So Help Me GOD

Makes sense to me … to invoke the help of the ONE who created everything and can do anything. If any could help you, HE could, right? Tragically our country seems to be moving away from this line of thought. For the worst of reasons … compromise.

Trijicon, Inc. is a Michigan based company that produces state-of-the-art combat targeting systems for small arms weapons. Their equipment is the best of the best, and that’s what you want when your life depends on it. I know! I’m a cop. I use their equipment every day. I’m not the only one, Trijicon has a $660 Million dollar contract with the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army to provide the same equipment to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. those troops deserve the best of the best. But that relationship was in jeopardy this past week.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council’s director Salam Al-Marayati called on Defense Secretary Robert Gates to withdraw from combat use all weapons of the U.S. Military that used a Trijicon sighting system. It was discovered that Trijicon was inscribing biblical references next to the serial number on all their sighting systems. Immediately following the serial number, in letters no bigger than two centimeters, where “2COR4:6″ or “JN8:12″.

Al-Marayati said, “Allowing religious references to be placed on U.S. weaponry, which are bought and paid for by U.S. taxpayers, is unacceptable. Such inscriptions not only run afoul of the Constitution and U.S. military rules, but they also feed into the violent extremists’ narrative the the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are a ‘crusade against Islam.’ “

2 Corinthians 4:6 reads, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

John 8:12 reads, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ ”

The Department of Defense was considering termination of the Trijicon contract over the complaint. Trijicon was forced into a difficult decision. In order to keep their state-of-the-art sighting systems in the hands of the guys who need them, Trijicon voluntarily offered to stop inscribing the references on the sights and offered free modification kits to remove the inscriptions from the systems already in the field.

Trijicon CEO Stephen Binder made the statement, “As part of our faith and our belief in service to our country, Trijicon has put scripture references on our products for more than two decades. As long as we have men and women in danger, we will continue to do everything we can to provide them with both state-of-the-art technology and never ending support and prayers of a grateful nation.” (emphasis mine)

I applaud Trijicon for placing scripture references on their products. They are truly doing everything they can to help us fight the battles we fight. Not only are they making reliable and hi-tech equipment, they are also calling on GOD to shine his light in the darkness we are fighting in. By placing those references on their equipment, they are saying …

“So help me GOD.”

“People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of Man. But when they do, you will be happy. Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. Their ancestors did the same thing to the prophets.” (Luke 6:22-23 NCV)