Mr. Trump, Here is Good Advice from the Good Book regarding an Exit from Iran

Although you have frequently claimed to have helped the Christian cause more than any other politician, you have also frequently denied a basic Christian doctrine: the forgiveness of your sins. You have often said you have never asked God for forgiveness because you don’t acknowledge any sins that need to be forgiven. Two passages from the Good Book seem quite pertinent to your situation. The Apostle John wrote, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:8-9) You claim that you are without sin generally, and specifically regarding your decision to go to war with Iran. Just this past weekend, you responded to questions about the war and the increase in oil/gas prices by saying you will “never apologize” for taking us to war nor for the resulting rise in the price of gasoline.

In the Biblical book of James, we read about the origin of wars. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1) James provides a general principle that wars are usually the expression and extension of human selfishness. For those who claim that a specific war is an exception, that it is “justified”, the burden of proof lies with them.

Let’s unpack this a bit. When the word “sin” is mentioned, many people think of religious actions against God. On the contrary, the Bible has a different understanding of sin. Precisely because all people are made in God’s image, all human actions against our neighbors, near or far, are also directed toward their Creator. When John the Baptist proclaimed his message of repentance from evil, he emphasized economic sins, whether it was apathy when we are faced with our neighbor’s hunger or poverty, or the sins of bribery and extortion (Luke 3:1-20). This pointing out of human sin is called good news (gospel) because it is an essential component for repentance and forgiveness. The prophet Amos teaches us an additional, important truth, especially for people who rule in public office: many sins are not individualistic, but national. Racism, war, inhumane treatment of foreigners, and national indifference to the suffering of people in other countries, are also denounced as sin against their Maker. (Amos 2:1-3:15)

Therefore, Mr. President, I ask you to look at the following evidence and to examine your heart regarding your war against Iran. I am inviting you to have a political conversion.

1. Your war with Iran is illegal. Our US Constitution appropriately assigns war responsibilities to Congress, not to the President. No one person, not even the President, is allowed to take our country to war. If a President believes war should be declared, he or she should go to Congress and ask them to make a Declaration of War (as took place in World War II). If the President believes a true emergency requires an immediate military response of self defense, he or she is allowed to do so, but then needs to obtain congressional approval within 48 hours via the War Powers Resolution. You also did not bring the United Nations into deliberations as required for member nations.
2. Your war against Iran broke your own campaign promises of not taking our nation into war, especially “endless wars in the Middle East”. As a result, your war was not supported by our citizens (about 65% of the public are against this war, according to national polls).
3. You never presented a clear goal for the war to the American people. You have jumped from one goal to another as if you were grasping for straws (regime change, the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, deterring the development of nuclear weapons). This last goal is seen as a sham because you claimed you had “obliterated” Iran’s uranium stockpiles a year ago.
4. Your war with Iran showed woefully little preparation. You said it would last only 2-4 weeks and we are now at the six-month mark. There were no exit strategies and we still have no end in sight.  Supply problems on the USS Abraham Lincoln and a significant depletion of defensive missiles were not planned for.
5. Although the Iranian takeover of the Strait of Hormuz had been anticipated by every presidency during the last five decades, your administration seems to have been caught totally ill-prepared. With some significant control over the Strait, Iran now has more leverage than it did before the war began.
6. A negotiated and just peace deal is not on the horizon. On at least 38 occasions, you have made public predictions that a peace accord was “at hand”, but then Iran strings your envoys on again and again. Neither the US people, nor our allies, nor Iran believe you and your baseless promises.
7. You did not consult with our NATO allies before going to war, nor with our Arab friends in the region. In fact, this week you repeatedly threatened to strike militarily our ally Oman for not supporting your war!

For all of the above-mentioned facts, your taking our country into war with Iran was a huge mistake with serious political, economic, and ethical consequences for Americans and for the whole world. This is the bad news. The good news is that you are not beyond hope. While many of your critics think you cannot change, I believe in a compassionate and all-powerful God. While we have breath, there is hope we might experience a genuine change in our lives. This requires true repentance on your part leading to a profound transformation. This will not be easy because you have surrounded yourself with people who tell you how “great” you are. Do not believe them. They are lying.

Now an exit strategy. Bombing Iran has not worked. Bullying other countries with tariffs has not worked either. Inept negotiators have not had success. But if you would truly and publicly confess your political sin, the world would be shocked and amazed! If your conversion were genuine, international offers to negotiate a just end to the war would come pouring in. I suggest the United Nations as a good first place to start. This could become the beginning of a new world order (and perhaps even a Nobel Peace Prize). Mr. President, the ball is in your court.