There are moments when silence becomes complicity.

This is one of those moments.

Recent public statements from President Donald Trump, posted on social media platforms, have crossed beyond political rhetoric into something far more dangerous. Threats that a “whole civilization will die tonight,” that people will be “living in Hell,” and that “all hell will rain down on them” are not merely words. They are declarations shaped by fear, fueled by ego, and untethered from the moral vision of the Gospel.

Let us be clear: this is not the way of Jesus.

Jesus does not threaten annihilation. Jesus does not revel in destruction. Jesus does not speak of entire peoples as expendable.

Instead, Jesus says: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9) Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. (Matthew 26:52)

The contrast could not be more stark. What we are witnessing is not strength. It is the ancient, familiar language of empire. It is Pharaoh hardening his heart. It is Nebuchadnezzar exalting his power. It is Caesar mistaking domination for peace.

Scripture has always warned us about leaders who choose this path: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)

When leaders trade humility for hubris, wisdom for rage, and diplomacy for threats, the consequences are not abstract…they are measured in human lives.

These statements also force us to confront uncomfortable but necessary truths…

First, they clarify that Donald Trump is not a Christian leader (regardless of the weak defense provided by Paula White-Cain…who is really just a grifter disguised as a pastor). Christianity is not defined by labels or political alliances, but by fruit (Matthew 7:16). The fruit here, threats of mass death, dehumanizing language, and reckless escalation does not resemble the Spirit of Christ.

Second, they expose the myth that the United States is inherently a “Christian nation.” A nation that blesses threats of devastation, that baptizes violence in the language of righteousness, and that confuses power with moral authority has lost its theological bearings. A press secretary wearing a cross necklace and a Secretary of the Department of War claiming God’s providence does not provide a Christian blanket of protection. Lies are still lies.

The Kingdom of God is not synonymous with any nation. Jesus made that clear: My kingdom is not from this world. (John 18:36)

We must also resist the temptation to soften our language. There is a time for nuance and there is a time for truth.

This is a time for truth.

When a leader speaks casually about the destruction of an entire civilization, that is not faithfulness. That is not strategy. That is evil.

When rhetoric escalates toward violence instead of seeking peace, that is not strength. That is moral failure.

And when such language is defended or excused by those claiming the name of Christ, the witness of the Church is compromised.

Even more troubling is the inversion of reality. When calls are made for “less radicalized minds” to prevail, we must ask plainly: who is acting with recklessness, hostility, and apocalyptic imagination? The radicalization on display is not coming from those calling for restraint. It is coming from the very voice issuing these threats.

To pastors, Christian leaders, bishops, and especially evangelical leaders: this is our moment. We cannot remain silent.

The Gospel we preach on Sunday must have something to say about the words spoken on Monday. If we claim allegiance to Jesus, then we must reject language and policies that contradict His way so clearly.

Silence in the face of this rhetoric is not neutrality. It is endorsement. Let us speak up. Loudly. Clearly. Courageously.

To members of Congress…Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike…this is also your responsibility. The Constitution does not grant unchecked power to any one individual, especially not in matters that could lead to catastrophic conflict. If rhetoric is escalating toward violence, it is your duty to intervene, to restrain, and to restore sanity to the process. Reasonable, level-headed leadership is not weakness. It is the last safeguard against disaster.

When allies begin to distance themselves, when the global community expresses concern, when the tone of leadership shifts from diplomacy to domination, these are warning signs. We ignore them at our peril.

The combination of figures like Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth shaping military posture and public rhetoric should give us pause. Not because disagreement is dangerous, but because recklessness is. This is about more than Iran. It is about the soul of a nation and the lives of countless people.

The prophet Joshua once stood before the people and said: Choose this day whom you will serve. (Joshua 24:15)

That question remains. Will we serve the gods of power, fear, and domination? Or will we follow the crucified Christ…the one who chose love over violence, mercy over vengeance, and sacrifice over supremacy?

Enough is enough. We cannot baptize cruelty. We cannot sanctify threats. We cannot pretend that this is normal.

If we are to be the Church, then we must be the Church…prophetic, courageous, and unafraid to speak truth to power.

Because when words become weapons, silence is not an option.