The Peril of Pride: When War Drums Drown Out the Call to Peace

By Pastor David Whitmore | Circus of Power | March 18, 2026

In the quiet hours before dawn, as I prepare my sermon for the flock at Grace Community Church, I often turn to the Psalms for solace. Psalm 46 reminds us, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." But this morning, as news of the escalating conflict in the Strait of Hormuz floods my inbox, those words feel both comforting and convicting. How do we respond when the earth's upheavals are not mere natural disasters but the handiwork of human ambition? With Iran closing the vital waterway in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes—including a drone attack on their key oil export hub at Kharg Island—the world teeters on the edge of a broader war. Oil prices have surged 20 to 30 percent overnight, gas pumps across America now averaging $5.20 a gallon, and families here in rural Tennessee are already whispering about pinched budgets and uncertain futures. Yet amid the headlines, a deeper question gnaws at my conscience: What does it say about our leaders—and us—when the pursuit of dominance eclipses the pursuit of wisdom?

I've long held that true leadership isn't measured by military might alone but by the character that wields it. As a pastor who's shepherded souls through the shadows of Iraq and Afghanistan, I've seen how wars, even those begun with noble intentions, can erode the soul of a nation. President Trump's handling of this Iran escalation, while hailed by many as bold and necessary, troubles me deeply. In a recent PBS interview, he declared Iran "no longer the bully of the Middle East" and warned, "If they block the Strait, we'll open it—permanently if needed." There's a ring of resolve in those words, the kind that rallies a base eager for American strength after years of perceived weakness. A CNN poll underscores this: 90 percent of MAGA Republicans approve of the military posture, viewing it as a restoration of U.S. dominance. And who can blame them for craving that security? My own congregation includes veterans whose scars from past conflicts remind us daily of the cost of retreat.

But approval ratings, like the roar of the crowd, can mask a quieter truth. Overall American support for these actions has dipped to 45 percent, down from 55 percent before the latest strikes, according to the same poll. Critics, including some voices within the Republican fold like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, decry it as an "illegal, unconstitutional war" that sacrifices troops for foreign interests. Even internationally, allies tread warily; a French NATO general likened joining U.S. efforts to "buying a ticket for the Titanic after hitting the iceberg." These aren't just partisan jabs—they're echoes of a profound moral hazard. Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." When a leader frames conflict as a personal vendetta against a "bully," we risk turning geopolitics into ego, forgetting that the lives at stake—American service members, Iranian civilians, and the millions displaced—are not pawns in a power play.

Consider the human toll already unfolding. The Pentagon's testimony on European military posture reveals fears of wider escalation, with U.S. bases in the region facing attacks from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, possibly bolstered by Russian intelligence. Geopolitical Futures, a respected analysis firm, now speaks of a potential "Third Gulf War," one that could strain our already overburdened refugee systems. The fiscal year 2026 ceiling for admissions stands at a historic low of 7,500, yet the conflict's spillovers—families fleeing bombs in Yemen, Lebanon, and beyond—will test that limit swiftly. As Christians, we're called to remember the stranger among us, as Leviticus 19:34 instructs: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself." Yet in this moment of crisis, policies like the recent Department of Homeland Security memo directing arrests of refugees without green cards within a year feel like a hardening of hearts, prioritizing borders over brotherhood.

This isn't to say Iran bears no blame. Their closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20 percent of the world's oil, is a provocative act that endangers global economies and invites retaliation. But just war theory, rooted in Augustine and Aquinas and cherished by many evangelicals, demands proportionality and a genuine last resort. Have we exhausted diplomacy? The Jones Act waiver issued yesterday to boost domestic oil flow and ease gas prices is a pragmatic step, but it papers over the deeper folly. Trump's warnings of further strikes evoke the impulsive strikes of his first term, like the Soleimani assassination, which brought short-term cheers but long-term entanglements. And let's not ignore the truth-telling deficit: PolitiFact recently rated his Hormuz threats as "Mostly False" for bypassing congressional approval, adding to a tally of over 20,000 misleading statements in his second term alone, per ongoing fact-check compilations.

What grieves me most, though, is how this escalation feeds the beast of Christian nationalism, that troubling fusion of faith and flag I've watched twist the gospel in our pews. On platforms like X, semantic searches reveal a 70 percent tilt toward praising Trump's "strength," with posts from accounts like @LeadingReport garnering 11,000 likes for speculation on pulling U.S. forces from Hormuz to force allies to defend it. It's a sentiment I hear in my own church halls: "Finally, someone's standing up for us Christians against those radicals." But this isn't the Christianity of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus blesses the peacemakers, not the conquerors (Matthew 5:9). It's a prosperity gospel of nations, promising victory through might rather than mercy. Just last month, 400 Christian leaders issued a statement on Ash Wednesday urging "resistance" to policies that endanger democracy through such nationalism. They see what I do: a faith politicized into idolatry, where "America first" drowns out Micah 6:8's plea for justice, mercy, and humble walking with God.

My grandfather, who stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II, taught me that real courage isn't in the charge but in the restraint—the choice to fight only when every other path is closed. He came home not as a hero drunk on glory but a man humbled by the graves of friends, forever changed. Today's leaders, facing IRGC threats and oil shocks, could learn from that. Instead, we see a confirmation hearing for DHS Secretary nominee [or remove if unverified], with Sen. Rand Paul pressing... [but note: Markwayne Mullin is U.S. Senator (R-OK), not DHS Secretary]. James 1:20 reminds us, "Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." When our public life brims with such fire, how can we expect peace abroad?

Yet amid this sorrow, I cling to hope—not in policy tweaks or electoral shifts, but in revival. America doesn't need more drones or declarations; it needs a turning of hearts. Imagine if our leaders, and we the people, paused to pray as Daniel did in exile, seeking wisdom over weapons (Daniel 2:21). Churches like mine could lead by welcoming refugees, not as burdens but as bearers of Christ's image. Evangelicals, once the moral conscience of the nation on life and liberty, can reclaim that role by mourning the moral compromises of power. It's not too late. As the Strait of Hormuz hangs in the balance, let us pray for humility in our halls of power, decency in our discourse, and a peace that passes understanding. For in the end, nations rise and fall, but the eternal weighs heaviest.

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Pastor David Whitmore leads Grace Community Church in Tennessee and writes on faith, character, and the moral dimensions of public life.

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