Geopolitical conflict stirs up a lot of emotions. It’s challenging to get through a discussion on the subject without igniting deep feelings that often come out in spirited projection. However, regardless of political identity, views on world relations, and even opinions on conflict and war itself, I’m confident that most of GoTEN’s supporters are united in their concern for the people caught in the middle.
Key word: people.
In the middle of this conflict abroad are people. Israeli moms. Iranian dads. Kuwaiti daughters. Lebanese husbands. Jordanian grandparents. Each of the souls amidst this conflict mean something to someone, especially their Creator.
Conflict is inevitable. War dates back to ancient civilizations and is featured in many parts of the Bible. Sometimes God used war to bless and advance His people (Joshua 6:20-21, Deuteronomy 20:3-4) and in other passages, condemned the ugly, violent nature of war (Hosea 4:1-2). Human battle is complex, and given the range in tone found in the passages above, paired with the element of human interpretation, finding the line separating right from wrong can be complex. This is what makes debating the legitimacy of conflict so challenging.
In any case, I would contend that regardless of the context, God feels tremendous heartbreak for vulnerable people that He created who suffer under the anguish of war. One easy, recent example is the Syrian Civil War beginning in 2011. Starting with protests and basic unrest toward corrupt, authoritarian government leadership, Syria fell into mass chaos as rebel groups began to rise up against Syrian government forces led by Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian government inflicted major hurt on rebel-occupied regions, like Eastern Aleppo, where government forces cut off food and medical supplies leading to numerous deaths as a result of sickness and starvation. National forces are also widely known for a brutal chemical attack in Ghouta (near Damascus) which is reported to have resulted in 1,000+ civilian deaths.
On the other hand, numerous government-controlled neighborhoods in cities like Aleppo, Damascus, and Latakia were repeatedly shelled by rebel forces leading to widespread civilian casualties, as well as the destruction of civilian homes and businesses.
On either side of the conflict: armies of people that believed in something, and carried out missions in the name of their vision, bloody as it may be. In the middle: every day people - moms, dads, daughters, grandparents, students, electricians, religious leaders - attempting simply to live their lives. There is always a middle; always a vulnerable population subjected to the brutal realities of violent conflict. It is my personal belief that God cares deeply for the vulnerable, especially those caught in the middle.
In this time of global unrest, with a new war-related headline seemingly every hour, it is so easy for us to be caught up in who we feel is just and who we feel is ignoble. It is our human right to have these feelings and even express them outwardly. However, may we not forget the middle, petitioning for them in prayer regularly. Pray for safety, for adequate shelter, food, and water, and that God may deliver them from chaos, using the experience to draw them closer to Him.
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy from the hand of the wicked.” -Psalm 82:3-4