{"id":12653,"date":"2022-12-13T10:58:40","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T23:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/?p=12653"},"modified":"2023-11-30T19:35:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T08:35:48","slug":"christs-commanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/2022\/12\/13\/christs-commanders\/","title":{"rendered":"Christ\u2019s commanders"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is the third in a series on religion in the Australian Defence Force. Read the <\/i><\/b>first article here<\/i><\/b><\/a>. Read the <\/i><\/b>second article here<\/i><\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

In 2012, the then Chief of the Australian Defence Force David Hurley \u2013 and now Governor-General \u2013 joined with fellow Christians at a \u2018Spiritual Boot Camp\u2019, hosted by the group Military Christian Fellowship (MCF).<\/span> In addressing the group as the guest speaker<\/span><\/a>, he admitted that he had to be careful about being seen to be involved in religious activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI actually get complaints about having this meeting here today \u2013 \u2018Why are you supporting religious activity in the ADF on ADF property as the CDF?\u2019 Well, my response to that is: \u2018Bring on the argument. But I\u2019m the commander of the ADF for all of the ADF, not just bits and pieces people would like me to command\u2019. So there are aspects that I need to be, frankly, a bit delicate about the way that I do business, but not ignoring the needs of my people in the organisation,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hurley spoke about the challenges facing the Defence Force at that time, including deaths of soldiers in Afghanistan and cultural issues reported in the media. To his audience \u2013 fellow Christians \u2013 he emphasised the importance of the spiritual dimension to their work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I was an American, I would say that our job is to \u2018win and fight the nation\u2019s wars’. That\u2019s what we\u2019re paid to do. And, in a spiritual sense, that\u2019s what we\u2019re asked to do, that\u2019s what we\u2019re told to do, that\u2019s the duty we\u2019re held to. We are here to fight the Lord\u2019s wars in this world,\u201d he told them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hurley was no ordinary guest speaker at the MCF event. He was the group\u2019s Patron, having been <\/span>appointed to that role in 2008<\/span><\/a> when he was Vice Chief of the Defence Force. During his seven years as Patron \u2013 before retiring as Chief of the Defence Force \u2013 he was an <\/span>active participant<\/span><\/a> in the MCF\u2019s activities, including as guest speaker at Christmas events and at a number of seminars. According to the group\u2019s regular magazine, <\/span>Crossfire<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Hurley not only provided advice<\/span><\/a> for the MCF but also advocated for it to other members of Defence\u2019s senior leadership. MCF members prayed that Hurley would <\/span>champion the group \u201cto the highest levels of Defence\u201d<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The MCF is no ordinary group. It focuses on evangelising in the Defence Force. <\/span>According to its current website<\/span><\/a>, the MCF \u201cexists to promote Christian faith in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)\u201d, and the group\u2019s passion \u201cis to reach the Australian Defence Force for Christ.\u201d It pursues this mission \u201c<\/span>primarily through supporting Christians who work in and around the ADF, helping the vital ministry of ADF Chaplains and reaching out to those that want to know more about Christ and the meaning of Christianity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The MCF website provides a range of tools for helping members introduce Christianity in the workplace. <\/span>A 16-week course advises members on <\/span>how to talk about Christ with others in Defence<\/span><\/a>. It even teaches them <\/span>how to treat people of other faiths<\/span><\/a>, with an overview of the course noting: \u201cThe Bible teaches zero tolerance of other faiths. The ADF required total acceptance of other faiths. How do we reconcile the two? This study compares the ADF policy on religious freedom and compares it to God\u2019s expectation of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The MCF\u2019s training materials, in encouraging members to <\/span>talk about their faith in the workplace<\/span><\/a>, describe the Defence Force as a \u201cGod-needy environment\u201d. Deployment scenarios, in particular, appear to be ripe for the harvesting. \u201cIf we believe that God is in control of our lives then we must believe that God puts non-Christians in our lives for us to witness to, either directed [sic] or indirectly\u2026 He has put us here on purpose and expects us to make a difference.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Patron, Hurley regularly joined other senior Defence leaders at MCF events. Among guest speakers were figures from the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL). MCF pitched one such event, the \u2018Battlesmart Seminar\u2019 in 2010, as something that would <\/span>encourage and equip Christians in Defence<\/span><\/a> \u201c<\/span>to prepare for and succeed in spiritual battles\u201d. Attendees were told they could expect to gain \u201cBiblical perspectives and practical ways of \u2018taking up the armour of God\u2019 in the workplace.\u201d Hurley opened the event; head of the ACL,<\/span> retired Brigadier and former Chair and Patron of the MCF, Jim Wallace, also gave a speech.<\/span><\/p>\n