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“When I pray every day for them (our troops) and for this mission—I pray simply for the biblical wisdom to see what is right and the courage to do it,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in a morning news conference.
In Hegseth’s remarks, joined by General John Dan “Raizin” Caine, Hegseth laid out the plan and objectives of Operation Epic Fury, also noting the loss of U.S. soldiers killed in combat.
Speaking of the heroism of the fallen, including future strikes and operations, Hegseth shifted the focus to prayer and biblical wisdom for troops entering hostile fire.
Notably, Hegseth’s remarks focused on biblical wisdom to do “what is right.” Laying out why the United States attacked Iran, to include the aggressive behavior of the regime, including murdering and killing U.S. citizens since the 1980s, Hegseth laid out the groundwork for an ethical response, sharply correlated to that of the Just War Theory.
The Just War Theory has long been a topic in both philosophical and Christian theology. It gained attention from Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, and Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin.
When is war justified? This is the primary question at the heart of just war theory.
Augustine, whom both Catholics and Protestants admire, argued that war was justified by legitimate authority and by the need to defend against aggression or punish evil. The intent is always in question, ensuring the love of “thy neighbor” is at the forefront of such decisions, not conquest.
Aquinas similarly taught that war must promote good and avoid evil intent, particularly in attacking a foe who was the initial aggressor.
Lastly, the Reformers Luther and Calvin agreed that warfare must follow lawful order and is necessary for the defense and protection of the innocent or neighbor (fellow man).
Such Christian logic has been the foundation for arguing for involvement in war from World War II to the present day. During the First Great War, famed Southern Baptist Pastor George W. Truett proclaimed:
If you and I were out here in the street and saw some bullying, braggart, boastful man trampling a helpless little woman or a helpless little child, and you and I should fold our hands and said, “I don’t believe in war, I don’t believe in interfering in other people’s business,” and let the child be slaughtered and the woman destroyed, manhood has left us, that’s all. We have to have regard.[i]
Using the same logic as the past Christian philosophers and theologians, war or military actions against Iran are similar to events of the past. Iran has been a reckless regime killing innocent civilians, including its own citizens, by the thousands. They have unleashed terrorist attacks on American troops for the last forty years, resulting in the deaths of not only Americans but also American allies, such as Israel.
A common phrase heard has constantly been, “Death to America and Death to Israel.” From the 1983 bombing in Beirut, which killed over two hundred American troops, to the mass murder of Iranian protesters, with numbers as high as thirty thousand, Iran is indeed a regime likened to the Axis of Evil, famously termed by President George W. Bush.
Iran is also the number one sponsor of terrorism, funding directly and providing military support to networks such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. The massacre of October 7 in Israel is a direct link to the Iranian regime.
It is true that Christianity promotes peace and love, but it also stands for justice. From Augustine to Calvin, the reality of war in a fallen world is apparent. However, for the greater good of humanity and peace, intervention is often necessary to strike evil and defend mankind.
Secretary Hegseth’s remarks and President Donald J. Trump’s decision to intervene in Iran are not only biblically supported and warranted but also undoubtedly viewed as an act of providence, ensuring that judgment is meted out to evil for the greater good.
The end goal is crucial: to eliminate a threat to the American people, our allies, and the nations of the Middle East. Peace is always the objective. But peace without justice is surrender. When evil threatens the innocent, the United States has a duty to act so that the failures of appeasement that led to World War II are never repeated.
The American people should place their trust in the providence of God and recall President Calvin Coolidge’s reminder that the presidency itself is an instrument of divine providence. American Christians can do their part by supporting and praying for American troops and President Donald J. Trump.
[i] George Truett, “The Lord Reigneth” (sermon, First Baptist Church of Dallas, Dallas, TX, December 14, 1941), http://digitalcollections.baylor.edu/cdm/search/collection/fa-gwt (accessed March 2, 2026).
