Now we note, that as the psalmist of David exhorts the people Israel, and thus to us as their descendants through Christ, he clearly stated “with a rod of iron.” This armed action continued until the occupants of the land, the people of the Philistines, were decimated. This is a judgmental God, this Yahweh! All nations stand in peril. Only Israel was gracefully chosen to reveal his holy will. Israel was thus established as a nation ruled by tribal judges. May we safely read from this that since that time “science” has added to spear, sword, and catapult. We now include my double-barreled scattergun, and thus I stand prepared to wage holy war with greater efficiency .
Apostolicity and Combative Discipleship?
However, we now turn to what our Lord Jesus tells us. It seems that the very Word lashes out against evil in this world as he says to his gathered people….
“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:30-38)
Now, while the argument is often made that this is strictly a spiritual battle, I differ with that assessment. It was certainly not thought as much by Herod, the Chief Priest, or Pontius Pilate. Therefore if we begin as pacifist, we as Christians are joined with the militant Messiah (The Anointed One) who comes to make war on evil, delivering us and others from the power of sin, death, and hell. In this he gives us a commandment to guide his people until he returns…
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man
