But there is no peace. For all the candle burning, marches, prayer vigils, etc. war happened. The rhetoric of the church seems to have had little effect on either the nation politic or the national polls. A war machine unlike any seen before rolled outnumbered and unchecked to the heart of a country the size of California, full of weaponry both conventional and otherwise. Many people died, some of them innocent, not to mention the destruction of property.Was prayer in vain? Were all those candles so much wax? Why didn’t a march from here to there convince the nation that war was wrong? Where was the miracle of peace? Was God deaf or impotent? Should the church just take solace in knowing that standing up for peace was heroic, even if God didn’t act?

Or, can the church consider the unacceptable and ominous alternative that God did act? Could it be that the primitive and politically incorrect notion of the “God mighty in battle” more accurately describes the most recent events? Could it be that the unequivocal requirement that God intervene against war be a form of idolatry; an attempt to create a God who must agree with us in order to remain God? Prayer is a tricky business if one’s expectations define the limits of faith. Can those who shout peace at any price be still long enough to hear a voice that says “No!”?

Christians who take exception to the forceful imprecations of church leaders hear the clear message that their own faith is flawed. Hence, few articles have been written or published from the loyal opposition to the peace movement. After all, if God is unequivocally for peace, how can a Christian countenance war? It’s that idolatry thing again on a lesser scale: if we can define God, we can also define the godly.

It may be, however, that ours are not the only prayers heard. Could the God who heard the cries of the Hebrews in Egypt have turned a deaf ear to the people of Iraq? Wasn’t the book of Jonah written to demonstrate that God cared for the ancestors of these people… and their cattle? Could it be that a conflict so brief and overwhelming by a force outnumbered has been seen before in the story of Gideon? Just how long must the God of justice wait before acting? Must God also wait for a U.N. resolution?

I believe God heard all our prayers, and acted divinely. There is much to be said for a people whose national character was formed in a Judeo-Christian heritage. We don’t like war but are realistic enough to know that it may be forced upon us. Therefore, our goal is to end the threat quickly and make peace with our enemies. We do not like wanton destruction, so we devise our weapons to be accurate enough to destroy the target and as little else as possible. We value the lives of our soldiers and train them to work skillfully, not suicidally. We protect our captives and provide them far more consideration than we expect from our enemies. We try to bring order to conquered territories as soon as possible and help the local population to take control of their lives. We have not plundered the land, nor will we. We also insist that our allies behave the same way. Apparently the means to an end are at least as important as the end we seek. Can anyone see an answer to prayer in this?

For the pacifists, this war has been shorter than the best military planners could have dreamed. That doesn’t mean that it has not been horrible, nor that innocent people haven’t been killed. But it does mean that the Coalition has not committed wanton destruction, nor will it continue the conflict needlessly. Consider that God heard your prayer and may have acted.

For Christians who in good conscience support this war, the church needs to recognize that your motives were not for destruction, but for a just and lasting peace. In a perfect world, love would prevail. However, as long as there is sin, peace also relies on the threat of war and the relentless pursuit of justice. History has shown that war and justice are not mutually exclusive. Were it not so, God would have no need of Hell.

For the people of Iraq, Christians of both convictions wish you well and mourn your loss. God has heard your prayers. Soon you will see an outpouring of love and resources, especially from people with a Christian heritage. Our prayers are that it shall be delivered in a way that respects your faith and heritage while enabling you to see and understand our faith and heritage. After all, when we fervently prayed for one of our soldiers held captive, God sent an Iraqi to set her free. Perhaps there is more room in God’s house than Christians or Muslims are willing to admit. If we can find the doors instead of the walls, there will be peace.