Has America Been Left Holding the Bag?

 Let me begin by making something clear. I am not a military expert. I have no access to classified intelligence, no friends whispering secrets to me from inside the Pentagon, and I have received no vision from God concerning this war.

What I have is an opinion—and a troubling feeling in my gut.

That feeling is that America has been left holding the bag.

Israel and the United States attacked Iran together. Israel regarded Iran’s nuclear and missile programs as threats to its national survival, and the United States joined the military campaign. Iran retaliated against both countries, and for a time, missiles were flying between Iran and Israel.

Then something changed.

Israel and Iran stopped attacking each other. Israel is no longer openly bombing Iran, and Iran is no longer directing its major attacks against Israel. Yet the United States continued bombing Iran, and Iran continued retaliating against American bases, personnel and interests across the Middle East.

Israel appears to have stepped back from the immediate battlefield, while America continues paying the price.

American service members are being killed and wounded. American military equipment is being damaged. American interceptor missiles and other weapons are being consumed. American taxpayers are financing the bombing campaign, the naval operations and the defense of military bases throughout the region.

Israel sought the weakening of Iran. Israel helped begin the military campaign. But now Israel is protected, for the moment, by a ceasefire with Iran, while the United States is carrying the greater burden of continuing the war.

Maybe there is a reasonable military explanation for this. Perhaps there are agreements and strategic considerations about which ordinary Americans know nothing. I will readily admit that I do not have all the answers.

Nevertheless, I believe Americans have a right to ask some serious questions.

If Iran and Israel have stopped bombing one another, why is America still bombing Iran?

If Israel no longer believes it must continue attacking Iran directly, why must American pilots, sailors and soldiers continue carrying the fight?

What exactly is America now trying to accomplish?

What does victory look like?

How many American lives will it cost?

How much money will the American taxpayer be required to spend?

At what point do we admit that America is fighting a war whose original beneficiary has stepped away from the battlefield?

It Would Make a Great Conspiracy Theory

This situation could certainly inspire a great conspiracy theory.

One might imagine that the entire war was designed to weaken the United States—deplete our missile stockpiles, exhaust our military, increase our national debt, damage our economy and open the door for a change in global power.

Russia and China can sit back and watch while America consumes weapons, spends billions of dollars and becomes trapped in another Middle Eastern war. They do not have to defeat us themselves if we weaken ourselves.

That would make a powerful conspiracy theory.

But I have no evidence that such a secret plan exists, and I will not present speculation as fact. There is already enough misinformation surrounding this war without adding another unproven claim.

Still, we do not need a conspiracy to produce the same result. Pride, poor judgment, political pressure and the absence of a clear strategy can weaken a nation just as effectively as a secret plot.

The results matter, regardless of whether they were planned.

America is spending its wealth. Our military stockpiles are being depleted. Our service members are being placed in danger. Oil and shipping disruptions are raising costs throughout the world. Russia and China are gaining strategic advantages without firing a shot at the United States.

That alone should cause us to stop and think.

Every Nation Is Looking After Its Own Interests

Israel is looking after Israel.

Iran is looking after Iran.

Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries are looking after their governments, oil facilities and economies.

Russia and China are looking for opportunities to increase their global influence.

Who is looking after the interests of the American people?

I do not condemn Israel for placing its own national interests first. That is what governments do. But American leaders have a responsibility to place American interests first as well.

Being an ally does not require America to fight every war another country wants fought. Friendship does not mean giving another government control over American foreign policy. Supporting Israel’s right to exist does not require sacrificing American lives in an endless effort to destroy every enemy Israel fears.

There is a difference between defending an ally and inheriting its war.

Right now, it appears that America has inherited this war.

Maybe We Should Walk Away

If Israel and Iran can stop bombing one another, perhaps the United States should stop as well.

That does not mean surrendering to Iran. It does not mean trusting the Iranian government. It does not mean approving of Iran’s actions, religious leadership or nuclear ambitions.

It means recognizing that continued bombing has not produced peace.

The United States should halt offensive strikes, end the cycle of retaliation and return to serious negotiations. Iran should stop attacking American bases, military personnel and commercial shipping. Maritime traffic should be allowed to move safely, and disputes over Iran’s nuclear program should return to international inspection and diplomacy.

Walking away from an unnecessary war is not cowardice.

Sometimes courage means standing and fighting. At other times, courage means admitting that continued fighting serves no achievable purpose.

Proverbs tells us:

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
— Proverbs 22:3, KJV

A prudent nation looks down the road. It counts the cost. It considers what another month, another year or another decade of war will mean.

Jesus also said:

“Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”
— Luke 14:31, KJV

Before continuing a war, our leaders should sit down and count the cost. They should explain the objective, the risks and the conditions under which the war will end.

“Keep bombing” is not a strategy.

“Escalate until Iran surrenders” is not a realistic peace plan.

“Support our ally” is not a sufficient explanation when that ally is no longer openly participating in the fighting.

I cannot prove that America was deliberately deceived. I cannot prove that this war was planned to weaken the United States. I am not claiming secret knowledge or divine revelation.

I am simply looking at what is happening.

Israel and Iran have stopped bombing one another. Israel has stepped back. America is paying the financial and human cost. Iran is attacking American interests, and the conflict is draining American resources while threatening the global economy.

From where this old country preacher sits, it certainly looks as though America has been left holding the bag.

Maybe it is time to put that bag down.

Maybe it is time to stop bombing, return to the table and bring our service members home.

“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
— Psalm 34:14, KJV

It Is Time to Return to the Table: Neither Side Is Winning This War

There comes a time in every war when those in authority must stop listening to the roar of the bombs and begin listening to the cries of the wounded. There comes a time when pride must be laid aside, threats must cease, and men must sit down at a table and talk honestly about peace.

I believe that time has come in the war between the United States and Iran.

After months of attacks, retaliation, blockades and threats, neither side is winning. Both governments may announce victories. Military spokesmen may display photographs of destroyed targets. Political leaders may speak of strength, resolve and overwhelming power. Nevertheless, when we look beyond the speeches, we see a war without a clear path to victory.

The United States can bomb Iran, but it has not forced Iran to surrender.

Iran can strike American bases and interfere with shipping, but it cannot force the United States out of the Middle East.

America can destroy Iranian command centers, missile sites, air defenses and nuclear-related facilities. Iran can rebuild, disperse its weapons, launch more missiles and drones, and strike the bases America needs to continue the war.

That is not victory. That is a bloody circle.

America Is Not Winning

The United States possesses the most powerful military in the world. There is little doubt that it can destroy targets throughout Iran. But destroying targets is not the same as winning a war.

What is the political objective? What conditions would constitute victory? How many bombing missions will be required? How many American lives must be lost? How many interceptor missiles can we afford to use? How many months can the world economy withstand disrupted oil supplies?

Iran has not collapsed. Its government has not surrendered. Its military still retains the ability to retaliate. Instead of ending Iran’s resistance, the bombing campaign has widened the battlefield.

Iranian forces have attacked American military facilities and support systems in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and elsewhere. American personnel have been killed and wounded. These attacks demonstrate that American air power has not eliminated Iran’s ability to strike back.

The United States can continue dropping bombs, but each bombing raid risks another Iranian missile attack. Each Iranian attack creates demands for more American retaliation. We are climbing a ladder of escalation without knowing where the final step leads.

That is not a plan for victory. It is a plan for a forever war.

Iran Is Not Winning

Iran is not winning either.

Its cities, military installations and infrastructure have suffered tremendous damage. Iranian soldiers and civilians have been killed. Its economy is under increasing strain. Its people are living beneath the threat of another night of bombing.

Iran may be able to make the war painful for America, but it cannot defeat the United States in a conventional military contest. It cannot prevent every American attack, nor can it guarantee the safety of its military and economic infrastructure.

Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz and its attacks upon shipping may give Tehran leverage, but they also threaten nations that are not directly involved in the war. Disrupting the flow of oil and gas will hurt countries across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. It will raise the price of transportation, electricity, food and nearly everything else ordinary people must buy.

Iran may believe that economic pressure will force Washington to negotiate. However, the same pressure could bring more nations into the conflict and give American leaders another reason to expand the war.

That is not victory either.

The War Is Spreading

The greatest danger is no longer confined to the territory of Iran. The war is spreading across military bases, shipping lanes, oil facilities and neighboring countries.

Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz under pressure while the Iran-aligned Houthis have threatened Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis have attacked Saudi tankers and threatened oil facilities near Yanbu and Jizan. This places additional pressure upon both major routes used to move Middle Eastern energy to the rest of the world. Reuters

Saudi Arabia built its East-West pipeline so oil could be moved to the Red Sea when Hormuz was threatened. Now tankers, ports and oil facilities along the Red Sea are also being placed in danger.

The entire region is becoming one great battlefield.

This is how wars escape the control of those who started them. One nation attacks. Another retaliates. An allied group enters the fighting. A neighboring country responds. A tanker burns. A military base is struck. Soldiers are killed. Soon, nobody remembers the original objective because every nation is fighting to avenge the previous attack.

The Bible asks:

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
— James 4:1, KJV

Pride, power, revenge and the desire to dominate have carried many nations into wars they later wished they had avoided.

Working Families Are Paying the Price

Presidents, generals and government officials do not personally pay the greatest price for war. The price is paid by soldiers, civilians and working families.

American families bury their sons and daughters. Iranian families pull their loved ones from the wreckage. Sailors risk their lives aboard tankers. People thousands of miles from the battlefield pay more for gasoline, diesel fuel, food, medicine and electricity.

When fuel prices rise, the cost is added to everything transported by truck. Farmers pay more to operate machinery. Trucking companies raise their rates. Grocery stores pass those costs to customers. Families already struggling to pay their bills are forced to choose between food, medicine and utilities.

A war in the Middle East does not remain in the Middle East. It reaches into every home through the price of fuel, food and daily necessities.

Meanwhile, weapons stockpiles are being depleted. Expensive air-defense missiles are being used to intercept comparatively inexpensive drones and missiles. Every interceptor fired in this war is one less weapon available for the defense of America and its allies somewhere else.

Russia and China do not have to enter the fighting to benefit. They can watch while America expends weapons, strains its military, alienates partners and weakens its economy.

Negotiation Is Not Surrender

Some will say that returning to the negotiating table would show weakness. I disagree.

It takes no great wisdom to order another bombing raid. It takes courage to end a war before pride carries nations beyond the point of return.

Negotiation does not require America to trust Iran. It does not require Iran to trust America. It requires both sides to recognize that continued warfare is producing destruction without producing a lasting solution.

A serious agreement would need to address the issues that led to the conflict:

• An immediate halt to attacks against cities, military installations and shipping.

• Protection for commercial vessels passing through Hormuz and the Red Sea.

• An end to attacks against American bases in neighboring countries.

• Suspension of the American naval blockade.

• Verifiable limits and inspections concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

• Security guarantees that neither side will use a ceasefire simply to prepare for another attack.

• Regional negotiations involving the Gulf states and other affected nations.

• A method for investigating violations without immediately returning to war.

These would not be easy negotiations. There would be anger, suspicion and disagreement. Yet difficult negotiations are better than an expanding war with no achievable end.

The United States and Iran do not have to become friends. They merely need to stop killing one another long enough to prevent a greater catastrophe.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
— Matthew 5:9, KJV

Notice that Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the warmakers.” He did not bless those who continually seek another enemy, another battlefield or another opportunity to display military power. He blessed the peacemakers.

The Bible also tells us:

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
— Romans 12:18, KJV

That does not mean ignoring evil. It does not mean abandoning national defense. It means that war should never become the first answer, the easiest answer or the only answer.

There are times when a nation must defend itself. But even a justified defense must have a goal beyond endless retaliation. If the only plan is to keep bombing until the other side completely submits, while the other side is equally determined to keep fighting, then the plan is not leading toward peace. It is leading toward greater destruction.

It Is Time to Stop Digging

There is an old country saying: When you find yourself at the bottom of a hole, the first thing you ought to do is stop digging.

The United States and Iran are both standing in a deepening hole. Every bomb, missile, blockade and threat digs it a little deeper.

Neither side is winning.

America has not forced Iran to surrender. Iran has not forced America from the region. The oil routes are threatened, military stockpiles are being consumed, soldiers are dying, civilians are suffering and the world economy is being placed in danger.

If this continues, the question will no longer be who won the war. The question will be how much of the region—and how much of the global economy—was destroyed before leaders finally admitted that there was no military solution.

It is time to return to the table.

It is time for both sides to stop demanding complete humiliation of the other.

It is time for honest negotiations, enforceable agreements and a ceasefire that protects soldiers, civilians and commercial shipping.

This is not surrender. It is not cowardice. It is common sense, moral responsibility and the beginning of wisdom.

“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
— Psalm 34:14, KJV

The road back to peace will not be easy, but it must be traveled. The alternative is a road covered with graves, burning ships, ruined cities and broken families.

Neither America nor Iran is winning this war.

It is time for both sides to stop pretending otherwise and start talking.

A New Chapter in the Life of a Country Preacher

 To the faithful readers of Ramblings of a Country Preacher:

After much prayer and consideration, I have decided that I will retire from pastoring in June 2027. By that time, I will have spent nearly sixty years in the ministry and forty years serving as pastor of Sugar Plain Friends Church.

This is not an easy decision. Preaching the Gospel has never been merely a job to me—it has been the calling of my life.

In recent years, however, my health has made the work increasingly difficult. I am living with a rare blood cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart failure, and advanced kidney failure. The Lord has carried me through many valleys, and He has been better to me than I could ever deserve. Nevertheless, I must recognize that the time has come to step away from the daily responsibilities of pastoring.

Retirement does not mean that I am retiring from serving the Lord.

The Bible says:

“They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.”
—Psalm 92:14, KJV

As long as the Lord gives me strength, I intend to continue writing, teaching, sharing the Gospel, and speaking about the things He lays upon my heart. Ramblings of a Country Preacher will continue. I may be leaving the pulpit, but I am not laying down my testimony.

Introducing Pro Hunter Online

As part of this new chapter, I have started a faith-based business called Pro Hunter Online.

Pro Hunter Online is intended to be different from the ordinary online store. It is built around faith, family, responsible outdoor living, and practical preparation. The store offers products for hunting, fishing, camping, outdoor recreation, and emergency preparedness.

My interest in the outdoors goes back many years. I have hunted in the Rocky Mountains, ridden horseback through the Wyoming wilderness, camped in deep snow, worked among Native American people on the Wind River Reservation, and spent a lifetime learning the value of preparation, responsibility, and respect for God’s creation.

This business is not an attempt to become wealthy. As I prepare to retire—and as medical expenses and the needs of daily living continue—it is my hope that Pro Hunter Online will provide some needed income while allowing me to continue my ministry of writing and sharing the Gospel.

I want Pro Hunter Online to become more than a place where people purchase outdoor products. I want it to be a place that encourages families to spend time together, helps young people learn outdoor skills, promotes responsible preparedness, and reminds people that we are stewards of everything God has placed in our hands.

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
—1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV

I Am Asking for Your Support

To those who have followed Ramblings of a Country Preacher, prayed for me, encouraged me, and shared my writings through the years, I am asking you to take a few moments to visit my new website:

ProHunterOnline.com

Please look through the store, visit the blog, and learn more about what I hope to accomplish. If you find something you need, your purchase will help support this new chapter of my life and ministry. Even if you are not ready to purchase anything, you can still help by sharing the website with your family, friends, church members, hunters, campers, fishermen, and anyone interested in outdoor living or emergency preparedness.

Every visit, every shared link, every order, and every prayer will be deeply appreciated.

I do not know exactly what this next season will hold. None of us does. But I know the One who holds tomorrow. The same Lord who called me into the ministry as a young man is still with me as I approach retirement.

My body may be growing weaker, but my faith has not retired. My calling has not disappeared. My desire to share the Gospel has not diminished.

There are still sermons to preach, stories to tell, lessons to teach, and souls that need to hear about Jesus Christ.

So this is not the end of the road. It is simply a bend in the road and the beginning of a new chapter.

Thank you for walking with this old country preacher. Thank you for your prayers, your friendship, and your support. I invite you to walk with me into this next season by visiting ProHunterOnline.com.

May the Lord richly bless you and your family.

The Country Preacher
Ramblings of a Country Preacher

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
—Philippians 4:13, KJV

Where Are the Seven Thousand? Why the Voice of Christ’s Followers Must Be Heard

There are times when I feel a little like Elijah. I am not saying that I am a prophet, nor am I claiming to possess some special revelation from God. I am simply saying that I understand something of the loneliness Elijah must have felt when he believed he was standing by himself.

Elijah had confronted the prophets of Baal. He had spoken against the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel. He had witnessed the fire of God fall from heaven. Yet after all of that, he found himself beneath a juniper tree, exhausted, discouraged, and wondering whether his work had made any difference.

He cried unto the LORD:

“I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left.”
—1 Kings 19:10, KJV

God told Elijah that He had reserved seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal.

That encourages me, but it also causes me to ask: Where were those seven thousand when Elijah needed to hear their voices?

They had not bowed to Baal, but Elijah did not know where they were. They may have been scattered, hidden, frightened, or quietly holding to their faith. Whatever the reason, Elijah felt as if he were standing alone.

Sometimes I understand how he felt.

When Speaking the Truth Makes You Feel Alone

I have spoken against what I believe to be the evil committed in the Middle East. I have condemned the killing of innocent people, the destruction of homes, the bombing of communities, and the suffering of children.

Because I have spoken against actions committed by the modern government of Israel, some pastors and Bible teachers have said that I am opposing God. I have been told that Christians must support Israel and that those who criticize Israel place themselves under the judgment of God.

Such accusations cause a man to search his heart.

I have asked myself: Have I become so disturbed by the suffering that I have allowed my emotions to blind me? Have I misunderstood the Scriptures? Have I misjudged the teachings of Jesus Christ? Am I wrong to speak against actions that I believe are sinful simply because they are committed by a nation called Israel?

I have prayed and searched the Scriptures. I cannot find where God commands His people to remain silent in the presence of injustice.

In fact, I find the opposite:

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression.”
—Isaiah 58:1, KJV

The prophets of the Old Testament did not remain silent when Israel sinned. Moses rebuked Israel. Samuel confronted Saul. Nathan stood before David. Elijah condemned Ahab. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Micah, and Ezekiel exposed the sins of both the people and their rulers.

Were these men against Israel? No. They spoke because they feared God more than they feared man. They understood that loving a people does not require remaining silent about their sins.

Modern Israel Is Not Old Testament Israel

The modern State of Israel is a political nation established in 1948. It is governed by politicians, military leaders, courts, and political parties. It is not the same thing as Old Testament Israel living under the Mosaic covenant.

Even Old Testament Israel was never above the commandments of God. The LORD did not excuse injustice merely because Israel committed it. God judged Israel when its rulers became corrupt, when the poor were oppressed, when innocent blood was shed, and when the people turned away from righteousness.

The name “Israel” did not give its kings permission to do whatever they pleased.

Why, then, should Christians believe that the modern Israeli government must never be questioned?

A government is not the same thing as an entire people. Condemning the policies of Israel’s government is not the same as hating Jewish people. I reject hatred against Jews. I also reject hatred against Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, Iranians, or any other people.

Every human life has value because every person was created by God. Every soul needs the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

I will not hold an entire people guilty for the actions of their leaders. But neither will I give any government moral immunity because it carries a biblical name.

Does Supporting Israel Guarantee God’s Blessing?

Many Christians quote God’s promise to Abraham:

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.”
—Genesis 12:3, KJV

I believe the Word of God. But I do not believe this verse means that America may overlook injustice, support every decision of Israel’s government, and then expect God to bless us regardless of our own sins.

God’s blessing cannot be purchased through foreign policy.

America cannot shed innocent blood, glorify immorality, neglect the poor, practice greed, promote hatred, and involve itself in one war after another—and then expect unconditional blessing because our government supports Israel.

The Bible says:

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
—Proverbs 14:34, KJV

Notice that it says righteousness exalts a nation. It does not say political alliances exalt a nation. It does not say military power exalts a nation. It does not say financial support for another government will cover a nation’s sins.

America must answer to God for America.

Israel must answer to God for Israel.

Iran must answer to God for Iran.

Every nation and every ruler will eventually answer to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Voice of Christ’s Followers Must Be Heard

Where is the Christian voice when innocent people are suffering?

Where is the voice that says every child matters, whether that child is Jewish, Palestinian, Iranian, Syrian, Lebanese, Ukrainian, Russian, or American?

Where is the voice of the peacemaker?

Jesus said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
—Matthew 5:9, KJV

Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the warmakers.” He did not tell us to celebrate destruction or to excuse cruelty when it is committed by our preferred political side.

Christ taught us:

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
—Matthew 7:12, KJV

That command must apply to everyone. We cannot demand mercy for ourselves while denying it to others. We cannot condemn our enemies for killing civilians while excusing our allies when they do the same thing.

The followers of Christ must not surrender their consciences to a political party, a foreign government, a president, a prime minister, or a military alliance. Our first loyalty belongs to Jesus Christ.

When innocent blood is being shed, the Church must speak.

When children are suffering, the Church must speak.

When hatred is being preached, the Church must speak.

When governments attempt to justify injustice, the Church must speak.

When Christians confuse political support with obedience to God, faithful pastors and Bible teachers must speak.

Our words must be truthful. Our claims must be carefully examined. Our hearts must remain free from hatred. But silence is not always righteousness. Sometimes silence is simply fear wearing its Sunday clothes.

We Must Apply One Standard to Everyone

If an action is evil when Iran commits it, it remains evil when Israel commits it. If it is wrong when Hamas kills innocent people, it remains wrong when a government’s military kills innocent people. If aggression is wrong when Russia practices it, it remains wrong when America practices it.

God does not change His standard according to the flag flying over the battlefield.

“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.”
—Proverbs 20:10, KJV

Christians damage their testimony when they condemn sin on one side and excuse the same sin on the other. The world sees that inconsistency, even when the Church refuses to acknowledge it.

We must stand for truth without becoming hateful. We must oppose injustice without assigning collective guilt to an entire people. We must pray for Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, soldiers and civilians, leaders and the families suffering beneath their decisions.

I May Feel Alone, but I Am Not the Only One

Perhaps there are still seven thousand.

Perhaps there are pastors who are praying but are afraid to speak. Perhaps there are Bible teachers quietly questioning what they have been taught. Perhaps there are faithful Christians who love the Jewish people but cannot support everything done by Israel’s government. Perhaps there are Jewish men and women themselves who are crying out against injustice.

I may not always hear their voices, but God knows where they are.

The LORD reminded Elijah that the work did not depend upon one weary man. God was still working when Elijah could not see it. He had preserved a remnant, prepared Elisha, and remained sovereign over the affairs of nations.

That is something I must remember.

I am not responsible for making everyone agree with me. I am responsible for examining my heart, searching the Scriptures, verifying the facts, speaking the truth in love, and remaining faithful to Jesus Christ.

I am willing to admit that my opinions are opinions. I have never claimed that God gave me a special vision concerning modern Israel or the Middle East. I may misunderstand some events. I may need to correct some conclusions. But I cannot look at suffering, destruction, and innocent blood and pretend that evil becomes righteousness merely because of who committed it.

A Final Word from This Country Preacher

I do not hate Israel. I do not hate the Jewish people. I do not hate the Palestinians, the Iranians, or the Muslims. I desire that every person come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

But love does not require blindness.

Faith does not require silence.

Supporting the Jewish people does not require unconditional support for the government of Israel.

Following Jesus does require that we love our enemies, defend the innocent, speak truth, practice mercy, and seek peace.

The Church must recover its voice—not the voice of nationalism, political propaganda, or blind loyalty, but the voice of Jesus Christ.

It must be a voice that says:

“But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
—Amos 5:24, KJV

There may be seven thousand who have not bowed their knees to the Baal of political power. If so, it is time for some of those voices to be heard.

We must speak carefully, prayerfully, and truthfully. We must speak without hatred and without fear. We must stand for the innocent regardless of their race, religion, nationality, or which side of a border they were born on.

And when it seems that we are standing alone, we must remember Elijah.

God still knows where the seven thousand are.

The truth is still the truth.

Sin is still sin.

Jesus Christ is still Lord.

And the voice of His followers must still be heard. 

America Must Stop Fighting Another Country’s War

 I find it deeply disturbing that Israel helped lead America into this war with Iran, yet Israel is now sitting out the latest expansion of the bombing campaign. Israel has stepped back while American aircraft continue flying, American weapons continue being depleted, American taxpayers continue paying the bill, and American servicemen and women continue being killed and wounded.

It is time to ask the question our leaders do not seem willing to answer:

Why should Americans continue paying the price for another country’s war?

I am not defending the Iranian government. I do not support Iran’s attacks upon American troops, its threats against Israel, or its oppressive policies. But opposing Iran does not require surrendering our judgment to the Israeli government. Neither does it require turning the United States military into Israel’s hired fighting force.

Israel has a right to defend its own country. However, America also has a right—and a duty—to defend its own people, troops, economy, and national interests.

Israel Steps Back While America Pays

The United States and Israel launched this war together. Now, as the conflict expands again, Israel is largely sitting out the renewed bombing. According to recent reporting, Washington and the Arab states fear that direct Israeli participation could trigger an even wider regional war. Israel also benefits by preserving its aircraft, pilots, missile interceptors, and military supplies while the United States carries the burden.

What an arrangement!

Israel receives the strategic benefit of seeing its principal regional enemy bombed, while America assumes the casualties, expense, retaliation, and political consequences.

American troops have been killed. Hundreds have reportedly been wounded. Some Iranian attacks and American casualties were not initially disclosed to the public. American helicopters have been damaged, military bases have been struck, and our air-defense and battlefield missile inventories are being steadily consumed.

Meanwhile, oil has crossed $100 a barrel. Gasoline, diesel, food, transportation, farming, and manufacturing costs are rising. The American family standing at the gasoline pump is helping pay for this war. The farmer buying diesel is paying for it. The small business owner paying higher shipping costs is paying for it. Every military family waiting for news from the Middle East is paying a price that cannot be measured in dollars.

Yet we are still not being told what victory looks like.

Whose War Are We Fighting?

If this is truly an American war, then Congress and the president must explain the American objective.

What must happen before the bombing stops?

Is the goal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz? Destroy Iran’s nuclear program? Remove its government? Eliminate its missiles? Protect Israel? Punish the Houthis? Occupy Iran? Force an unconditional surrender?

Those are entirely different objectives, and each one could require years of fighting.

America has walked this road before. We were promised short wars, limited missions, quick victories, and clearly defined objectives. Then the mission changed. The enemy changed. The reasons changed. Years passed, thousands died, trillions of dollars were spent, and eventually America withdrew without achieving what its leaders had promised.

Have we learned nothing from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan?

A country does not need to defeat the United States on the battlefield to weaken us. It merely needs to keep us fighting—draining our treasury, exhausting our military supplies, dividing our people, raising our cost of living, and waiting for political support at home to collapse.

Iran does not have to conquer America. It only has to draw America into another forever war.

An Alliance Is Not a Blank Check

Israel is often called America’s greatest ally. But an alliance must involve shared responsibility, shared sacrifice, and respect for each nation’s interests.

An ally should not help start a war, step aside when retaliation becomes costly, and expect American sons and daughters to continue the fighting.

Friendship with Israel does not require blind obedience to the Israeli government. Supporting the safety of the Israeli people does not require approving every decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu. We can pray for the people of Israel, condemn antisemitism, oppose attacks against civilians, and still declare that America must not be dragged into an endless war.

The lives of American service members are not bargaining chips. Our military stockpiles are not unlimited. Our national treasury is not an account from which foreign governments may withdraw whatever they desire.

If Israel believes continued war with Iran is necessary for Israel’s survival, then Israel must explain what sacrifices it is prepared to make. It should not expect America to fight indefinitely while it preserves its own forces.

Bombing Has Not Produced Peace

Night after night, the United States bombs Iran. Iran answers with missiles, drones, attacks upon military bases, and threats against international shipping. America responds with more bombing. Iran retaliates again.

That is not a strategy. It is an endless circle of destruction.

Every new attack is used to justify another attack. Every death becomes the reason for more deaths. Every retaliation becomes the excuse for greater retaliation. Leaders speak of inflicting more pain, but pain alone does not create peace. It creates bitterness, hatred, revenge, and another generation prepared to continue the fighting.

The Bible warns:

“For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”

—Matthew 26:52, KJV

That does not mean a nation has no right to defend itself. It means the sword has consequences. Once drawn, it has a terrible way of demanding more blood.

We cannot bomb an entire nation into friendship. We cannot kill enough people to manufacture trust. We cannot destroy enough bridges, power plants, military installations, and communities to create lasting peace.

At some point, someone must have enough courage to stop.

It Is Time to Back Away

America should immediately stop expanding this war. The threatened “massive attack” must not proceed without a clear debate and authorization by Congress. Our Constitution does not give one man unlimited authority to carry the nation from one round of bombing into an open-ended regional war.

The United States should suspend offensive operations, protect its personnel, and return to the negotiating table. Iran must also stop attacking American forces and commercial shipping. Both sides must enter honest negotiations without using talks merely as cover for preparing the next attack.

Returning to the table is not surrender. Diplomacy is not weakness. It takes far more wisdom to end a war than it does to order another bombing raid.

The purpose of American leadership should be to protect American lives and secure a lasting peace—not to satisfy the ambitions of another government or prove that our bombs are larger than someone else’s.

Congress must demand answers:

• What is the achievable American objective?
• What specific conditions will end the bombing?
• Why is Israel sitting out while Americans continue fighting?
• How many more troops have been wounded than initially disclosed?
• How badly have our missile inventories been depleted?
• How much is this war truly costing?
• What prevents this from becoming another twenty-year conflict?

Until those questions are answered, Congress should provide no additional blank checks for expanding the war.

Bring Our Nation Back From the Edge

I am an American, but I am also a minister of the Gospel. My first loyalty is to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. I cannot rejoice when Iranian civilians are killed. I cannot rejoice when Israeli civilians are killed. I cannot rejoice when American troops return home beneath a flag or carry wounds they will bear for the remainder of their lives.

Every one of them is a soul for whom Christ died.

It is time for America to back away from the edge. It is time to stop fighting another country’s war. It is time to quit answering every failure with a larger bomb. It is time to return to the table and conduct honest negotiations before this conflict becomes a permanent war—or something far worse.

We have shed enough blood. We have spent enough treasure. We have buried enough young people.

Stop expanding the bombing. Protect our troops. Return to the negotiating table. End this war.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

—Matthew 5:9, KJV

Are We Returning to the McCarthy Era?

 I have watched the language coming from President Trump and Republican leaders in recent weeks, and I must ask a serious question: Do Republicans want to return America to the fear and suspicion of the McCarthy era?

I am not accusing every Republican voter of supporting such a thing. Many good and decent Americans vote Republican because of their convictions concerning faith, family, abortion, taxes, government spending and constitutional liberty. However, something dangerous is happening within the leadership of the Republican Party and the Trump administration.

The message is becoming increasingly clear: If you disagree with President Trump, you are called a communist. If you criticize his policies, you are labeled a Marxist. If you protest against the government, you may be identified as a dangerous radical. If you question a war, you are accused of helping the enemy. If you oppose the president’s use of power, your loyalty to America is questioned.

That is not honest political debate. That is the politics of fear.

We Have Seen This Before

During the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that communists had infiltrated the American government and its institutions. There were some genuine Soviet agents and legitimate security concerns during the Cold War. But McCarthy went much further. He made sweeping accusations, ruined reputations and treated suspicion as evidence.

People were called before congressional committees and questioned about their political beliefs, friendships and associations. Teachers, government workers, actors, writers and ordinary citizens lost their jobs. Some were placed on blacklists. Many were afraid to speak openly because one accusation could destroy their lives.

McCarthyism was not merely opposition to communism. It was the use of unproven accusations, government power and public fear to silence political opposition.

America eventually recognized the damage, but not before innocent people had suffered.

Now I hear the same kind of language returning.

President Trump has repeatedly described Democrats and political opponents as communists. Members of his administration are increasingly connecting left-wing political beliefs with terrorism and foreign subversion. The government is discussing lists, organizations, affiliations and supposed “fellow travelers.”

Those words should send a chill through anyone who knows American history.

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
—Ecclesiastes 1:9, KJV

History does not always repeat itself in precisely the same way. Sometimes it returns wearing a different suit, carrying a different flag and using different names.

Disagreement Is Not Communism

Let us tell the truth plainly: Disagreeing with Donald Trump does not make a person a communist.

A Democrat is not automatically a communist. A liberal is not necessarily a socialist. A democratic socialist is not necessarily a revolutionary communist. A protester is not automatically a terrorist. A journalist who criticizes the president is not an enemy of America.

Communism is a definite political and economic ideology. Historically, communist governments abolished private ownership, suppressed religious liberty, controlled the press and concentrated power in the hands of the state. Millions suffered and died under communist regimes.

We should understand and oppose genuine totalitarian communism. But applying that label to anyone who disagrees with the president empties the word of its meaning and turns it into a political weapon.

Most Democrats still believe in elections, private property, privately owned businesses and constitutional government. They may favor larger social programs, stronger regulation, expanded healthcare or higher taxes. Republicans may strongly disagree with those policies. That disagreement is part of representative government.

Political disagreement is not treason.

This country was founded upon the right to criticize those in power. If the president cannot be questioned, Congress cannot be challenged and government policy cannot be protested, then we no longer have a republic. We have a ruler who demands personal loyalty.

Loyalty to America Is Not Loyalty to Trump

This is where the matter becomes especially dangerous. Some Republican leaders appear to be confusing loyalty to President Trump with loyalty to the United States.

They are not the same.

The president is a public servant elected for a limited term. He is not the nation. He is not the Constitution. He is not the law, and he is certainly not the church.

A person can love America and oppose Donald Trump. A person can support Donald Trump and still believe he is wrong about a particular policy. A Republican member of Congress should be able to oppose the president without being called a traitor. A pastor should be able to condemn war, cruelty or injustice without having his faith or patriotism questioned.

The Bible tells us:

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.”
—Exodus 23:2, KJV

There comes a time when a person must stand against his own party, friends and political leaders because truth is more important than belonging to a crowd.

I have never believed that one political party possesses all righteousness while the other possesses all evil. Republicans can be wrong. Democrats can be wrong. Presidents can be wrong. Preachers can be wrong.

Only God is infallible.

Fear Is Being Used as a Political Weapon

The accusation of communism is not being used merely to describe an economic philosophy. It is being used to frighten voters.

The message is simple: Vote Republican or the communists will take your property, destroy your church, abolish your freedom and overthrow America.

Fear is a powerful political tool. Once people are frightened enough, they will accept actions they would ordinarily reject. They will tolerate surveillance, censorship and government blacklists. They will excuse the punishment of political opponents because they have been persuaded that those opponents are enemies of civilization.

First, the government targets those whom the public already dislikes. Then it expands the definition of who is dangerous. Eventually, ordinary disagreement becomes evidence of disloyalty.

That is the road to political persecution.

“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”
—Proverbs 14:15, KJV

We had better look carefully at where this road is leading.

Investigate Crime—Not Opinions

If a person plans violence, prosecute that person according to the law. If an organization provides material support to terrorism, present the evidence in court. If a foreign government is directing agents inside the United States, investigate and prosecute those agents.

But do not treat lawful protest as terrorism.

Do not place Americans under suspicion merely because they criticize government policy.

Do not investigate pastors, journalists, teachers, students or political activists simply because their opinions are unpopular.

Do not publish lists of names and organizations without giving those accused an opportunity to see the evidence and defend themselves.

In a constitutional republic, the government punishes conduct—not peaceful belief.

When government begins deciding which political opinions are acceptable, liberty is already in danger.

Republicans Must Decide What They Believe

The Republican Party has long claimed to support limited government, individual liberty, free speech and constitutional restraint. If those principles are genuine, Republicans should be among the first to oppose political blacklists, loyalty tests and government intimidation.

You cannot claim to defend free speech while threatening people who criticize the president.

You cannot condemn government overreach while expanding presidential power.

You cannot call yourself a constitutional conservative while treating the Constitution as an obstacle whenever it restrains your political leader.

You cannot oppose the tyranny of communism by adopting the methods of tyranny.

Republicans who know this rhetoric is wrong but remain silent share responsibility for what follows. Silence may preserve a political position for a season, but it will not preserve a clear conscience.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
—James 4:17, KJV

Where are the Republican leaders willing to say, “Mr. President, Democrats are our political opponents, but they are still Americans”?

Where are those willing to defend the rights of people with whom they strongly disagree?

Where are the statesmen who place the Constitution above the party?

The Church Must Not Join the Accusers

I am especially concerned when Christians repeat these accusations without examining whether they are true.

A Christian must never bear false witness merely because the accusation helps his preferred candidate.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
—Exodus 20:16, KJV

That commandment does not contain a political exception.

It does not say that false witness is permitted during an election. It does not say we may spread an accusation because the person belongs to another party. It does not say political victory makes dishonesty acceptable.

When Christians call every Democrat a communist, every immigrant an invader, every protester a terrorist and every critic of Trump an enemy of America, they are not defending the truth. They are repeating propaganda.

The church was not called to be the religious department of the Republican Party. We were called to preach Christ, defend truth, show mercy, seek justice and warn every political leader when he walks in pride.

Today It Is the Democrat—Tomorrow It May Be You

Some Republicans may believe they have nothing to fear because the government is targeting the political left. But government power rarely remains confined to its original target.

Today, the suspected enemy may be a Democrat, socialist, university professor or protester.

Tomorrow, it may be a Republican who opposes the president.

Next week, it may be a journalist who uncovers corruption.

Eventually, it may be a preacher who declares that the government’s war is unjust, its treatment of the poor is cruel or its leader has become proud.

Once we establish that government may punish people for political disagreement, the only remaining question is who controls the government.

“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
—Matthew 7:2, KJV

Those cheering political persecution today may become its victims tomorrow.

My Warning to America

I am not saying that we have completely returned to the McCarthy era. We have not yet seen the full system of congressional loyalty hearings, widespread employment blacklists and ruined careers that marked the 1950s.

But I hear the same language. I see the same fear being cultivated. I recognize the effort to divide Americans into patriots and traitors according to their loyalty to one political leader.

The seed is being planted.

If we do not challenge it now, we should not be surprised by what eventually grows.

“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”
—Hosea 8:7, KJV

America does not need another McCarthy era. We do not need political inquisitions, secret lists, reckless accusations or government officials deciding which opinions are sufficiently American.

We need evidence before accusation, justice before punishment and truth above party.

I will oppose communism when it threatens liberty. I will also oppose authoritarianism when it approaches wrapped in the American flag, carrying a Bible and calling itself patriotism. Tyranny does not become righteous merely because it comes from our preferred political party.

If questioning Donald Trump makes me a communist in the eyes of his followers, then the word has lost all meaning. I will not surrender my conscience to any president, party or political movement.

My allegiance belongs first to God. My civic loyalty is to the Constitution and the principles of liberty—not to the personality of one man.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
—Galatians 5:1, KJV

America, we have walked this road before. We know where it leads.

It is time to turn around.