What Does the Bible Say About Religious Extremism?

Mel Lawrenz
August 8, 2014
What Does the Bible Say About Religious Extremism?
Mel Lawrenz
Minister at large for Elmbrook Church, and director of The Brook Network.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.” — Matthew 11:12

In recent months the world has been shocked to hear about religious extremists in northern Iraq slaughtering Christians or people of other religions unless they convert. Tens of thousands have fled, some to the mountains.

It’s not the first time extreme violence has been used in the name of religion. In Jesus’ day the Romans and King Herod used force in the name of the state or of religion. An underground Jewish group known as the Zealots carried out attacks against political targets. John the Baptist was imprisoned in an attempt to suppress the small movement resulting from his prophetic words.

When Jesus made the unusual comment: “the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it,” he was saying that the way of the kingdom of God, the way that God actually reigns in the world with the coming of Jesus, is powerful, but not a matter of coercion, manipulation, or violence. God’s reign is all about goodness, liberty, reverence, and respect. God’s role as king in our lives is fatherly protection and provision.

Many groups using violence in the name of God have come and gone. There have been cults and crusades, tyrants and terrorists, who have coerced people for what they claimed was a divine purpose.

Followers of Jesus must understand violence as a way of forcing people into religious compliance as a violation of everything God stands for. And, at a simpler level, followers of Jesus must recognize any tendency in their own hearts to use manipulation or coercion for the cause of Christ. It never works. It always damages people. It corrupts the message of Jesus.

By Mel Lawrenz, Director of The Brook Network and creator of The Influence Project.

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Poetry and Praise #7

O fathomless mercy, O infinite grace

In humble thanksgiving the road I re-

  trace

Thou never hast failed me, my Strength

  and my Stay;

To whom should I turn for the rest of

  the way?

Through danger, through darkness, by

  day and by night

Thou ever has guided and guided

  aright

I have trusted in Thee and peacefully

  lay

My hand in Thy hand for the rest of the

  way.

Thy cross all my refuge, Thy blood all

  my plea

None other I need, blessed Jesus, but

  Thee

I fear not the shadows at the close of

  life's day

For Thou wilt go with me the rest of

  the way.

   —Laura Kern Sawyier

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The rest of the way he hath said, i will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. hebrews 13:5b o fathomless mercy, of infinite grace in humble thanksgiving the road i re- trace thou never hast failed me, my strength and my stay; to whom should i turn for the rest of the way? through danger, through darkness, by day and by night thou ever has guided and guided aright i have trusted in thee and peacefully lay my hand in thy hand for the rest of the way. thy cross all my refuge, thy blood all my plea none other i need, blessed jesus, but thee i fear not the shadows at the close of life's day for thou wilt go with me the rest of the way. —laura kern sawyier for this god is our god for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. psalm 48:14