The nature of violence regarding God's Kingdom

"The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force."

"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it."


"There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God."


"Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" "He said to them, Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then in reply he will say to you, 'I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!'"


I have recently begun to understand the certainty of violence required of God's people. This violence is not one of physical force, or anything of that sort, rather it is a violence of faith. Justification is the outcome of our faith (Romans 6:17-18) and as Christians, our purpose is to be justified in the sight of God (the very reason we live). After studying the Scriptures and reading works by those who knew God and His Word, the Christian will come to the conclusion that it is absolutely necessary we must set our faces like flint to be justified in the sight of God. This is done by God's grace and that grace affords us faith to live a life pleasing to God. Violence is the duration of our faith; it is what makes us able to overcome opposition on the Road to Life in this world (1 John 5:4-5). In this duration of our faith, all of God's blessings and promises are preserved for us (Col 1:21-23). I am not ruling out sin because we all sin, but I am saying that through faith, we come to a consistent pattern of living that is pleasing to God. If we say we have no sin, God's truth does not remain in us (1 John 1:8) and we also deceive ourselves into believing that Jesus' offices of High Priest and Mediator are non existent.

I have been reading through The Pilgrims Progress, and I recall an instance where Christian has come to Mr. Interpreter's house. Mr. Interpreter has already shown Christian some very important things concerning the nature of Christianity, but the one instance where Christian and Mr. Interpreter go and view a palace. Outside of the palace many men stand who would enter it but dare not because of the many guardsmen intent on keeping people out. Also, Christian saw a doorway; a little distance from that doorway stood a table, book, pen, and a man who served to take down the names of those who would enter the palace. Suddenly a man of valiance comes and tells the man to put down his name. Immediately after, he attacks those people who are guarding the palace, and cutting his way through them, he presses into the palace where he hears a voice calling to him, Come in, come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win.

Faith to set upon the Kingdom of Heaven though we are opposed by many forms of evil is what God requires of us and will strengthen us to do because of the blessing of His grace given to us. Violence is to walk the narrow and hard way of this life which God has chosen for His people and to do harm to any opposition that we may meet along the way to the Kingdom. I write this in full knowledge of the lack of violence in my own life, but I can only write down what I know is necessary for the follower of Jesus Christ. God will strengthen us in His will if we accept it wholly without comprimise.

On a final note, I would like to point out the solemn fact that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are colored by the theme of violence in people's faith, or lack of. The sermons on the Mount and Plain display a life that can only be lived if a person determines to live entirely for the will of God. Yes there will be failures and sin, but through the strength provided by the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, this can become the consistant pattern of our lives. Praise God for this!

"Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith -to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. "