Red Letter Christians Reflect on the Vienna Agreement Negotiated by John Kerry
July 24, 2015Red Letter Christians Reflect on the Vienna Agreement Negotiated by John Kerry
By Tony Campolo
President Obama negotiated a deal with leaders of Iran in the hopes of curtailing for a decade their development of an atomic bomb. It is by no means a perfect agreement. It is important to note that this agreement curtails, during a ten year period, the development of enriched uranium, requires the destruction of most of centrifuges (essential for the creating of nuclear weapons), and, with some limitations, the inspection of sites where atomic research could be conducted.
The prime minister of Israel was outraged over the agreement, and his extensive influence over the U.S. Congress has generated significant opposition to these proposals on Capitol Hill. Don’t think the prime minister is unreasonable. If you were in Benjamin Netanyahu’s shoes, you probably would react the same way. He, along with the rest of the world, has watched on television as tens of thousands of Iranians gather in front of their Iranian parliament building and chant for hours, “Death to Israel!” There is further upset when the key religious leaders of Iran declare that they will settle for nothing less than the annihilation of Jews from the Holy Land.
Iran’s benefit from the deal that was negotiated by Secretary of State John Kerry, on the one hand, is the lifting of the embargo that has crippled the Iranian economy and brought hardships to the poor of Iran. The Israelis, on the other hand, worry that when that economic embargo is lifted that Iran will be able to sell once again its vast oil reserves to amass significant financial resources which can be used to buy conventional weapons. And while there is a supposed eight-year embargo on purchasing arms, there are few who doubt that the Iranians soon would use these financial resources to purchase conventional weapons from Russia. If you can imagine living in Israel, that prospect would make you more than a little nervous. The Jewish people are asking if such weapons would be used to further equip Hezbollah and Hamas, whose soldiers are constantly threatening Israel at Israel’s borders.
The question that we have to answer is how we should react to this negotiated agreement. When we read in our Bibles those words of Jesus which are highlighted with red letters we ask ourselves, how literally are we to take them? All of us know that He called us to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9), and, more specifically, that He called upon us to do all that is possible to evade war through negotiations (Luke 14:31-32). On the other hand, Jesus warned us that when we enter into negotiations with those who have declared themselves to be our enemies, we are to be very careful. He said: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” There is little doubt that in those talks that were conducted in Vienna, John Kerry did his best to represent America as a nation seeking peace (i.e. doves), but the question that Israel is now asking is whether or not Secretary Kerry was as wise as serpents.
Secretary Kerry may not have come away from Vienna with the best agreement possible, nor did he come away with absolute assurances that the Iranians would fulfill their obligations. He did, however, make it clear that if Iran endeavors to subvert any part of this agreement that the former sanctions, with all their devastating economic effects, would “snap back” into place. That seems to me to be a wise amendment to the agreement.
The alternative to this agreement which hopefully would stop their atomic development plans would be to bomb Iran’s research facilities. This likely would result in another war, and most of us are of the opinion that war is not the answer.
Is the Bible unrealistic when it teaches us: “If thine enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirst give him to drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:20-21).” Shouldn’t we as Red Letter Christians try Biblical ways to deal with Iran to be implemented? Could helping the poor and hungry citizens of Iran to overcome their privations thaw their hard feelings towards us and Israel? Could doing things the Jesus way change everything?
Secretary Kerry didn’t get out of his negotiations with the Iranians everything he wanted for the U.S. and for Israel, but he did get a lot. Shouldn’t we support him and give this Vienna agreement a chance?
There is much to fear when dealing with the Iranians, but let us ask God for the grace to love our enemies, realizing that perfect love casteth out fear (1 John 4:18). That would give us the capacity to negotiate without fear, whether it be in Vienna with the Iranians, or wherever God may lead us.
