Why I disagree with Pete Hegseth

Christians around the world have been horrified by America and Israel’s war against Iran. Yet at the centre of the US government, there seems to be a different so-called Christian narrative driving the conflict.

Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of Defence – or Secretary of War as he now calls himself – and in charge of the US military. He is also a Christian and a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, which supports a theocratic state ruled according to Old Testament laws.

He has spoken of the West being “Christian nations under God” and bears a tattoo with the words “Deus Vult” or “God Wills It”, which was the battle cry of the Crusaders in the Middle Ages, as they fought against Islam in the Middle East.

And last month he held a prayer service where he prayed against “the enemies of righteousness and our great nation”, and called for “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”.

I confess that I am massively puzzled by this… it feels twisted and unnerving.

Despite America’s distinct separation of church and state, it seems almost compulsory for US politicians to talk up their faith, or at least to use religious language in a way that is totally alien in British politics.

And although Donald Trump himself clearly cares mostly about winning and profits, he is surrounded by Evangelical Christians who believe that God has anointed him “for such a time as this”, to make America into a glorious and dominant Christian nation.

Now we might take a cursory glance at Pete Hegseth and think, isn’t it great that there is a Christian heading up the defence department, praying before making decisions and bringing a Biblical perspective to the governing of the country. I mean, we are in favour of Christian engagement in politics, aren’t we?

'Pretty idolatrous...'

But this vision for a Christian society really worries me for several reasons.

Firstly, God does not need us to bring in His kingdom. No human can bear this burden. We are all too sinful, too selfish, too easily lured into temptation. This role belongs to Jesus alone – He does not need our help, to assume that He does feels pretty idolatrous to me.

Secondly, the Old Testament does contain some really uncomfortable passages seeming to approve of violence and domination in bringing about the Biblical nation of Israel. But as 21st century Christians, we need to see the Old Testament through the lens of Christ, and we need to look at the whole sweep of the Biblical narrative to understand God’s character.

And at the heart of God’s character is love. We have recently celebrated Jesus’ resurrection – the ultimate revelation of God’s love for the whole human race. At the resurrection, Jesus launched God’s new creation, which will culminate in a new heaven and new earth. He does not ask us to go to war on His behalf, to defend our vision of a “Christian nation” or to hasten His return through our own efforts. Instead He calls us to work with Him to build for His kingdom, to act as His hands and feet in our communities and through our politics.

Thirdly, the Gospels show us how Jesus interacted with power. This bears little relationship to the domination theology of those around Donald Trump. Jesus modelled humble servant-leadership by washing His disciples’ feet. He demonstrated compassion as He healed the sick, fed the hungry and comforted the outcasts and the desperate. He tells us that the first shall be last and the last first. And through His arrest, torture and execution, He showed us strength in weakness and the ultimate act of self-sacrifice.

'Self-giving suffering for others'

In their book Jesus and the Powers, Tom Wright and Mike Bird say this: “If Jesus were an earthly king of this age, then there would be soldiers killing to bring about His kingdom, just as they do for every other earthly kingdom: victory through violence. Yet that’s not how Jesus’ kingdom will come. The kingdom will come rather through the imperial violence done to Him on the cross and through the anti-imperial, death-reversing, justice-loving power of resurrection... This is conquest, but by love. This is power, but in weakness. This is kingship, but in self-giving suffering for others.”

If Pete Hegseth is reading this, then please get in touch and tell us why we’ve got you wrong, but from where I’m sitting I really feel that much of your stated worldview comes from somewhere other than the Bible.

For the rest of us, let’s pray for wisdom and discernment among all Christians, especially those in power – that they might model, amplify and rejoice in the topsy-turvy nature of power and love in God’s kingdom where God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.

*Christian MPs and political figures contribute as believers not party politicians. en does not endorse any one particular party.