This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord. -Jeremiah 9:23-25
Good morning, church.
Before we begin worship, I need to acknowledge what many of us woke up to yesterday.
The United States and Israel have launched major strikes against Iran. Iran has responded in kind.
This news brings about a myriad of responses. Some are excited, others are terrified. Some are hopeful for the future, while others dread further escalation. Some Iranians celebrate in the streets, while others pull the bodies of loved ones from the rubble of their homes and schools. US Chaplains say prayers with sailors and aviators, Iranian imams pray for protection of their neighborhoods.
Presidents and Ayatollah scheme, and the world hold’s its breath.
There are reports of significant civilian casualties.
The situation is unfolding quickly. We do not yet know where this leads.
What we do know is that whenever bombs fall, human beings suffer.
So before we sing. Before we pray. Before we open Scripture. We pause.
Because followers of Jesus do not treat war casually.
We remember that every headline represents someone’s child. Someone’s parent. Someone made in the image of God. Someone Jesus chose to die for.
We pray for peace. Not sentimental peace. Not the quiet of fear. But the kind of peace the prophets spoke of. The kind that disarms pride. The kind that restrains vengeance. The kind that tells the truth about injustice without multiplying it.
We pray for civilians in Iran. We pray for civilians in Israel. We pray for American service members who may be placed in harm’s way. We pray for those who will be considered collateral damage of retaliatory strikes around the middle east. We pray for leaders who now carry decisions that will shape lives far beyond their own.
And we guard our own hearts.
Because it is easy in moments like this to let fear harden into hatred. To let loyalty override love. To mourn selectively.
But the church belongs to a different Kingdom.
We do not bless bombs. We do not celebrate destruction. We do not reduce complex human beings to enemies.
We worship the Prince of Peace.
So this morning, we will worship honestly. We will intercede fervently. And we will refuse to let the spirit of violence set the tone for our souls.
Knowing that while bombs can topple regimes, they can never build THE KINGDOM.
While armies may occasionally arrive as liberators, they can never bring SALVATION.
Christ is Lord. Not nations. Not armies. Not fear. Not nationalism. Not presidents. Not Ayatollahs. Not anything…. Christ alone is Lord.