Faith,
Imagine this scenario: You’re out to coffee with two friends—one an atheist, the other a Christian. The conversation turns to our nation’s conflict with Iran. Everyone at the table agrees that Iran’s leadership poses a genuine threat to national security. Both of your friends agree that defending against that threat is morally justified, but they disagree on the methods and whether current actions are succeeding.
Knowing you study Scripture, they turn to you for answers.
Your atheist friend says, “Well, your God commanded the destruction of whole nations in the Old Testament, so surely you have no issue with war.”
Your Christian friend counters, “But what about the Sixth Commandment—’Do not murder’—and Jesus’ command to love our enemies?”
You open your Bible, looking for passages that address both concerns accurately and faithfully. Where do you turn?
Over the centuries, the Church has wrestled deeply with these exact questions. Over the next two Sundays, my goal is to equip our congregation to answer them in ways that are biblical, thoughtful, and Christ-like. My prayer is that our hearts will be transformed by the renewing of our minds—so our convictions spring not from political gut reactions, but from God’s Word and His love.
Come prepared to be challenged and edified. No matter where you land on the current geopolitical debate, we serve the same Lord.
In Christ alone,
Pastor Brad
Message Notes are here.
Here are this week’s deeper dive videos:
Must Christians Obey the Government? (Romans 13:1) (5:51)
What does Peace Cost? (8:04)