An Unjustifiable War // M-Note 3.7.2026

I traveled to Dallas this past week to be with two different groups of United Methodist pastors for learning and collaboration. It was so good to be listening and learning from others, but as I was gathered with these pastors, I couldn’t help but see the news each day of the growing war and unrest happening in Iran and throughout the surrounding region. My heart is heavy with it all.
 
Each morning as I checked the news, I spent time in prayer for the human cost of this war and what it could lead to in our world. I was especially disheartened to read several justifications for the war, many coming from people who claim to be Christians and even pastors. Seeing the way that Christians are justifying what is happening is just another example of an ever-increasing tendency of national leaders to distort and twist the Bible and the Christian faith to rationalize political decisions. What is most frustrating, is that the use of faith to justify political decisions is turning generations of younger people away from faith itself. Many are looking at how so-called Christians are acting in the public square and are saying, “if that is what Christianity is about, then I have no interest in being associated with it.” I don’t blame them.
 
That is why it is important to think critically and biblically about what is happening around us. Enforcing immigration laws in ways that are purposefully violent and indiscriminately punitive is a clear violation of the Bible when it says, “Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens.”
 
That doesn’t mean that a country cannot enforce reasonable immigration laws, but it certainly prevents Christians from supporting cruelty in doing so.
 
Similarly, war is never God’s will, even if it seems politically expedient or necessary. While some Christians are celebrating the bombing of Iran, people of faith ought to stop and question what is happening. These are acts of war by the U.S. against another country. The rationale for the war is unclear, the threat is vague, and the hoped for outcomes are ever shifting. This war doesn’t pass the criteria for what Christians call just war. In that tradition, war is only used when there is a just cause, a right intention, a clear outcome, as a last resort, and when the good of using violence outweighs the destruction it causes.
 
Furthermore scripture calls us as Christians to be peacemakers. The prophet Isaiah says that
 
God will judge between the nations,
     and settle disputes of mighty nations.
 Then they will beat their swords into iron plows
     and their spears into pruning tools.
 Nation will not take up sword against nation;
     they will no longer learn how to make war. (Isaiah 2.4)
 
Whatever we want or think is best, this is God’s vision for our world and life together.
 
Finally, these acts of war have already cost the lives of six U.S. service members and killed dozens of innocent people, some of whom were children. The decisions of leaders cost innocent people their lives, and we can’t grow callous or cold to those consequences.
 
I name this not to argue about politics, but to remind us that we have an obligation to not stick our heads in the sand. As Christians we should pay attention to what is happening around us and how our faith is often used to justify it. As a leader in the church, my job is to remind us of what scripture calls us to be and do, and to call out the misuse of faith to rationalize things that are not of God.
 
This past week I was speaking to a mother of a service member in the Marine Corps. She was expressing the tension of questioning this war while also supporting her son and defending him against those that would render his service as meaningless. I share her tension. I appreciate all those who currently serve to protect our country, and I ask you to join me in praying for them. I also ask that we pray for leaders that can bring this war to an end. Through it all, I hope that as people of faith, we continue to see and judge what is happening around us based on the God we know in scripture. In a world where morality seems to be in free fall and kindness and compassion are no longer valued, we are called to live as followers of Christ.
 
Peace,
 
Matt
 
P.S. This weekend we are continuing our series Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Our West County site is having another preview worship service. I hope that any of you who live west will go this Sunday and support the new service. Invite a neighbor or friend to check it out with you. West Country worship will be at 10am at The Reverie in The District.