Deitrich Bonhoeffer championed the idea of just war in Nazi Germany. His role as a pastor and
eventually the leader of the Confessing Church, the dissenting group that left the Nazi dominated
Lutheran state church, positioned him to speak powerfully into this topic. Bonhoeffer argues that evil
government policies exempt believers from submitting fully to the government. For example, when it is
illegal to harbor Jews, it is ok and right to break the law and shelter them. When the Nazi’s come
knocking, it is right and good to lie and say you have no Jews in your home. Bonhoeffer even
participated in an assassination attempt on Hitler! Is this murder? Bonhoeffer says by no means.
Removing Hitler from office saved a nation from a future of violence, oppression and death.

Another example is the Jamaican Slave Revolt in 1831 that ultimately led to the abolition of the slave
trade. A group of Jamaican slaves, a majority of whom were Christians, organized a strike demanding
wages and fair treatment. The chattel slavery motivated government long ignored the demands of its 15
to 1 slave population, so the slaves took matters into their own hands. Was this wrong of them to refuse
to submit to their governing authorities? By no means! That government ignored the most basic of
human rights: personal freedom. And they did so by force. That group of righteous slaves had every
obligation on God’s green earth to revolt. And while the revolt failed, it quickly led to the abolition of the
trade in all the British Empire.

In war, death is inevitable. I realize how easy that is for me to say in the comforts of my office, but it’s
still very true. With our strategic missiles, death tolls are drastically reduced. We must not ever adopt
the mindset that says “All people (of whatever country we are striking) are bad. Wipe ‘em all out!”
That’s just as wrong as allowing evil regimes to continue unchecked. While I celebrate, in this current
war, with the Iranian people, I’m as ready as anyone to see it finished.

Just war operates with an end in mind. And if justice is to prevail, that end must be a godly one. We
don’t fight to own or control Iran. We don’t fight to get special oil purchasing privileges. We aren’t in
this for our benefit but for the benefit of the Iranian people. And if any other motive rises to the top, the
idea of just war goes out the window.

As Christians, if we want to respond to this war, this is my suggestion: pray for the soldiers and the
civilians of all countries involved. Pray that the evil regime in Iran is eradicated once and for all, along
with all its subsidiaries. Pray for truth to be seen and that Jesus makes Himself known to all sides. Pray
for comfort for those families that experience loss of life and the means to a healthy livelihood. Educate
yourself. Read trusted news sources that tell the story without political or national bias. Don’t stick your
head in the sand and act like this is just another small skirmish somewhere that doesn’t affect you. Be aware and be  mindful. And treat our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters with respect. Justice was not
done to Japanese Americans in WWII. Internment camps, the forced closure of businesses, and
mandatory relocation policies all smacked of fear, not justice. Let’s not repeat that mistake. Be
respectful of those with Middle Eastern descent in our midst.

Remember, all our ancestors have been at war at some point in their lives. We have much to learn here
and many examples of how to and how not to respond. Christian, let’s choose the right this time.