SURVEY SAYS..."HELL!":

Hard-line chaplain saves soft side for troops (Seth Robson, April 12, 2004, Stars and Stripes)

The Islamic extremists waging war on America think they are going to heaven to make love to dozens of virgins after they die. Lt. Col. Mike Tarvin, the 2nd Infantry Division chaplain, believes they will burn in hell for their sins.

It’s a typically forthright statement from the chaplain who gave up preaching at the Christian Church of the Disciples of Christ in Hutchins, Texas, three years ago to serve his country in South Korea.

Tarvin’s sometimes uncompromising attitudes have gotten him in trouble with members of his church back in the United States, he said.

“There is probably a good percentage in my church who are very antiwar. They are pacifist to the point where they think that me being a chaplain in the Army is wrong,” he said. “To me, the military is an organization that its bottom-line purpose is to kill people. I think that is a justified use of deadly force.”

When Tarvin attends church conventions back home, he debates those sorts of issues with other members of the church.

“I think they are wrong, so I’ll debate with them, but then I think I’m glad that they have an opportunity to make a stupid decision. I’ll defend their right to make what I think are boneheaded decisions,” he said. “Everyone ought to have the freedom to choose and worship as they please.”

However, freedom of religion brings responsibility, he added.

“There are people who are fundamentalist Muslims just like we have people who are fundamentalist Christians who may take that too far. Then, there is a higher authority to answer to if they use their religion for hate or violence,” he said. “God calls me to love people, but there are consequences to what you do as a person and I support those consequences.”

Despite his tough stance, Tarvin believes he has a duty to reach out to the terrorists and try to understand them. If they have a true change of heart, they might avoid hell, he said.

“That is the cool thing about Christianity,” he said.

Love and consequences--Amen, brother.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 14, 2004 1:58 PM