A few weeks ago I was discussing the war in Iran with another Christian. We were talking about the people there and the hardship this places on them and their country. This was at the outbreak of the war and before the bombing of the school where so many children died. Still, there were many people adversely affected.

The person I was talking with finally said something that stunned me. They said something like this, “We know the end of the story. The Bible tells us what happens, so there’s nothing we can do.” 

I’ve heard Christians say something similar before and it always gives me pause. Who are we to laud our Christian destiny and sit back while we watch the world burn, saying, “Oh, well. There’s nothing we can do.” It seems like a cop out to me. As if we are backing away from a need with our hands raised, shaking our heads.

Imagine, if you will, David looking at Goliath and all the Israelite soldiers who were fearful of this massive enemy. What if he said, “Oh, well, this is their fight,” and left them there to be defeated? How different that story would be. And, there are many Biblical examples of times when people could have stepped away saying this wasn’t their problem.

The Bible encourages us to reach out to those in need, not to reject them. Jesus reached out to the underprivileged and those society thought of as less than—the Samaritan woman, the lepers, the blind, the woman caught in adultery, and so many more. 

What if Jesus looked down from His seat beside God and said, “I’m comfortable here. They don’t deserve salvation.” He didn’t say that and we are saved because of his compassion and grace. How can we react differently? 

We must be more Christlike every day. We are called to be His hands and feet to the world. In Matthew 25: 31-46, the righteous are those who fed the hungry, gave a drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and visited those in prison. Jesus said this was the same as doing these things to Him. 

These actions are reaching out in compassion to those around us. We are not to judge the circumstances, but to give what is needed by those in unfortunate circumstances. Whether it’s a neighbor who needs a meal or a country that is in dire straits, we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

What does this mean in relation to the war in Iran? I don’t know. I’m certainly not in a place where I can change events. But I can pray for those people whose hearts are not compassionate—for those who make the decisions that cost innocent citizens their lives. I can pray for the people who are suffering—for the soldiers whose lives are at risk.

Instead of resting in our salvation, we should be fighting for less cruelty and more grace. We should pray for those in Iran and Ukraine, and other war torn countries in the world. Saying we know the end of the story and there’s nothing we can do is the same as saying Christ has no power in the situation and that is not what we want to project. 

Let us all pray for those who are struggling. And if God gives us a concrete way to help other than prayer may we rise up and follow Him.