President Obama, Iraq, and the Christian Response

My heart is heavy this morning as I consider the current situation in Iraq.  It is a mess no matter which way you slice it.  It really doesn't matter whether you supported President George W. Bush's initial action to invade Iraq.  It really doesn't matter if you supported President Obama's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq.  This is a mess, and the United States is right to act.

I often find myself torn in situations like this.  I do not like that America has often taken the role of world police in various situations around the globe.  I do not like that we continue to borrow from China in order to send money to countries that hate us.  It seems that whenever there is conflict in the world, you can bet the Unites States will pick a side and fund it.

I voted for Ron Paul in the 2012 Republican primary.  I would like to be casting my ballot for Rand Paul in the 2016 Presidential Election.  That is, if he doesn't stick his foot in his mouth regarding this current crisis in Iraq.  If he does, I will be forced to question his ability to govern this country, and likely will not support his candidacy.

I typically despise America's interventionist tactics.  In this case, however, someone has to do something.  When two countries or two groups within a country are fighting, we should keep our nose out of it.  When people are being systematically run out of their homes and murdered with no means of defending themselves (i.e. the Holocaust), justice demands we act.

History has not looked kindly upon those who did nothing as Hitler systematically evicted people from their homes and placed them in concentration camps.  Many Jews and others were tortured and killed, and as any honest person would have to admit, not enough was done to stop the terror.

It is easy to look back on the Holocaust and wonder, "Why wasn't something done to stop these atrocities?"  It's easy to become slightly self-righteous in thinking we would have done something had we had the ability to do so.

Well, here is our chance.  Christians are being run out of their homes.  Men, women, and children are being beaten, tortured, and killed in Iraq by the terrorist group ISIS, which stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.  While we as individuals cannot hop on a plane and put a stop to this genocide, our government has the ability to defend the helpless.

I am reminded of a well-known quote often attributed to Edmund Burke:

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

I applaud the actions of President Obama thus far.  President Obama has authorized air strikes to stop these Islamic militants.  The U.S. has also been dropping humanitarian aid to those trapped on a mountaintop in Iraq.  You can read more about these efforts here.

President Obama said in a speech Thursday night, "Today, America is coming to help."  Thank you, Mr. President.  We are all tired of the constant conflict in the Middle East.  I know that you were hesitant to get involved in more conflict in Iraq.  I have those same feelings.  However, we cannot run from a situation where we have a moral imperative to act just because we are tired of conflict.

I am praying for the President and his advisers.  I am praying for those trapped on this mountaintop in Iraq and others who may still be fleeing.  I am even praying for these Islamic militants as they are not yet beyond the reach of God's saving hand.  I ask you to join me.  May we not be guilty of forgetting about this tragedy just because we find ourselves physically on the other side of the world.

Government: Not a Terror to Good Conduct

If you haven't heard, Christians in Iraq are being forced to flee their homes in fear for their lives.

You can find a news articles about this tragedy here and here.

What can you do?

Pray

One of the ways that we can bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Iraq is to pray for them.  We also know the only one who is able to change the hearts of men.  May we cry out to God on behalf of the persecuted in Iraq.  May God give them strength and boldness in their faith.  And may He protect them from harm.

 Ask our government to protect these people.

Romans 13 tells us that God gives us civil government for our good.  It is part of His common grace given to believer and unbeliever alike.

Romans 13:3-4 

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Many have asked often why the Holocaust was allowed to continue without more of an effort to intervene and protect the Jewish people.  It is easy to look back into history with moral indignation and wonder why something was not done to end the atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazis.  It is much more difficult to stand up to the injustice of our day with moral fortitude and call for action.

God's image bearers are being systematically murdered in Iraq.  Our government has the ability to act on behalf of the men, women, and children who are being victimized.  May we not turn a blind eye to suffering just because it is happening on the other side of the world.

While I do not have the White House on speed dial, the Obama administration has created a way for you to make your voice heard regarding the issues that are important to you.  Using the platform for creating petitions established by the President and his staff, a petition has been created regarding this issue.  If 100,000 signatures are collected within the 30 day window, the White House will respond.

You can find the petition here.  Educate yourself on the situation.  Pray.  Then go to the petition and sign it.  Signing this petition is one small way you can stand against injustice the injustice happening right now in Iraq.  Let President Obama know that this issue is important to you.

Note: At this time, the petition has received 24,253 of the necessary 100,000 signatures that it must have by August 20, 2014.

Update: It looks like President Obama is taking action in Iraq.  I was unaware of this fact at the time I wrote this post.  You can find more information in this article.  You can also listen to Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speak to the situation from the Christian worldview by clicking here.