministers, who are pushing their liberal candidates! I will urge you , 'Do not vote as a Democrat ... and do not vote as a Republican ... BUT AS A CHILD OF GOD BE SURE TO VOTE!'
"As a servant of the most high God, I beg you, 'Do not vote for a 'baby-killer,' or a promoter of the homosexual life-style or someone who will sell-out our freedoms as a nation and as Christians! That does narrow down the candidates!"
[...]
"There are those today (even some who are Christians!) who mistakenly say, 'Christians shouldn't get involved in politics!' For many years this was my position. However, while we were silent, some politicians and the liberal courts stole prayer, Bible reading, the Ten Commandments from our public schools and many more of our freedoms!
"I believe the 'freedom-stealers' have used the mis-application of our First Amendment to try and silence our tongues!
"Our First Amendment actually says, 'Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF!'
"This amendment is very plain to most freedom-loving Americans! In my opinion, these enemies of freedom have twisted this amendment to advance their social and political agenda and to try and 'shut the mouths' of the people like us who want to stand up for what our country stands for!
"While we were sleeping instead of weeping ... while we were playing instead of praying ... while we were feasting instead of fasting, the enemies of freedom have come in and stolen our precious God-given liberties!
"I'm convinced the separation of Church and State will come at the rapture -- when Jesus comes back! If we don't have a rapture real soon, I'm afraid our nation will have a 'rupture!'
"Until then, should we mix Christianity and politics? With so much corruption, lying, deceit and lack of Christian principles and morality in our government, there is no place where Christianity is needed more! We must have more of 'God in our Government', more of 'Christ in our Congress' and 'less sin in our Senate!'"
[...]
"I WANT SOMEONE IN THE WHITE-HOUSE WHO WILL EXPOSE THE WICKED AGENDA OF THE RADICAL MUSLIMS!
"Jesus said it plain -- 'I am the way, the truth and the life ... no one comes to the Father, but by me!' (John 14:6)
"The Muslims tell us 'Mohamed is the only way!' But when Mohamed died, he was buried and his flesh and bones rotted in the grave! However, when Jesus died, He was buried, but the third day, He arose! He lives! He lives! Jesus says, 'I am He that lives and was dead and Behold, I am alive forevermore; and I have the keys of death and hell!' (Rev. 1:18)
"Country after country have already been taken over by these radical Muslims! They lost their freedom of speech, their freedom to vote and their freedom to assemble and worship as a Christian! If we don't use it -- we will lose it! We are on a countdown to Global War ... A nuclear showdown with Iran is coming ... this show-down will affect every person on planet Earth!
"Christians in Muslim nations are now persecuted and murdered! The women and young girls are raped and used to satisfy the sexual desires of their leaders. It is common for some Muslim clerics to have several women and girls as their wives!
"And the ultimate desire of the Muslims is to make the United States a Muslim nation! And today, our nation is fast embracing the Muslim religion! Muslims now get special privileges in many of our public schools and colleges ... they have become school board members ... elected to public office as Alderman and Councilmen in our cities, some are even Senators and Congressmen! Their clerics lead in prayer in the U.S. Congress and Senate in Washington, D.C.
"Now -- GOD FORBID -- We have one of our Presidential candidates who was raised a Muslim ... he was trained in a Muslim school -- he will rarely (if ever!) pledge to our flag if he can avoid it. He is never seen wearing an American Flag on his lapel -- and his middle name is 'Hussein!' And yet he wants to be President of these United States! I say, 'He doesn't qualify to be a dog-catcher!' And his wife appears to be less patriotic then he is!
HERE'S MORE DISTURBING INFORMATION! He doesn't want his middle name used -- ('Hussein'). Why not just use the first letter of his first name (Barack), and the first letter (Obama), of his last name! That would be 'B.O!' That means, 'HE STINKS!' Perhaps, if we would just add the word 'nation' to his last name, we would get the true meaning of who he is -- 'OBAMA-NATION!' That's something to think about.
"He is a good talker -- most politicians are! Some politicians have given new meaning to the word 'air-bag!' But never listen to what a politician says! They will say what you want to hear to get your vote! But after they get into office they do as they please!
"BARACK 'HUSSEIN' OBAMA'S voting record is more liberal than Ted Kennedy's! That should tell you what to expect from an Obama Presidency!
"If Obama is not a Muslim, why are so many Muslims (some are even suspected terrorists!) supporting and backing Obama for President? If he is truly a Christian (as he claims!) would these Muslims be supporting him? You know the answer!
"Be informed ... a Muslim is taught it is alright to lie, if it will advance the Muslim agenda! Mark my words, 'The Muslims' will lie again and again to get their man (or woman) in a position of power and influence!
"Why is Obama pushing so hard to bring our troops home? Why is that so important to him and his supporters? I believe I know why ... the evidence is in, I believe OBAMA IS STILL A MUSLIM IN HIS HEART! He doesn't want his Muslim brothers and sisters killed! In my opinion -- Barack 'Hussein' Obama is posing as a Christian to get your vote!
"If Obama does get into office you will see! Mark my words, if that happens we will have 'hell to pay!'
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, we have at least 35 cities across America with 'HOME-GROWN' ISLAMIC TERRORIST in training! IN TRAINING FOR WHAT? TO ATTACK AND BRING DOWN OUR COUNTRY! THEY ARE PREPARING TO ATTACK NOW! My sources say, they have guns, plenty of ammunition, dynamite, machine guns, AK-47's and high-powered rifles! I am now informed that two of the nineteen Muslim terrorist who attacked us on 9-11 were from one of these 'Muslim terrorist training camps!'
These 'Home-Grown' terrorists compounds are located all over the U.S. You would probably be shocked to know how close they are to you. They are in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, California, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, Washington State, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and several other cities! (I have a map that shows the location of all 35 cities across America where these radical Muslims are in training -- plus, much more information about this! Write or call our Revival Fires office for this map and this shocking information!) You will be shaken to your toes! You will be driven to your knees! You will say with me and millions of others --
"WAKE-UP AMERICA! WAKE-UP AND LOOK-UP! BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
"I sure don't want a Muslim or a Muslim sympathizer in the White House, do you? I want someone who will expose this awful threat and do something about this planned Muslim take-over of our country!"
In a Memorial Day message on the Revival Fires International website, evangelist Tim Todd, son of Revival Fires founder Cecil Todd, urged his followers to "make an eternal investment into the lives of our U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan" by donating money to send Bibles to the troops.
Tim Todd explained why private donations for military Bibles are so desperately needed: "Our government no longer provides Bibles for our troops! Because of the foolish 'separation of church and state' battle going on in this country, our military stopped this years ago."
This is an outright lie, as evidenced by many recent Department of Defense contracts for the purchase of Bibles. Topping the list of Bible contractors are the International Bible Society, with over $450,000 in DoD contracts for Bibles between 2002 and 2007, and Tammy's Bible and Book Store, with close to $300,000 during this same period. Countless smaller contracts, ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, have been awarded to various Christian book dealers and distributors for Bibles and other Christian books.
Todd continued: "However, the U.S. military does give a copy of the Koran to all of our soldiers so they can 'know their enemy.' I say we need to give our soldiers a copy of the Bible so they can 'know their savior!!!'"
Here, too, a simple search of DoD contracts is all that's needed to dispute Tim Todd's claim. If Qur'ans were being given to all of our troops, as Todd would have his readers believe, there would be some record of their purchase, but there isn't. The only government agency to buy the Qur'an in bulk has been the Justice Department, for the use of the F.B.I. There hasn't been a single such DoD contract for the purchase of Qur'ans.
Is there really a Bible shortage among our troops? It certainly doesn't appear so. If the numbers of Bibles claimed to have been shipped to Iraq by all of the organizations sending them were added up, there have actually been more Bibles shipped than troops deployed. And, in addition to the large number of Bibles purchased by the DoD and those sent to Iraq by private organizations, Bibles are freely distributed to untold thousands of basic trainees by ministries such as Campus Crusade for Christ before they're deployed. In fact, so many groups have been distributing Bibles to our soldiers that Eric Horner Ministries, which hands out camouflage covered New Testaments from the International Bible Society, reported in March 2007: "We recently visited Ft Jackson SC for a concert and gave out around 250 copies of the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs to our young soldiers. We had hoped to give out more but we learned there had just been a group on base handing them out as well."
But, while plenty of Bibles seem to be available to those who want them, ministries like Revival Fires have "made it a top priority to see to it that every soldier on foreign soil receives a copy of the Word of God!" -- whether they want one or not. Other organizations have similar evangelistic goals, but Revival Fires is one of the few to have a formal relationship with the U.S. military, shipping, "at the request of the Chief Chaplains of the Pentagon," Bibles "designed and authorized by the Chief Chaplains of the Pentagon" via military airlift to Iraq, and using an active duty U.S. military chaplain to endorse and raise money for their organization.
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Hmmm
Love.
The greatest is LOVE.
Remember to vote all.
:-)
More fear. A true Christian does not need to live in fear. Has anyone seen 'V for Vendetta'? It is a good example of how politicians/government and certain politically connected 'ministers' use religion, war and crime as a fear weapon to gain power. There is a great line in the movie that says 'goverment should fear its people; not the people fearing their government.'
You only truly fearless when you face your fears and move past them. The republicans and these supposed 'christian ministers' do not want you to become fearless; that would be counter productive to their efforts to have a permanent republican majority and power over our daily lives. Hardly the great democracy that America is supposed to be. It is time to end this fascist/republican attempt to take over this country.
"I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another." --Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1799. ME 10:78
How can anyone reading this quotation have any doubts about the intention of the framers of the Constitution? Jefferson was a wise man and I am totally convinced his opinion and the Constitution were written with exactly the likes of "Reverend" Todd and his "ministry" in mind.
We allow this integration of one church into the state apparatus at the peril of our country and all it stands for. I fear for the future of this once great nation.
See Chris Rodda's Profile
Since you bring up Jefferson's party platform for the election of 1800, which he laid out for the first time the letter to Elbridge Gerry that you quoted, let's add this other relevant point:
"And I am not for linking ourselves by new treaties with the quarrels of Europe; entering that field of slaughter to preserve their balance, or joining in the confederacy of kings to war against the principles of liberty."
Jefferson, of course, wrote this in light of the religious right of his day pushing to go to war with France, but the similarities of this, and so many other issues of the 1800 campaign to what's going on today are uncanny, particularly the use of religious fear mongering. If you take the writings of that time and replace the French atheists, who the Federalists wanted to fight "over there" so they wouldn't attack us "over here," and replace the "atheistic French" with the "Islamic terrorists," you'd think you were reading something written today.
I would expect this to get to Defense Secretary Gates and for Gates to shut them down. I will make sure that an email reaches Gates's office and hope that the soldiers are protected from this version of the KKK.
Chris Hitchens is right on -- "Religion spoils everything"
I am not convinced that a lot of people really understand the insidious nature of the attacks on religious freedom going on within the Military spearheaded by the neo-con Evangelical ministries and their desire to create a "Christian" crusader type military. It is actually quite frightening when one takes the time to find out about what is going on. Everyone should go to the the site of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and find out how embedded this right wing Christian crusade has become in the Military and read about the law suit being brought by MRRF against the government to protect the religious freedom and civil liberties of Soldiers.
Most will find it quite shocking.
It strikes me as strange that Obama's former pastor was demonized and ostracized by everyone, including the media, for damning America, but its okay for pastors to demonize Obama. Where's the outrage? They are basically accusing Obama of trying to promote Islam. I am a Christian, but these people ARE NOT. Their rantings are not reflective of the teachings of Christ. Jesus accompanied prostitutes, tax collectors, Roman soldiers, and what was considered at that time the outcasts of society. These delusional people are giving Christianity a bad name.
This is the prime example of why people of other countries hate Americans. The only ones we see travelling through our countries are these proselytising bastards, in uniform or out, and they are obnoxious gits. We have watched on the all pervasive American news programs (CNN, PBS and FOX are everywhere) as religion seemingly consumes all of American public life. Until Christopher Hitchens moved to the US (and thank heavens he did) there was almost no public discourse about atheistic principles. It seemed that you were unable to elect ANY official (even a dog catcher) without examining his religious affiliations. When did the people abdicate all this power to the churches? When did women allow these patriarchal monstrosities to assume such power? When did parents allow these men (and they almost always are men) to assume such control over your children? What are you doing to STOP this?
Wow . . . I had to stop reading that spewing diatribe. These type of Christians really scare me. The other day in a group session a girl went off on the 'Christian train' and when someone else talked about their faith in their higher power she shot back: 'Well, there's only one God.' I had to remind her that maybe God speaks to each of us in different ways so maybe there's more than one interpertation of individual experience. LOL. People like this goof use their religion as a means of not only control but for personal manipulation. Makes me grateful I found Buddhaism. I wonder, if you went to Branson and voiced any opposing opinion, no matter how soft, would they still tear you apart at the limbs?
Jeez, someone give these guys some kool-aid already! (yeah, i know it was flavor-aid)
I love how they alway say Obama's full name. Like it's supposed to be scary.
Thanks for bringing this militarized 'christain converting, muslim revolting' propaganda. Couple years ago Bill Moyers reported on this. It's all going on under the radar with the Pentagon endorsing it with their right leaning chaplains. It's scary and very un-american.
Unfortunately... These Christian Ministry have lost their faith, belief and Hope while other religions have a strong belief and faith and, incomparably to us the Christians, others are ready to die for their belief. So, the Christian Ministry not preaching for life harmony, have no HOPE and are not Christians for me. Hope is reborn in Peoples of America in 2008 and history will teach us about Human evolution.
There is no way this guy is a christian.
"...a Muslim is taught it is alright to lie, if it will advance the Muslim agenda! Mark my words, 'The Muslims' will lie again and again to get their man (or woman) in a position of power and influence!"
This guy MUST be a secret Muslim! ;p
If America allows people like this guy to preach to children and to their millitary, I am not suprise America is going through hard times. Americans, get this clear, Islam and muslims are not against your people, but if you allow delusional guys like this crazy idiot to propagate hate through religion, then America is in for a big trouble. Muslims are about 1.4billion people around the world and the number keep increasing. So any delusion that America is out to fight and defeat a whole relgion and a race would be the greatest delusion and fantasy. Don't listen to these smears for the sake of America and Human kind. Iran is not even 1/1000000 of muslims in this world. So attacking and defeating Iran would not dent the number of muslims in the world. Anyway, remember the oil and gas that you feed on mostly come from muslim countries. You don't wanna antagonist such countries.
He claims Muslims are taught to lie, while all he does give people reason to say that Christians are taught to hate.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS POSSIBLE TO GET THIS MANY OPEN BIGOTS IN ONE PLACE! You all are truly a disgrace to the human race. I just hope and pray you're not raising children and teaching them hate which will get them no where.
Was this reply in response to my post?? Not sure what in it was bigotted!
See Chris Rodda's Profile
I want everybody to take a few minutes to watch a short video. The speaker is Brigitte Gabriel, one of a number of popular speakers on the "anti-Islam" speaking circuit. Listen to what she says to these military officers about Muslims not being qualified to hold public office because they are taught to lie. This was filmed at our military's Joint Forces Staff College.
Here's the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoFLeUhgOV0
...Muslims not being qualified to hold public office because they are taught to lie."
If that were true that would actually make them perfect for public office.
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