If a chaplain, whose official Air Force job for 15 years has been to live out the gospel does not qualify for a religious exemption, who does? This chaplain is being pressured to deny his faith. I’ll share his story below. — Mat

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“I think the Lord made me to be an Air Force chaplain,” Luke* has often said throughout his nearly 15 years with the Air Force Chaplain Corps. Despite the hardships of military life and deployment to Afghanistan during America’s longest war, Luke has treasured serving his country and fellow service members.

“I joined the Chaplain Corps because I love God and love America and wanted to serve both by supporting and defending the Constitution,” Luke wrote in his sworn declaration in our Navy SEAL 1 lawsuit. “Being a USAF chaplain has been a great highlight of my life.”

Luke thought he would be a chaplain his entire career until he ages out of military service in 10 or 15 years.

But Joe Biden is forcing this chaplain out of the service because Luke refuses to reject the deeply held religious convictions that have made him such an excellent shepherd for so many years.

Don’t let Joe Biden purge Christians from military service!

As a chaplain, a servant of God, Luke refuses to take any vaccine made or developed or tested using aborted fetal cells. Luke’s deep convictions have never been a problem throughout his years of honorable service. But that was before Biden and his shot mandates came along.

Since 1980, Luke has been in church almost weekly. He completed 21 years of Christian education at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, master’s and doctoral levels. He has been in professional religious work for the past 23 years, including 14 years as a USAF chaplain.

In September, Luke submitted a four-page request for religious exemption outlining his convictions concerning the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. Chaplain Luke’s religious exemption was denied.

Luke then submitted an 18-page appeal expounding further on his convictions that flow out of a Christian worldview developed over 40 years.

“In the RAR [religious accommodation request] and appeal, I thoroughly demonstrated that receiving the vaccine would be a sin against God, would sear my conscience, would invite increasing spiritual rebellion into my life and work, would cause me to lead others who share my religious convictions to also sin, would be a form of false worship, would be to violate the command of God to love God and love people, and would defile my body,” Luke wrote in his very thorough appeal letter.

“I also demonstrated that the mandate goes against the rule of law and is an overstepping of the government’s biblical role and jurisdiction in society. These are incongruent with my ordination as a minister of the Gospel and if they are present in my life would disqualify me from leading those in my faith tradition,” he continued. “In short, if I take this vaccine, I can no longer be a chaplain.” (emphasis added)

Luke’s appeal has now been denied, just like all the other requests and appeals we have seen. In fact, out of more than 21,000 requests for religious exemptions (many from chaplains like Luke), only THREE have been granted by the Marines (none for the other branches). And those exemptions were given to men already leaving the military.

“I am the man, husband, son, brother, chaplain and officer I am today because of my faith and my convictions,” Luke says. This chaplain will not forfeit his convictions for money, retirement benefits or Joe Biden’s unlawful orders—even if it means losing the title “Chaplain.”

They fought for OUR freedom, help us defend theirs!

We renewed our request that the court issue an injunction against mandates to protect these military heroes. We have a good chance of getting that injunction.

Please be in prayer for our attorneys, staff and especially the brave military men and women daring to stand for their own religious freedom.

The attacks on religious freedom, particularly on Christian viewpoints, are intense. Thankfully, our Challenge Grant will DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT! Please, give generously today!

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

Sources:

“Renewed Injunction against Biden and DOD Shot Mandates.” Liberty Counsel, January 21, 2022. Lc.org/newsroom/details/012122-renewed-injunction-against-biden-and-dod-shot-mandates.

“Resources & Research: COVID Vaccine.” Liberty Counsel, 2021. lc.org/vaccine.