Statement on Potential Military Actions Against Iran
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Peace Church Working Group
The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship joins with people of faith and goodwill in the world in condemning any potential US military attacks on Iran as sinful, evil, and, therefore contrary to the values of the Kingdom of God.
While the Trump administration may justify attacks on Iran as being necessary to preserve global security or to promote democracy or to protect the lives of those protesting the repressive Iranian regime, no military violence inflicted upon the Islamic Republic of Iran will achieve those goals. Military violence seldom leads to positive change in the world. Bombs never secure peace, foster democracy, or convince totalitarian governments to protect human rights or safeguard free speech.
As Christians the scriptures we hold sacred compel us to acknowledge that righteousness grows where peace is cultivated (James 3:18). As Presbyterians we are invited by our confessions to remember that the church is sent by God into the world to be a reconciling community, sharing God’s labor of healing the enmities that separate people from each other (Confession of 1967, 9.31). This high and holy calling cannot be achieved with the force of arms, but must be pursued according to the values of Jesus set forth in the Sermon on the mount: conflict resolution, deep relational fidelity, honesty, turning the cheek, radical generosity, love for enemies, humility, trusting in the goodness of God, reserving judgement, pursuing righteousness, and following the golden rule (Matthew 5-7).
Deploying bombs against Iran’s civilian population demonstrates none of the Christlike virtues enumerated in the Gospels.
As human beings capable of observing irony, we note that the same administration currently poised to send the United States’ military to attack Iran, ostensibly to protect right of the Iranian people to protest their government, also sends militarized federal agents into American cities to silence the protests of American people, often employing violence against Americans, sometimes killing Americans who speak out in protest.
As Christians, as Presbyterians, and humans seeking to be decent and kind, we raise our voices in prophetic dissent, condemning any and all potential military attacks against Iran and we urge our fellow, Christians, Presbyterians, and good-willed humans to join us in this faithful condemnation.