We’re arguably in the middle of another endless war, this time with Iran, and it’s not just blowing up the Middle East but also dividing America. You’ve got Protestants and Catholics staring daggers at each other, lobbing incendiary tweets, and pointing fingers over Israel and this so-called “conflict.”

And who’s to blame? The same warmongers in Washington and the media who love nothing more than dragging us into someone else’s fight. But let’s break it down, because this isn’t about theology. It’s about power, prophecy, and a whole heap of bad foreign policy.

First off, remember how we got here. Back in February, the U.S. and Israel launch these “precision strikes” on Iran, and suddenly we’re in a full-blown war. The media cheers it on like it’s the Super Bowl. “Defending democracy!” they say. “Stopping nuclear threats!” Sure. But what’s really happening? Thousands dead, refugees pouring out, and the whole region on fire. And now, as the bombs keep falling, Christians in America are picking sides and it’s getting ugly.

Protestants, a lot of them, see this war as straight out of the Bible. End times stuff. Israel is God’s chosen land, Iran is the bad guy from Ezekiel or Revelation. Gog and Magog. Armageddon on the horizon. They’re getting their eschaton on. Not because they want blood, but because they think this is the prelude to Jesus coming back. Pastors on TV, books like “Left Behind” still selling. It’s all tied to this idea that supporting Israel means speeding up the rapture. And who can blame them? For decades, they’ve been told that standing with Israel is standing with God. So when the bombs drop on Tehran, some see it as prophecy fulfilled. “Finally,” they say, “the pieces are falling into place.”

But then you’ve got the Catholics. Many are singing a different hymn. The bishops are out there condemning this war left and right. “Unjust,” they call it. “Fails the just war test.” Saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas laid out the rules: War only as a last resort, proportional response, protect innocents. Well, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, this mess with Iran doesn’t check any of those boxes. It’s aggressive, it’s escalatory, and it’s killing civilians in places like Lebanon and Iraq. The Vatican? Calling for peace and dialogue from day one.

Now we’ve got politicians like Senator Ted Cruz tweeting out articles that compares traditional Catholics to “parasites.” Why? because many don’t see Israel as the “chosen people” any more. Catholic teaching has long said that the Catholic Church is the inheritor of the New Covenant.

So it’s certainly causing Christians to look at each other dubiously. Pastor Doug Wilson was quoted recently saying that in his vision of America, Catholic Eucharistic processions would be illegal because it’s idolatry. Yeah, because the fire needed more flames, right?

The war is gonna’ war. It’s happening now. I don’t like it.

But us Christians here at home? We should have this out. I’m all for an argument. I think the more we talk, the better it is for the Catholic Church. We have a lot in common with Protestants but there are also great divides. We shouldn’t ignore them. Let’s have it out. Discuss it. What are your thoughts on Israel? Do you care if a red heifer is born? Hey, did you know the Bible is a product of the Catholic Church? Hey, did you know that not that long ago we were all against contraception?

Because if we don’t talk, this “holy tension” will only get worse and the only winners will be those who want division and violence.