There are few things more dangerous than careless words in the hands of powerful people.
In the United States, we long ago replaced the name “Department of War” with “Department of Defense” because we understood that war, in itself, is not the goal. Defense is sometimes necessary, even righteous. War is the failure of diplomacy, the failure of humanity to resolve its disputes without bloodshed.
Now, as some leaders call for changing the name back to the Department of War, we should recognize what is really at stake. Words are not cosmetic. Words shape hearts. Words shape policy. To glorify war by name is to glorify the mindset that conflict is inevitable, even desirable.
Christians cannot accept that mindset. Jesus did not bless those who sought dominance. He blessed the peacemakers. Our faith does not call us to be naïve; it permits the defense of the innocent. But it never celebrates violence as a good in itself. The name “Department of Defense” at least pointed us toward restraint and justice. Returning to “Department of War” tells the world that we embrace conflict as our posture.
The wounds of our world run deep already. We live in an age of drone strikes, forever wars, and entire regions hollowed out by conflict. To rename our central military institution in a way that valorizes war is to poke at those wounds. It signals that we are no longer ashamed of how easily we send others to fight and die.
Christians must reject that impulse. Our calling is not to stoke conflict but to deescalate it. We are meant to forgive, to admit past wrongs, to seek reconciliation. We defend what must be defended, but we never worship the machinery of war or let it become a source of profit and pride.
As disciples of the Prince of Peace, we are called to be different. In our time, that means challenging those who would use words to reshape our collective conscience toward greater violence. It means speaking up when leaders try to convince us that perpetual war is strength.
Changing the name back to the Department of War is not just a bureaucratic choice. It is a declaration of values. And as Christians, we must say clearly that it is the wrong declaration.
A Prayer for Peace
Lord Jesus,
You are the Prince of Peace,
the one who calmed the storm with a word,
who broke bread with enemies,
who healed the wounds of those who came with swords.
We come to you in a world that is restless and afraid.
We confess that too often we speak words that inflame
rather than words that heal.
Too often we allow anger, fear, and profit to guide our nations
instead of your mercy and wisdom.
Prince of Peace, teach us to be peacemakers.
Give us the courage to de-escalate conflict,
to forgive old wrongs,
to honor the dignity of every person you have made.
Soften the hearts of leaders and those who command armies.
Turn them from the path of war toward the hard work of reconciliation.
Help us remember that every enemy is still a neighbor
and that every battlefield is sacred ground,
because it holds the image of God in those who suffer there.
Grant us hope that your peace is not an illusion
but a promise already begun in your resurrection.
Strengthen us to live as witnesses to that promise
until the day when swords are beaten into plowshares
and all your children dwell in safety.
We ask this in your holy name,
Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
If this prayer spoke to your heart, I want to invite you to take the next step with me.
The work of proclaiming peace in a world addicted to conflict isn’t just about one prayer or one post. It’s about forming a community of people who believe that faith means de-escalating hatred, caring for the broken, and speaking truth to power. That’s what we’re building together through Message from the Margins.
By subscribing to the newsletter and supporting this ministry, you’re not just getting more prayers like this one. You’re joining a movement that:
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Challenges the idolatry of violence, power, and profit
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Offers spiritual grounding in anxious times
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Produces free resources like daily prayers, reflections, and tools for living as a peacemaker
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Keeps the focus on Christ’s words: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
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If you believe the Church should be a voice for peace and not for war, if you believe the words of Jesus can still transform the way we live in the world, I ask you to do two things:
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Share this post with someone who needs hope today.
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The world doesn’t need more war-mongers. It needs more witnesses to the Prince of Peace.