Jesus The Pacifist

There is a very bizarre tradition in Christianity. This tradition is that Jesus was a pacifist and that He came to bring peace. Many paintings and art pieces emphasize this belief by depicting Christ as a Lamb or holding an olive branch. In fact, it is quite difficult to find any artwork that depicts Jesus holding a sword. The only opportunity to find such an art piece is to look at The Last Judgment paintings. The belief that Jesus was a peace-loving hippy is a gross misinterpretation of the Messiah. Does Jesus come to bring salvation and peace to the souls of saints, yes. Is not our Lord called The Prince of Peace? Of course He is. However, Jesus is also the just judge and He encourages us to fight and not to be a footstall.

Take for instance this verse, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace, but rather a sword." (Matthew 10:3). In addition we have the verses when Christ took up a whip and drove the money changers out of the Temple and His commission to his disciples to buy swords,"if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." (Luke 22:36). Is Christ a war god? No, that is yet another misinterpretation. According to Scripture the Lord is both Merciful and Just. He has the power to deliver from sin and death, but also the power to destroy and condemn. The Lord is loving and full of abundant grace. But He is a just God who must punish the wicked.

Many believers are not comfortable with a Jesus who wields a sword. They want Him to seem more like Ghandi and use only words. The problem is that contemporary people have a 1960's view of peace. Peace requires warfare. In order to keep peace, do nations not arm soldiers, build tanks, commission aircraft, and use weapons? Peace survives at the edge of a sword, not separated from it. It is because of men at arms that a nation is safe and kept from being invaded. While I am not saying Jesus goes about brandishing a sword in every circumstance, we should not ignore this side of our Savior. For on the Great and Terrible Day of Judgment Christ shall come with iron, fire, and other weapons of warfare to destroy the wicked. (Revelation 14:20, Revelation 19:11).

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