Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense (or the Secretary of WAR as he likes to be called) prayed this at this month’s Pentagon prayer meeting about our war with Iran: “Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy… Let justice be executed swiftly and without remorse, that evil may be driven back, and wicked souls delivered to the eternal damnation prepared for them.”
Is there anything in that “prayer” that seems just a tad bit not in keeping with the New Testament and the heart of Jesus to you?
Let me rephrase.
Can you hear Jesus praying that way?
Let me remind.
Think of his prayers preserved for us in the Gospels. The one that begins with “Our Father,” continues with “as we forgive those who trespass against us,” and lands with “deliver us from the evil (one),” which some think is Satan, not another nation state. Then there’s the one Jesus prayed while bleeding to death on a Roman cross, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Let me be specific.
“Overwhelming violence”?
“Those who deserve no mercy”? Isn’t that nature of mercy that no one deserves it?
“Without remorse”? I’ve never been to war or killed anyone, but I can’t imagine having no remorse.
And “wicked souls delivered to the eternal damnation prepared for them”? I’ve said many prayers for people with whom I have serious issues, but never this! Is this our place to pray for eternal damnation?
Pete, I mean no disrespect, but do your best to square your prayers with Jesus, especially those you pray in front of the world.
PS The next Pentagon prayer you borrowed from Pulp Fiction… I hate to judge, but not really much better than the other one. Maybe consult Jesus beforehand.
barney wiget 