I think I might get crucified for this post, but before the red flags go up (and the Republicans pull their guns out of their holsters), let me say this:
- I voted for President Bush in good conscience,
- I believe he is a Christian and a good man,
- I like to hear when good things come from his administration’s policies, and
- I believe that his policies have been put into place under the pressure of keeping a nation secure, a position no U.S. President would envy.
But no matter how difficult the decision at hand, the most powerful leader in the free world has made some decisions that have made many people upset. Even those who voted for him have begun to raise their eyebrows. Bush has caused a stir in the world with his policies, and another world leader is questioning that a bit more boldly.
Enter the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadenijad.
In a recent letter to our President, Ahmadenijad appeals to Bush’s personal faith that Jesus Christ has changed his life and is the greatest philosopher. He raises some interesting points by asking some of the most critical, the most ethical, and the most pertinent questions anybody could have asked a professing Christian who is the President of the United States. If Jesus was about peace, why does he (Bush) believe that “the world’s problems can be solved with bombs”? Further (and perhaps more practically), he asks about the United States’ questionable actions in Iraq, and wonders whether or not the money should have been spent elsewhere:
If billions of dollars spent on security, military campaigns and troop movement were instead spent on investment and assistance for poor countries, promotion of health, combating different diseases, education and improvement of mental and physical fitness, assistance to the victims of natural disasters, creation of employment opportunities and production, development projects and poverty alleviation, establishment of peace, mediation between disputing states and distinguishing the flames of racial, ethnic and other conflicts were would the world be today? Would not your government, and people be justifiably proud? Would not your administration’s political and economic standing have been stronger? And I am most sorry to say, would there have been an ever increasing global hatred of the American governments?
While I am aware of the worldview that underlies his entire letter––a worldview with which I wholeheartedly disagree––there is much to be commended. In it he praises Jesus as a prophet who, in the tradition of the prophets of old, promotes peace and respect of human dignity and freedom, and will someday rule a peaceful kingdom on earth (this theology is actually a Christian theology as well, except that Christians believe Jesus was more than a prophet and is divine).
I’ve always wondered how President Bush would answer the following question: “If you claim to follow Jesus because of his influence in your life, and Jesus’ ethics teach that we are to ‘turn the other cheek’ and ‘love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us,’ why then did we take violent action against Afghanistan, let alone Iraq?”
Perhaps the war in the Middle East was justifiable. I’m not here to argue for or against that. But the questions asked by and Iranian President do need to be considered, not in light of his worldview, but in light of ours. Why has the church not really called out to President Bush to “love our enemies” and “pray for them that persecute [us]“? Has it really come to the point of an Islamic leader from the Middle East reminding President George W. Bush of his ironic religious-political stature? Or have we decided that it is too dangerous or “careless” to let evil exist in the world in such a way that prevents us from enjoying our comfortable lives? Is it because we believe we’re privileged, and that we should be immune from vulnerability? Or perhaps because we consider ourselves the “moral guardians” of society and the world?
Whatever the case, I’m confused. Stuck in the middle between pragmatism (albeit at a dubious glance) and principle. On the one hand, I understand why we need to seek to rid evil from the world. And I know that the United States can be a force for good in the world, and has the responsibility to do so. On the other hand, whatever happened to the way of the cross that Jesus lived and died for? Aren’t we supposed to be seeking peace the way Jesus sought peace, by laying down our lives in sacrifice out of love for the world?
I realize the hypocrisy in Ahmadenijad’s critique of the Bush Administration’s ignoring peaceful ways to handle conflict in the Middle East. Iran, as a whole, is not a force for much good in the world today. Their president should heed his own advice when it comes to proliferating peaceful actions around the globe. But let me point out that when the pot calls the kettle black, it still remains that the kettle is black. And he is not the first one to note the irony that many Christians around the world have noticed. And the evangelical community might be awakening to the fact that the United States might just be that kettle.
Rest assured that I am not naïve enough to believe that Ahmadenijad is safe to deal with. His worldview is radical Islamaic, a worldviewmuch different from that of Christianity. He must be closely watched, and we must not underestimate his ability to do as he pleases. Furthermore, he has continually declared his view that Israel does not deserve to exist in the land where it does and is the source of conflict for the Middle East.
Unfortunately, the goal of both presidents is to demolish any people group who is against the way of peace for the world.
Both would do well to take Jesus a bit more seriously.
Doug Stuart is a committed follower of Jesus and passionate about building for the Kingdom of God through education and mobilization. He is a regular writer at LibertarianChristians.com as well as the founder of Living Loud.
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