Why Did God Command Killing in the Old Testament—and Why Is It Not for Christians Today? The Old Testament records moments when God commanded Israel to kill: the conquest of Canaan (Deuteronomy 20:16–18), the destruction of idolatrous nations (1 Samuel 15:3), and capital punishments within Israel’s law. Many readers struggle with these texts, especially when Jesus teaches “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44 NASB).

Can Christians Commit Acts of Violence? "Don’t think I came to bring peace to the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."— Matthew 10:34 This verse has often been misinterpreted to imply divine sanction for violence in the name of Christ. However, a closer textual, contextual, and theological analysis reveals the opposite. The intent behind this statement is not martial aggression, but the inevitable division that arises from uncompromising allegiance to Christ an