Christian Nationalism and the War with Iran
I was horrified by President Trump’s decision to fall in line with Israel and Saudi Arabia and start a war with Iran. Yes, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a terrible tyrant who threatened and dominated his people. Further, Khamenei radicalizes the larger Islamic community. The concern is that Trump acted without NATO support or even Congressional approval until after the fact. One horrific outcome from Trump’s decision to attack Iran is the destructive Christian Nationalism proclaimed and the devastating impact it has on the Christian faith.
BuzzFeed Senior Editor Megan Liscomb’s article “’ We Are Run By a Heretical Death Cult’”: People Are Furious At What American Troops Are Reportedly Being Told About The War In Iran” enlightens us to how some American Generals are warping the Christian message. Liscomb reports, “One commander reportedly told troops that Donald Trump was ‘anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his [Jesus’] return to Earth.” What a load of…phooey. According to other reports, “More than 110 similar complaints about commanders in every branch of the military were submitted to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation from Saturday morning to Monday night.” Commanders are inundating American troops with cult-like manipulation of Christian theology.
Misusing the Bible to manipulate and empower military troops to see their actions as a religious requirement to bring Christ’s return is frightening. These misreadings of the Book of Revelation can have destructive consequences. When we believe it is God’s will to follow every Trump decision and destroy those who are different from ourselves, we no longer follow Christ!
American commanders, confirmed by HuffPost, reported: “We started getting calls in the wee hours of Saturday morning from people saying their commanders were just jubilant about this and trying to tell people, ‘Don’t worry, it’s all part of God’s plan.” Newsweek also received hundreds of similar complaints. My friends, when someone tells you they know God’s plan, run the other way.
As Christians, we believe that all people are made in the image of God. God mourns every person’s death. God does not love the American people more than those from Canada, England, Turkey, Israel, or Iran. Worshipping a human leader as a divine prophet, blessed with the voice of God, is dangerous, inappropriate, and manipulates and destroys the true Christian message. Trump is not our generation’s Moses, Jacob, or Elijah. Pray for all God’s children and the need for peace. Further, pray that ignorant and misguided people do not inadvertently destroy the Christian faith and turn it into a false cult. Biblical interpretation and theological understanding are more important than ever, or the only Christian faith left will be those who believe that Trump’s policies are the way to manipulate the Messiah’s second coming.