Behind the Israel-Iran conflict, human and spiritual realities at stake: Mission Network News

By Katie O’Malley

Iran (MNN) — As of Friday, Iran’s retaliation for Israel’s October 26 missile strikes on Iranian military sites was only a promise to come. The nation’s leaders have declared their response will be strong when it does come. 

As much as many world leaders and ordinary citizens would like it to be otherwise, this conflict is intensifying. Lana Silk with Transform Iran helps us take a step back and recognize the human and spiritual aspects present in the midst of it. 

“As Christians, the first thing we need to remember are people. Not the rules, not the politics, just people. [We need to] be praying, as the Lord would have us pray, for people,” Silk says. “[For] people in Israel, people in Iran, who are going to pay for all of this, even though they didn’t start it and they’re not going to get to finish it.”

Silk explains the next generation in Iran may have grown up chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” every morning at school, but they haven’t bought into the agenda of hatred that the Iranian regime has deliberately pressed on them.

“We saw that in the protest that happened two years ago after Mahsa Amini’s death,” Silk says. “All the young people who were brought up in this regime were turning that chant on its head and chanting ‘Death to the dictator,’ death to their own rulers.” 

(Read more here about the people of Iran’s desire for freedom.)

No matter what happens next in the Israel-Iran conflict, Silk says Christians must remember gospel truth in a world that’s quick to judge some people “innocent” and others “guilty.” 

“We are all at the mercy of God for the sins in our own lives. None of us are innocent until we come to Jesus and are covered by His blood,” she says.

Everyone in both countries is needing a Savior. Let’s pray that they find their Savior. Let’s pray that they’re protected in that journey until they get to Jesus. Let’s pray for God’s will to be done.

Learn more here about what Transform Iran is doing to spread the hope of Christ.

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Inimafoto A via Pexels

Insert photo courtesy of Transform Iran

Originally published on: Mission Network News