U.S. sights carry New Testament Jesus references

JN8:12 is a reference to the New Testament book of John, Chapter 8, Verse 12, which reads: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

JN8:12 is a reference to the New Testament book of John, Chapter 8, Verse 12, which reads: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

From the Shooting-Ourselves-in-the-Foot Department:

U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Secret ‘Jesus’ Bible Codes
Pentagon Supplier for Rifle Sights Says It Has ‘Always’ Added New Testament References

By JOSEPH RHEE, TAHMAN BRADLEY and BRIAN ROSS

Coded references to New Testament Bible passages about Jesus Christ are inscribed on high-powered rifle sights provided to the United States military by a Michigan company, an ABC News investigation has found.

The sights are used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers. The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious “Crusade” in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.

One of the citations on the gun sights, 2COR4:6, is an apparent reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament, which reads: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Other references include citations from the books of Revelation, Matthew and John dealing with Jesus as “the light of the world.” John 8:12, referred to on the gun sights as JN8:12, reads, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Trijicon confirmed to ABCNews.com that it adds the biblical codes to the sights sold to the U.S. military. Tom Munson, director of sales and marketing for Trijicon, which is based in Wixom, Michigan, said the inscriptions “have always been there” and said there was nothing wrong or illegal with adding them. Munson said the issue was being raised by a group that is “not Christian.” …

Photo by ABC News

Update:

The maker of the sights subsequently stated that it would stop putting the biblical references on its products and would provide removal kits to the military forces using the sights. The sights are in use with the militaries of the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (and possibly others).

In Canada’s case, an undisclosed number of the sights are used by Canadian special operations forces. “Like our allies, we consider the biblical inscriptions to be inappropriate. We’ll move as quickly as possible to rectify the situation,” said Major Doug MacNair.  (For more information, see David Pugliese, Forces will delete ‘inappropriate’ biblical inscriptions from gunsights, Canwest News Service, 21 January 2010.)

Tags: Afghanistan, Iraq, Jesus Christ, Trijicon