What does Jesus command Christians to do about fearing Iran and possible war?

hyperlinks and video live at source: http://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m11d25-What-does-Jesus-command-Christians-to-do-about-...

If your Thanksgiving plans include thanking God, for Christians and those holding policy leaders accountable to their Christian values, please consider the families in Iran and what Jesus commanded as the basis for our interactions.

Previously, I’ve documented the two principle fears some Americans espouse with Iran and threaten war to prove beyond doubt they are without basis in fact:

· Iran’s nuclear energy program is in compliance with international treaty, fully inspected with all evidence showing energy-use only, and all US intelligence agencies in agreement of zero evident threat of nuclear weapon production. The US is out of compliance by refusing to help Iran achieve nuclear energy and accept inspections to ensure safety.
· Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s statements toward Israel have been contrived by US political “leaders” from both parties and the corporate media as a threat when the text and context of the speech clearly and verifiably show only interest in an Israeli government that respects the rights of Palestinians. This means Americans are being lied to from their political leadership and media, just as we were lied to about Iraq. Please let that sink in.

Please verify these two facts to your satisfaction. I’ve also documented that the US overthrew Iran’s democracy from 1953 until 1979; denied by the US government until 2000, but now conservative and unchallenged history. The US aided Iraq’s invasion of Iran from 1980 to 1988, supplying chemical and biological weapons to kill Iranians defending their nation, and US military attacked and destroyed Iranian oil platforms and a commercial airliner. I've also written the facts in a story as if the US were in Iran's position.

But this article will focus on another angle of approaching Iran: with our hearts and souls. Let’s consider facts of what it means to be Christian, and how that applies to US relations with Iran. Some people cringe when the term “facts” and “faith” are brought together; determine for yourself the strength of my observations.

Most US political leaders claim to be Christian; indeed many claim it as the foundation of their lives, as President Obama does:

“I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life. But most importantly, I believe in the example that Jesus set by feeding the hungry and healing the sick and always prioritizing the least of these over the powerful…Accepting Jesus Christ in my life has been a powerful guide for my conduct and my values and my ideals.”

Jesus clearly explains Christians’ first priority: love. Jesus commanded (an authoritative requirement, not an optional practice), to love God with all one’s heart, soul and mind:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Is everyone our neighbor? Apparently:

“You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43)

Jesus’ teachings are quite clear. Let’s see if we can apply them to how we as a nation, the US should relate to Iran. If we do the ONE THING Jesus tells us to do, we are commanded to (synonyms: demanded, required by law, ordered, prohibited to do anything else, responsible for):
1.Love God with our heart (feelings) and mind (thoughts) to trust his management. When we trust in God with our souls, we have nothing to fear for there is no power over God. We can therefore, relinquish all fear of Iran and everything else.
2.Love Iranians as much as we love Jesus. This is with our heart (bonding with them), our minds (helping them, including with safe and inspected nuclear energy), and our souls (putting our faith and love in God and our neighbor above any fear).
3.After we’ve done the above two actions, and only after, if it turns out anyone acts as an enemy in violence, we are still required to love them. With an understanding of human fallibility, we intelligently design policy to manage risk and remove violent individuals from further harming society. But we treat everyone with inalienable rights from God and presume innocence.
Let’s contrast war with Jesus’ teachings.
1.Attacking Iran out of fear of what they might someday do violates love and trust in God. To love God is to surrender fear to God’s will. Attacking Iran is a statement that God cannot be trusted, we hate God’s management, and we arrogantly usurp God’s role to bring death and destruction.
2.Attacking Iran utterly fails our responsibility to love Iranians as we would love Jesus himself. Would we bomb Jesus because we fear him??? We would help him, not destroy his nation’s infrastructure, energy plants, and predictably murder at least a million civilians.
3.Loving Iranians with all our mind creates intelligent interactions with contingencies for threat. Attacking without regard to a loving basis of interaction with escalating responses is an insult to Jesus’ command. An attack on Iran is mindless, soulless, heartless hate; the polar opposite of Christian requirement for action.
Christians who claim faith should do all they can to act in good faith for love. Christians should also be mindful of consequences of their actions:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'” Matthew 25:34-45

Just as almost all Christians see their religion in the context of love, almost all Muslims see their religion as one of peace. Muslim scholars try to make this clear, as does President Bush and President Obama.

Our political “leaders” need to be held accountable under the US Constitution and US law. Men and women in our military, government, and law enforcement should take all legal acts in their authority to arrest and stop unlawful acts, which include orders to further illegal wars, current and/or planned. We should also hold people morally accountable to what they claim as their faith. If people say they are Christian, we can and should demand their actions be of love. If people say they respect Islam, they must do so.

I also argue that our most practical policy response to end current criminal and immoral acts is Truth and Reconciliation.

The below 36-second video is Pope John Paul II affirming the requirement of Christians loving our neighbors.