“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls…, lest the Lord see it and be displeased…” (Proverbs 17:18). Day 7 of “Epic Fury.” The U.S. and Israeli military are battling the Iranian regime with utmost professionalism and are being blessed with amazing results. But the evil empire is fighting back—albeit in a most cowardly way, targeting civilians. And so, to see the daughters of our Lutheran pastor in Tel Aviv, Rev. Sahar Sadlovsky Gold, running toward an air raid shelter is heartbreaking (Rev. Sahar gave me permission to share this video). Last Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was killed in an air strike, along with some 40 other despots. This was the man who had allowed the slaughter of some 32,000 of his fellow citizens on the streets of Iran just six weeks ago. Not surprisingly, our church WhatsApp group exploded with dozens and dozens of messages from our Iranian Lutherans, stunned that the evil dictatorship strangling their land may be nearing it end. But the next day, thousands of Iranians—including some of our parishioners—gathered in downtown Hamburg to raucously celebrate Khomeini’s demise. We walk a fine line—sharing with them the excitement that the cruel regime in Tehran has been struck a severe blow, and praying that Iran could be one step closer to liberation. But we must also keep in mind that most of the enemy taken out, including these 40+ rulers, are most likely going to hell. We cannot *celebrate* that. After all, “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). And so, while we salute our brave militaries risking their lives so that the Iranian regime may never again attack Israel and the United States or threaten its neighbors, and while we pray for the liberation of the Iranian people (which may open up Iran to the Gospel!), let us resist the temptation to rejoice as our enemies fall. This displeases the Lord.
The Tiews in Germany 