March 1, 2003, Vol.3, No.5.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "What
about the history of violence
done in the name of Jesus?" (see
below)
and "How do I persuade
my parents
to become Christians"
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS:
What about the history
of violence
done in the name of Jesus?
by Tom Rainwater
 QUESTION:
If Jesus taught peace, how do you account for all of the violence,
war and atrocities committed in the name of Jesus throughout
history and today? And why are you criticizing the Moslems when
Christianity promoted violence? Check your history books. And
didn't Jesus say to "Judge not"? When you criticize
are you not judging? Jesus said in Luke,"Love your enemies."
How can you love your enemies and kill them at the same time?
ANSWER: Hi! Thanks for
your questions.
There are a lot of evil people who do terrible things in the
name of Christianity, as you pointed out. That doesn't mean it
is Christ's fault. Nor does it mean that true followers of Jesus
promote such evil. Anyone murdering someone else is obviously
not a true Christian. Murder is a sin of the ungodly (Romans
1:29; 1 Timothy 1:9). If a murderer will not repent of his sin,
he will go to Hell.
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have
their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which
is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
You are right in saying that you cannot love your enemies
and then kill them at the same time. People who believe they
can kill in the name of Jesus show they do not know anything
about what Jesus actually taught. Consider these passages:
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be
the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain
on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:44-45, KJV)
"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend,
hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and
ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto
the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as
your Father also is merciful." (Luke 6:35-36, KJV)
Jesus promoted love and peace in His teaching and by His example.
He is truly the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
However, Muhammad promoted violence on many occasions. In
fact, I am corresponding with a Muslim now who claims that physical
violence, in the form of jihad, is justified under certain conditions.
Muhammad practiced it, included it in the Koran, and we are simply
pointing that out on the web site. (See a
previous article on Islam and violence.)
When Jesus said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged,"
(Matthew 7:1-5), he is referring to hypocritical judgment. (See
an earlier article on this passage here.)
If I promoted killing people in the name of Christ (or defended
those in history who did so) and then condemned the Muslims for
the same thing, then that passage would indeed apply to me. However,
I do not promote violence in any form. I believe what Jesus said
about "turning the other cheek."
"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But
whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him
also." (Matthew 5:39)
In fact, Jesus did exactly that on the cross. He showed great
love for His enemies by praying for them and dying on the cross
so their sins could be forgiven.
"...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do.." (Luke 23:34)
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet
perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8)
I'm concerned about my Muslim friends. I want them to see
that following Muhammad and the Koran will not get them to heaven.
They must see the truth that Jesus is "the way, the truth,
and the life." (John 14:6). And, as Jesus said, "no
man comes to the Father but by Me." It is out of love that
I point this out to them. I do not want them or anyone else to
be lost.
If I can be of further assistance to you, please let me know.
Thanks for writing!
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