Posted on 05/10/2011 5:44:43 PM PDT by Gamecock
Pastor Jim Moats of Newville, Pa. once had a conversation with a supervisor about the Navy SEALs. He's apparently seen a few movies portraying the SEALs as well.
In the Christian Bible Fellowship Church in Newville, Pa., Pastor Jim Moats was apparently known as a Vietnam-era Navy SEAL. Moats was known to tell tales of his time as a SEAL to parishioners and family. His sons, both of whom served in Iraq, even made their dad a plaque honoring the SEALs and other Navy units. The plaque hung on Moats' wall.
His tall tales and this plaque had led to questions, and probably even tokens of gratitude. The Pastor was living the lie. That was until The Patriot-News sought out local, retired Navy SEALs to interview after the daring raid of SEAL Team 6 led to the death of Osama bin Laden.
Readers, including two real former SEALs, saw right through his bogus story. Retired Navy SEAL Don Shipley connected two of Moats' stories to the Steven Seagal movie "Under Siege" and the Demi Moore classic, "G.I. Jane." Maybe if Moats had seen "Navy SEALs" or "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" his story would have more credibility.
Jason Ertola, a Navy SEAL from 1992-1996, said any SEAL could see right through Moats' fraudulent story. He also expressed outrage at men like Moats who "claim the honor that many good men have earned and died for." He also noted that bogus claims similar to Moats' have increased since the death of bin Laden.
Shipley confirmed that Moats was never a SEAL (and never even served in Vietnam) by accessing a database with the names of all SEALs. Shipley then confronted the Pastor with a phone call on Sunday night. Moats gave in and admitted he was never a SEAL, never served in Vietnam, but had served in the Navy.
Moats used the ruse as an ego-booster and said he was living his dream through his sons. He will explain himself to parishioners Wednesday night at the Christian Bible Fellowship Church.
Pastor Moats' lie is disrespectful not only to all current and former Navy SEALs, such as Shipley and Ertola, but also to anyone who has served or is serving in the military, including Moats' two sons. Navy SEALs and others serving in the armed forces are the real heroes in this country, and there should be no issue with citizens pretending to be them. As long as they are 12-year-old kids. Not 59-year-old pastors with two kids of their own.
God gave you the military to wathc over your rights.
True....but the whole reason David was honoured by God in the first place was because he was a faithful *pastor* (look up the link, even in the OT, between the two senses of that word)
Also, we're not OT Israel. We're not a theocratic nation who needs things like armies and whatnot. God's churches do not need warriors in the carnal sense, but in the spiritual (II Cor. 10:4).
Can you tell me exactly where in Holy Scripture it says a “pastor” regardless of his character is “eternally” God-honored over any of his children. Sounds like you sort of make it up as it suits. Just sayin’.
And where does the Bible say that any nation's military is there to "watch over our rights"?
Oh right, it doesn't.
Further, can you actually say with a straight face that if things keep going the way they are, within twenty years, the military isn't going to be "watching over" your rights, but doing just the opposite?
God also uses earthly means as a tool to enforce his justice. (Romans 12)
Great line.
Heidi Klum married a Seal.
There are plenty of reprobates who happened to get through Divinity School as I would imagine that there are people who make it through SEAL school who I would not want my daughter to be involved with.
I would not assume that God automatically honors all of them. I would assume that honor only comes from deeds, not 'education.'
That said, on a percentage basis, I would trust the average SEAL over the random divinity student.
That's a false question, since I never said that God honours a pastor "regardless of his character." In fact, I said God honours pastors "who discharge their office faithfully." And that much is definitely true. In point of fact, God says that He will give pastors "a crown of glory that fadeth not away" for faithful service (I Peter 5:4). Can you show me a place where soldiers are promised this?
Further, God's people are told that the office of a bishop, if they desire to obtain it, desire a good work - which in the Greek original is an emphatic statement. Again, can you show me where this is said of being a soldier?
Frankly, if it seems to you that I'm "making it up as it suits," then this is only because you don't know the Bible well enough to understand otherwise.
True....but again, that has no eternal character or value.
LOL!
God’s justice has no eternal value?
Riiiight. < eyesrolling>
I was a Navy Seal. I’d been shot at many times. I had completed about 8 missions. I would have completed more, but the controller for my PlayStation broke.
I would agree. But simply going through divinity school doesn't make someone a scriptural "pastor," so the point is somewhat misapplied.
I would not assume that God automatically honors all of them. I would assume that honor only comes from deeds, not 'education.'
Quite my point, actually. But for deeds to really matter, they need to be of eternal efficacy. A man who preaches the Word of God, who desires to see souls saved, who pours out his entire life, time, heart for the people in his flock - yeah, I honour him more than I do a guy who serves a government for a few years. If that's offensive to you, maybe you should consider readjusting your priorities in view of eternity?
That said, on a percentage basis, I would trust the average SEAL over the random divinity student.
I probably would too.
So what eternal value do you think killing Osama bin Ladin had? Sure, we’re all glad it happened, but exactly whose soul did it save from hellfire, or what backslider did it move to get right with God?
I was on the DC metro one day and I was standing next to an older guy who was wearing a Team Six ball cap. He was tall, lean and muscular but he looked kind of odd. He just stood like a statue the whole 20 minute ride into DC. Didn’t say a word, just stared straight ahead. Kind of creepy.
I was Navy but I spent almost all my active duty attached to the Marines. During one deployment we had SEALS attached to our Battalion for awhile. It was funny, the Marines were always high and tight, sharp creased and squared away, then SEALs all of the sudden are on the ship, we are out in middle of nowhere and like magic, this group of scruffy, thread-worn-uniformed cranky guys show up and walk around like they owned the ship. The Marines hated them. It was entertaining watching them interact.
Thank you Travis!
How many people may have been saved from physical death because of this? Could any of them become a pastor? We will never know how God can use this for His glory.
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