Do Our So-Called Enemies Have Souls Worth Saving?

 When will conservative evangelical Christians stop acting as though our so-called enemies have no souls to redeem?

I have listened to professing Christians cheer when bombs fall upon Muslim countries. I have watched them rejoice over the deaths of Iranians and Palestinians as though these human beings were merely names on a military map. There seems to be little sorrow, no burden for the lost, and scarcely any recognition that every person who dies enters eternity.

These are not merely “targets.” They are human souls.

They are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, grandparents and little children. They are people for whom Christ died. Many have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How can Christians rejoice when they are killed?

God Has No Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked

The Lord declared through the prophet Ezekiel:

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” — Ezekiel 33:11, KJV

God does not delight in the death of sinners. His desire is that they turn from sin and live. If God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, why do Christians celebrate it?

Again, the Lord said:

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” — Ezekiel 18:23, KJV

The heart of God is redemptive. God calls sinners to repentance. He sent His Son into the world to save the lost—not to provide religious language for our political hatred.

“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” — Luke 9:56, KJV

Those are the words of Jesus. Yet many who claim His name appear more excited about destroying their enemies than reaching them with the gospel.

Christ Died for Muslims Too

The Bible does not say that God loved only Americans, Israelis, Westerners, or conservative voters. It says:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” — John 3:16, KJV

The world includes Iranians.

The world includes Palestinians.

The world includes Arabs, Persians, Jews, Muslims, and every other people.

Islam denies that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, rejects His atoning death, and denies the biblical truth of His crucifixion and resurrection. Christians cannot accept those teachings. Nevertheless, the Muslim who has been deceived by false doctrine is not beyond the reach of God’s grace.

Paul wrote:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8, KJV

Christ did not wait for us to become righteous before loving us. He died for us while we were sinners and enemies:

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…” — Romans 5:10, KJV

We were once the enemies of God. Suppose God had treated us the way some Christians want Muslim nations treated. Where would we be?

Jesus Commanded Us to Love Our Enemies

Jesus did not say, “Love your enemies unless your government declares war upon them.” He said:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44, KJV

Christians are commanded to love, bless, do good, and pray. That does not mean approving terrorism, oppressive governments, or false religion. It means recognizing that even our enemies bear the image of God and possess souls that can be redeemed.

Jesus continued:

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:45, KJV

Loving our enemies is not an optional political position. It is evidence that we resemble our heavenly Father.

When Christians rejoice at the death of Muslims, Iranians, or Palestinians, what image are they displaying? Is it the image of Christ—or the image of a fallen world filled with hatred and vengeance?

Heaven Does Not Rejoice When a Sinner Is Lost

Jesus described the joy in heaven when one sinner repents:

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” — Luke 15:10, KJV

Heaven rejoices when sinners are saved. Yet some Christians rejoice when sinners are killed before they have an opportunity to hear and receive the gospel.

That ought to break our hearts.

Every bomb that falls upon a civilian population may close the door of earthly opportunity for someone who has never known Christ. Every child buried beneath rubble is a life created by God. Every grieving mother is someone Jesus commands us to love.

War reduces people to statistics. Jesus sees every individual soul.

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” — Matthew 10:30, KJV

Partakers of Evil Deeds

The Apostle John warned:

“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” — 2 John 11, KJV

When Christians give unconditional support to governments committing injustice, excuse the killing of innocent people, or celebrate military violence without regard for human life, they risk becoming partakers of those evil deeds.

We do not have to fire the weapon personally to share moral responsibility. We may become participants through our approval, financial support, political advocacy, propaganda, and rejoicing.

Paul wrote:

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” — Romans 1:32, KJV

Having pleasure in evil is itself a serious spiritual matter.

This principle applies to every side. Christians must condemn the murder of Israeli civilians. We must condemn terrorism and hostage-taking. We must also condemn the killing of innocent Palestinians, the destruction of civilian communities, collective punishment, starvation, and every other act of injustice.

We cannot have one moral standard for our allies and another for our enemies.

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

Our Warfare Is Not Against Flesh and Blood

The Bible tells us:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12, KJV

Muslims are not the Church’s flesh-and-blood targets. They are our mission field.

Iranians are not beyond redemption. Palestinians are not disposable. Jewish people are not collectively responsible for the actions of Israel’s government. Ordinary people must not be stripped of their humanity because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or government.

The weapons of the Church are not bombs, missiles, drones, or military alliances:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” — 2 Corinthians 10:4, KJV

Our weapons are truth, prayer, faith, love, mercy, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What Happened to the Great Commission?

Jesus commanded:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15, KJV

He did not say, “Bomb every creature who belongs to a hostile nation.”

How can we preach the gospel to people while rejoicing when they are killed? How can we tell Muslims that Jesus loves them when our words and political behavior suggest that we do not care whether they live or die?

The Church cannot fulfill the Great Commission while embracing the spirit of vengeance.

The Apostle Paul asked:

“And how shall they hear without a preacher?” — Romans 10:14, KJV

Perhaps instead of asking how quickly our enemies can be destroyed, Christians should ask how missionaries can reach them. Instead of praying for bombs to fall, we should pray for gospel doors to open. Instead of celebrating death, we should plead for repentance and salvation.

The Spirit of Christ Weeps

When Jesus approached Jerusalem, He did not celebrate the judgment that was coming upon the city:

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.” — Luke 19:41, KJV

Jesus wept.

He knew the city’s rejection. He knew its unbelief. He knew judgment was approaching. Yet He did not laugh, cheer, or wave a national flag. He wept.

Where are the tears of the Church?

Where is our sorrow for the Iranian soldier, the Palestinian child, the grieving Israeli parent, and the Muslim family that does not know Christ? Where is our burden for those who may enter eternity without hearing the gospel?

The spirit that rejoices in human suffering is not the Spirit of Christ.

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.” — Proverbs 24:17, KJV

That command could not be clearer.

We Must Choose Whom We Will Follow

Christians must decide whether their hearts will be shaped by Jesus or by political propaganda. Governments teach us to fear and hate their enemies. Jesus commands us to love and pray for them.

I am not asking Christians to approve Islam, terrorism, oppressive regimes, or injustice. I am asking Christians to remember that every person caught in these systems possesses a soul.

We can oppose evil without hating the evildoer. We can demand justice without rejoicing in death. We can defend innocent life without treating an entire population as guilty. We can pray for Israel without blessing injustice, and we can care about Palestinians and Iranians without endorsing their governments or religious beliefs.

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Neither should we.

If we celebrate the slaughter of people Christ commands us to love, defend the killing of innocent civilians, and give our blessing to governments committing evil, we become partakers of that evil.

The Church must stop asking, “Whose side is our government on?”

We must ask, “Where would Jesus stand?”

He would stand for truth.

He would stand for mercy.

He would stand beside the suffering.

He would call sinners to repentance.

And He would remind us that our so-called enemies have souls worth redeeming.

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