God: does He command us to destroy anyone?   With the recent tragic events in Manhattan, various claims have been made that the Islam religion instructs it's members to use assassination on those who oppose it. As a Christian Believer, I would say that this is wrong according to God's Word, the Bible. But there may be those who would counter that "Your Bible shows God commanding His followers to destroy people, even complete nations". Well, it is true that in the Old Testament in particular, God does issue this command several times.   Let us look at one example of this. In Joshua chapter 6 verse 21, we read:
  •  "And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword."

    • Now that was regarding the overthrow of Jericho by Joshua. However,   Since the coming of Jesus into the world, there has never been a command in the New Testament to Christian Believers to physically destroy anyone for the furtherance of the church. Now, that has been the case since about A.D. 1. Mohammed didn't start to dictate the Koran until after A.D. 630. Therefore, it is clear that God never intended His church to use physical violence in it's preaching. Read what happened, when once the disciples of Jesus asked if they could use supernatural aggression:

  • "And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Luke ch.9
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    In fact, in about A.D. 33, on the night that Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He clearly rebukes His disciple Peter for striking the servant of the high priest, and cutting off his ear:

  • "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."Matthew ch.26:52.  

    • The apostle Paul wrote, in about A.D. 60:

  • "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (physical, fleshly), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." 2 Corinthians ch.10
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    This shows that Jesus was not authorizing the use of physical violence of any sort.   In another part of the Bible, we read what might at first be thought of as actual instructions to take up "armour and arms":

  • "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

    Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

    Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

    And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

    Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" Ephesians ch.6

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    From the above, it is clear that Paul is using the picture of a soldier (of which there were many of Rome visible at that time) to illustrate the spiritual, non-physical items a Christian Believer should be prepared with. There is no mention of physical weapons of violence.  

    To be concluded