Evangelical Leaders Show Support, Concern For War

Despite dwindling public support for the War in Iraq, a majority of evangelical Christian leaders believe U.S. troops should stay in Iraq “until the job is done,” a recent survey says.

The Associated Press reports that the National Association of Evangelicals surveyed leaders of 60 denominations, as well as heads of universities, mission groups and publishers. Though the majority wants the military to continue with the effort, a sizable group expressed reservations.

Leith Anderson, a Minnesota pastor and president of the NAE, told reporters, “Most evangelicals in America subscribe to the theological position called 'just war' theory, that it is morally justifiable to go to war under certain conditions. However, there is also a strong evangelical voice in the 'peace church' tradition that opposes all war.”

Though seeing through the operation may be the popular opinion, most also believe that the U.S. entered the conflict based on “faulty intelligence.” One unidentified denominational leader answered, “We should not have gone in. But we are going to need to stay in long enough to prevent chaos and to stabilize the country.”