To Lieutenant General William G. Boykin, U.S. Army:

General Boykin,

Congratulations on being named to such an incremental position within the Department of Defense.  You are certainly as aware as any of us that our nation is at war against international terrorism.  And I don't need to describe to you the importance of winning that war.  You have a big task on your shoulders -- millions of American lives are at stake.

Which brings me to the purpose for this letter.  Media outlets all over the world have brought to the surface statements that you have made during your tenure in the Army.  You uttered some pretty bold comments, sir.  Claiming that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and that God has a say in who leads it?  Labeling the devil -- a spiritual being -- as public enemy number one?  Telling an adversary that our God is bigger than his? 

Sir, this kind of talk can bring down the fire from on high -- from the New York Times editorial page, for example, which said that you have been "subjecting [the U.S.] to international embarrassment and providing ammunition for those who portray the war against terror as a war against Islam."

Not only that, but you have managed to offend the heads of states of the same Islamic countries who offered such heartfelt sympathy after September 11, harshly condemning those who attacked America under the sword or Allah (or perhaps you missed those condemnations like I did).  And media across the globe are up in arms, as though their nations' deep endearment of America is suddenly tarnished by a few critical words.  Your remarks were "religiously inflammatory," said The Washington Post, "incendiary" chimed a writer for Newsweek, "wayward" words from a "loose cannon" suggested Pakistan's Daily Times, and on and on.

On top of that, you are being investigated by your superiors.  And now that you've attracted all of this attention, you're backtracking.  Pardon me, sir, but I find it a bit troubling that you have buckled under the pressure of those who concur with The New York Times.  You've apologized and tried to claim that your remarks were misinterpreted.  Not that the media are known for their faithfulness to keeping proper context for these kinds of quotes, but your statements seem straightforward enough to me.

Even after your unneeded retractions, they haven't bought it -- you've only been castigated all the more for allowing your faith to show on your sleeve rather than keeping it in the closet.

Frankly, sir, your message is a bit unsettling -- and a little bit eerie.  The implication of your claims paint the war on terror in a fairly radical light.  Do you really believe that the war on terrorism is simply a part of a deeper struggle against the forces of spiritual darkness?

I sure do.  And, if it makes any difference, the Apostle Paul did, too.  As he wrote in Ephesians 6, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

And it occurs to me, General Boykin, that your God is bigger than everyone else's -- and He's bigger than The Times, too.

So why, exactly, should you have to apologize?  No one is promoting a suppression of the First Amendment here.  You have not suggested that American Muslims (or atheists, for that matter) be denied their right to worship the god of their choosing.  You haven't even advocated a change in U.S. foreign policy -- you merely left off the sugar coating. 

In his support of a revolution against Great Britain, Patrick Henry said, "We shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave."

The ancient Hebrews also knew that their people's fate was intertwined with God's providence.  "The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes," Moses declared in Deuteronomy 1.

The Deity whose power was requested by Ancient Israel and by Patrick Henry is the same Almighty God you and I ask to protect our America right now.

I realize that your bosses, Messrs. Rumsfeld and Bush, are not likely to support you in this; they're sure to keep defending Islam and promoting so-called pluralism.  Diplomacy is no small task, so perhaps it's their job to be spineless on these issues.  Yours, sir, is to defeat the enemies who would harm the United States.  May the one true God be with you.

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  (Joshua 24:15)