Question 1

Does God really condone the violence seen in the Old Testament?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 4:1-12Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”The first example in the Bible of the outworking of sin is the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. In the story, God intervenes with Cain to warn him about the danger of anger and offers him an alternative to violence. When anger and jealousy provoke violence, the results simply increase evil and the influence of sin in the world.Genesis 6:11-13Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!”God’s disapproval of violence is seen when he sent the great Flood to judge and expunge the overwhelming violence of humanity.Psalm 11:5The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.God sets himself against those who pursue and take pleasure in violence.Exodus 21:12Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death.Violence in relationships is abuse and must be stopped immediately. Attacking someone, whether out of anger or revenge, creates fear, animosity, injury, and hatred in the victim. That is why it is so detestable to God—nothing good can come out of violence in a relationship. Those who willfully cause the death of another, in God’s view, have forfeited their right to continue living, and society is charged with enforcing this.

Question 2

What does the New Testament teach about violence?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 26:49-54So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. . . . Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.”James 1:20Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.A life of violence brings its own destruction and does not make progress in a God-honoring direction. The use of violence is a step back.Matthew 5:38-39“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. “If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too.”According to Jesus, violence as an immediate personal response to injury or offense is to be replaced by a willingness to love even your enemies. Retaliation and revenge only encourage cycles of violence.Romans 12:14-21Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.Instead of plotting revenge, you are to be proactive in creating peace.1 Timothy 3:1-5This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.” So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?An important trait for godly leaders at home, in the church, and in public is showing a resistance to choosing violent solutions.

Question 3

What causes violence?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 37:3-4, 18, 20Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. . . . When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, . . . they made plans to kill him. . . . “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”Envy, anger, and resentment, if left unresolved, spreads like wildfire and leads to actions of violence and even murder.Mark 7:20-23Then he [Jesus] added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”The human capacity for violence is an aspect of our fallen nature.

Question 4

Is violence always wrong?

Accepted Answer

Judges 9:5, 23-24, 56-57He [Abimelech] went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid. . . . God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted. God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers. . . . In this way, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers. God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gideon was fulfilled.Matthew 26:52“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.”Violence is the use of force to possess or destroy something or someone, whether it is one nation taking land from another, a thief robbing someone’s home, a murderer ending someone’s life, or an abusive spouse trying to destroy their mate’s self-esteem. The Bible is clear that violence for personal pleasure or gain ends in self-destruction and will be judged by God. But in rare cases, as is sometimes shown in the Old Testament, violence is necessary to combat or defeat evil and defend good. In such cases, violence ultimately becomes an expression of love and justice.Romans 8:13For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.Ephesians 6:10-12A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.Colossians 3:5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.Resistance to sin in our lives at times requires a level of violent response.

Question 5

How can I overcome my fears and deal with the violent world I live in?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 10:26-39“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”Overcoming natural fear in this world begins with a proper understanding of God. Jesus (and the rest of Scripture) use the phrase “fear of God” in a positive light. If we see the greatness, holiness, and power of God clearly, all other possible threats will seem insignificant to us. The world is not a safe place, but we can find our ultimate safety in God who offers the promise of eternal life even when this temporal life, which is bound to end at some point, is being threatened.