Air Force Chaplain Discharged For Preaching On Sexual Immorality
Why was an Air Force chaplain discharged for a sermon on sexual immorality?
One complaint about a biblically based sermon on adultery and sexual immorality, preached to roughly 2,500 recruits, unraveled Chaplain Curt Cizek's career. He was counseled, downgraded in performance reviews, removed from basic training, lost his promotion recommendation, and was involuntarily discharged in 2016. He continues to fight, saying his First Amendment rights to free speech and religion were violated.
Years ago, Air Force Chaplain Curt Cizek boldly preached a sermon on sexual immorality and adultery. Today, he remains in an ongoing battle for his religious rights.
In 2013, the Lackland Air Force Base was still reeling from a sexual misconduct investigation. Military authorities had received an initial complaint of sexual abuse in 2009. By 2011, they had opened a full investigation. Upon conclusion of the investigation, at least 60 cadets had stepped forward.
They accused a total of twenty instructors of sexually abusing them both during and after basic training. Allegations ranged from soliciting inappropriate sexual relations to rape. Of the 20 charged, five were sentenced to prison.
Related Article: Senator Asks DOJ to Investigate PornHub for Allegedly Streaming Videos of Rape Victims
What happened next took him by surprise.
The Sermon That Changed Everything
Just days after preaching, a complaint was filed about the sermon. An individual allegedly took offense to comments regarding homosexuality. However, Cizek claims that the only mention of homosexuality was in regards to the hypocrisy that is spreading throughout the church. He shared:
“The church has gotten a reputation for being prejudiced because we often look at one sexual sin (homosexuality) and say that it is wrong but then turn a blind eye to heterosexual sin.”
According to Cizek, the sermon preached to at least 2,500 recruits was Biblically based. He told Fox News that the Scripture he shared was straight-forward in regards to adultery. Though only one complaint was received, it was enough to derail his entire military career.
Related Article: How The Enemy Is Silently Attacking Our Military Personnel
Reprimanded
Following the complaint, Cizek received verbal counseling by the chaplains in his chain of command. He didn’t think much of it, believing that the issue was going to be dropped. But several months later, his performance report was downgraded. He was also removed from working in basic training.
The following year, he received a less than stellar performance review. At the same time, he lost his promotion recommendation. By 2016, he was involuntarily discharged from his position – destroying any hopes of retiring from the Air Force.
Cizek believes that the powerful forces under President Barack Obama decided to bury his case in 2016. He has continued to fight, even appealing to the White House in both 2018 and 2019. Though his case was reopened in October 2020, it was abruptly closed on November 5. The military claims no wrongdoing despite Cizek’s allegations that his First Amendment rights have been violated. For him, the fight is far from over.
For God And Country
For Cizek, this case is about so much more than himself. Instead, it’s about fighting for the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion.
Initially, it looked like his only option was to open a case with the Federal Court of Appeals. But recently, a new sense of hope emerged. Cizek received a phone call from a senior investigator with the Department of Defense. In reviewing his case, they believe that the chain of command overstepped their bounds. He remains hopeful that his case will be resolved favorably.
Cizek shares, “I simply want to be able to serve God and our country.” He continued:
“The truth of the Bible is also on the line. Cancel culture believes that speaking an inconvenient truth is intolerable. The real bigotry that exists today is preventing people from exercising their religious beliefs and freedom of speech.”
With sexual-based content accessible nearly everywhere, the Church as a whole is now in the fight of its life.
Related Article: Christians Call For Repentance With Hopes of Revival
Related Article: 3 Reasons Why Churches Remain Silent About Porn
The Silent Church
For years, the Church has remained as quiet as possible in regards to issues of sexuality. In an attempt to remain all-inclusive, some have even adopted new policies, procedures, and by-laws that allow those in sexual sin to hold positions of leadership.
Get the Best of Soul Refiner in Your Inbox
Join over 100,000 readers and receive practical insights, encouragement, and resources for healing, growth, and restoration delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. We'll never sell or share your email, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy.
And though pastors acknowledge pornography as a widespread problem in their churches, few are actually willing to address it. In fact, the Barna Group reports that 88% of pastors admit to pornography being a problem in their congregation.
Related Article: Three Reasons Why Churches Remain Silent About Pornography
However, only 7% of churches have a program in place to help those who are struggling. In a Twitter survey conducted by Covenant Eyes,
65% of the respondents shared that their church never or rarely talks about pornography.
When is the right time to do something about the sexual sin running rampant in the Church? Now. Is it enough to preach a Sunday morning sermon on the topic? No.
Sexual Addiction
Before you can effectively tackle matters of sexual sin, you have to understand it.
Similar to other addictions, sexual addiction is often a means by which one chooses to medicate the pain they feel in their life. It has a devastating impact on the brain, as shared in the Conquer Series.
Related Article: This Is Your Brain On Porn
This 10-week course explains how the brain responds when an individual sexually acts out. Combining science and Scripture, individuals are learning why trying harder does not work. They are learning about the importance of renewing the mind, which is only possible through Christ. Plus, they are identifying painful moments of their past that are likely contributing to their present struggle. They could be the result of witnessing trauma or enduring abuse.
For some, they have parental wounds caused by the absence of a parent during childhood. Some have experienced rejection, abandonment, or neglect. And for others, they have been deeply wounded by the harsh words spoken into their lives.
In these painful moments, Satan frequently authors lies that become the beliefs we live our lives based upon. Only through the healing process do we discover that these beliefs are lie-based. Once identified, the journey to finding the truth can effectively begin. This is a beautiful process, as it helps individuals once again find their identity in Christ.
Related Article: Identity Attacked: How Satan Authors Lies
Pursuing Change
Remember, offense typically stems from conviction. Now is the time to begin addressing the issues plaguing the men and women in your church and surrounding community.
Thanks to SoulRefiner.com, a new digital streaming platform, churches can begin to offer courses that will provide this much-needed healing.
Join the Conquer Series
Lin Wells of Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills shared:
“Soul Refiner is a prayer request come true for our church! The entire platform encompasses support for all those affected by the deleterious effects of sexual immorality in the church community.”
Pure Desire Ministries reports that 68% of church-going men view pornography.
Related Article: Why 68% Of Christian Men Watch Porn
This season, will you provide hope to them, their spouse, and their families? Will you stand with Chaplain Cizek and fight to maintain the truth of the Bible? Are you ready to address sexual integrity in your church so that this upcoming year can truly become a year of discipleship throughout your congregation?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, visit SoulRefiner.com for more information.
Writing from personal experience and biblical truth to help individuals and families find healing, restore relationships, and discover the redemptive power of God's grace.
More articles by Kayla Sullivan →Frequently Asked Questions
Do pastors admit pornography is a problem in their churches?
Overwhelmingly, yes. The Barna Group reports that 88 percent of pastors acknowledge pornography as a problem in their congregation. The gap is in the response: only 7 percent of churches have any program in place to help people who are struggling. A Covenant Eyes survey found 65 percent of respondents saying their church never or rarely talks about pornography at all. Acknowledgement without a plan is not a plan.
Why do churches stay silent about pornography?
Part of it is fear of giving offence. In an effort to stay all-inclusive, some churches have adopted policies, procedures and by-laws that allow people living in sexual sin to hold positions of leadership. Pastors will privately name pornography as widespread and still not preach it. Worth remembering: offence usually stems from conviction, and silence has never once healed anybody in the pews.
What was the Lackland Air Force Base sexual misconduct scandal?
By 2013 the base was still reeling from it. An initial complaint of sexual abuse came in during 2009, and a full investigation opened by 2011. When it concluded, at least 60 cadets had come forward, accusing a total of twenty instructors of sexually abusing them during and after basic training. The allegations ranged from soliciting inappropriate sexual relations to rape. Five of the twenty charged were sentenced to prison.
Is sexual addiction really about sex?
Not primarily. Like other addictions, it is most often a way of medicating pain a person is carrying, and it does real damage to the brain along the way. That is why moral effort alone keeps failing good men. The Conquer Series combines science and Scripture over ten weeks to explain why trying harder does not work, and what renewing the mind actually involves.
How does past trauma lead to sexual struggle?
Trace most struggles back far enough and you find a wound. It might be witnessing trauma or enduring abuse, a parent absent through childhood, rejection, abandonment, neglect, or words spoken harshly enough to stick. In those moments the enemy authors a lie, and the lie quietly becomes a belief you build your life on. Healing is where those beliefs get named as lies and identity in Christ gets recovered.
How to Quit Pornand Find Lasting Freedom
Discover the biblical and neuroscience-based approach that has helped millions of men and
over 50,000 churches break the addiction cycle and pursue lasting freedom.
No Credit Card Needed
Recommended Articles
Porn RecoveryCan Christians Watch Porn? What the Bible Says
A straight biblical answer on whether Christians can watch porn — what Scripture says, why believing men still struggle, and where freedom starts.
Porn RecoveryBiblical Manhood: What Scripture Calls Men To
Biblical manhood isn't about being tougher or more traditional. Here's what Scripture actually calls men to - and the integrity it takes to get there.
Porn RecoveryWhy does my husband choose porn over me?
The question burning in your chest is why you were not enough. That question starts with a false premise. His porn use began as a choice and became a rewired brain chasing a chemical, which explains the behavior without excusing it. Here is what that means for him, and what it means for your own healing.