Assyrian Christians Between Empires: A Biblical Reflection on the Crisis in Iran
Assyrian Christians Between Empires: A Biblical Reflection on the Crisis in Iran By Joel Badal, PhD, 2026 On February 28, 2026, military strikes against Iran marked another serious escalation in the Middle East. Governments debate strategy. Analysts discuss deterrence. Political voices argue legality and authority. A person at church asked for my thoughts, and I shared some reflections. But then I thought about it some more after church and pulled some of my history books on the Assyrian plight, once again reminded of God’s faithfulness. For Assyrian Christians, and for families like mine whose roots trace to Iran and Iraq, this is not simply international news. It is personal. A Personal Story. Recently, my dad gave us a booklet about his father, Yonan, and some stories of my grandmother Nanajan. Their family and relatives are experiencing upheaval and flight into safety from accusers in the land. It’s a wonderful booklet of stories, memories from the past of difficu...