You Cannot Declare Peace While the Bombs Are Still Falling

 Just read an article that Trump did not wait until elections were over to attack Iran. He also declared the war over and said we won.

As a country preacher, I find this report deeply troubling. President Trump says there has been no fighting for months, while American officials describe continuing strikes against Iranian targets. Those accounts demand an honest explanation. The American people deserve a clear statement of what our military is doing and what risks our leaders are asking others to bear.

Officials say the Qeshm Island strikes followed Iranian fire against an American aircraft. That claim deserves examination. Protecting servicemen is a serious responsibility, but calling an operation “defensive” does not settle every question about the larger conflict. What mission placed those aircraft there? What are its limits? What diplomatic steps are being taken to stop the exchange of fire?

I am especially disturbed by the casual language surrounding another possible attack. To describe bombing a nuclear-related site as something that can be accomplished in an hour treats a grave decision far too lightly. An attack may take an hour; its consequences may burden families for generations.

The Bible says, “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health” (Proverbs 12:18, KJV). Leaders’ words can inflame a conflict or help prepare the way for peace. Boasting about our ability to destroy does little to establish the trust that negotiations require.

I do not excuse the Iranian government from accountability. Every government must answer for its actions. But our responsibility as Americans includes examining what is done in our name. As Christians, we must remember that Iranian families are our neighbors before God. Their children are precious, and so are the sons and daughters serving in our armed forces.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9, KJV). The church ought to take those words seriously enough to demand truth, restraint, and persistent diplomacy.

In my opinion, a nation shows wisdom when it uses its strength to end bloodshed. Let us pray for leaders who understand the weight of taking a life, who speak honestly to their people, and who pursue peace with the same determination they bring to preparing for war.