A Statement from The Riverside Church on War

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” —Matthew 5:9

At this grave moment in the life of the world, we speak always as followers of Jesus Christ. We are mindful that whenever nations turn to violence, it is never simply borders that are crossed, but bodies that are broken, families that are displaced, and the image of God that is desecrated.

The Riverside Church in the City of New York came to exist out of the conviction that faith is never silent in the face of suffering. Our history bears witness to a gospel that refuses to separate love of God from love of neighbor. We remember that our historic and history making sanctuary has long echoed with calls to conscience—calls rooted not in fear or nationalism, but in the fierce, redemptive love revealed in Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we confess that war contradicts the way of Christ. Jesus does not bless domination, preemptive violence, or the pursuit of security at the expense of the vulnerable. Rather, he blesses the poor in spirit, the merciful, and the peacemakers. He commands us to love our enemies, to pray for those we fear, and to refuse the lie that violence can secure a just and lasting peace.

We grieve every life taken and every life now living under the shadow of terror, especially the lives of children, elders, and all who had no voice in the decisions made over them. We lament the suffering of civilians, the trauma of communities, and the ripple effects of violence that spread far beyond any battlefield. Our grief is not abstract; it is rooted in our belief that every human being is God’s beloved.

In this hour, with the full-throated cries of our spirit, we reject the numbing language that makes war seem righteous or just. We resist the temptation to cloak destruction in moral certainty. Instead, we affirm that our Christian faith demands moral clarity: that human life is sacred, that truth matters, that the arc of God’s justice bends toward reconciliation, not annihilation.

To be the church is not to align ourselves with the powers of this world, but to stand under the power of Christ. Our allegiance is not to empire or ideology, but to the crucified and risen One who chose self-giving love over coercive power, even unto death. Jesus’ cross exposes the violence of the world and reveals a different way: the way of love and hope.

Therefore, we call our community and all people to hold their elected officials accountable for the actions they take, to pray boldly for peace rooted in justice, and to call on courage in the face of fear. We call our community and all people to solidarity with all who suffer dehumanization in every form. And we call ourselves and all people to the hard work of peace and life-giving alternatives to war.

This is who we are. We are disciples of Jesus Christ, who is our peace.

May we all remember that our calling is not to win battles, but to embody the reign of God, where swords are beaten into plowshares, where justice rolls down like waters, and where love has the last word.

Rev. Adriene Thorne
Senior Minister
The Riverside Church in the City of New York