Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 1
Nathan says God has “condoned, if not ordered” force and war at times in the Bible, yet Christians are now called to love enemies and not take up arms; what does that contrast reveal about God’s character and purposes across the covenants, and how should it shape how Christians talk about God’s justice today?
Another way to ask: The Bible sometimes shows God allowing or even commanding war, but Jesus tells Christians to love enemies and not fight. What does this contrast show about God’s goals, and how should Christians talk about God’s justice today?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s teaching, the contrast shows that God may permit or even command force within certain biblical settings, yet Christ now calls His kingdom people to a different ethic—enemy-love and nonresistance. That should make Christians careful to distinguish between what governments may do and what Christ’s disciples are called to do when talking about justice.
- Nathan says, “This is not to say that God Himself is non-resistant,” and notes there are times “where force and war have been condoned, if not ordered, in the Bible.”
- He immediately contrasts that with the present calling: “But we now have been called to love our neighbors and love our enemies.”
- He frames this as a kingdom identity issue: “as believers in Christ… we are not to take up arms.”
- He adds that “the Bible does give governments… leeway to carry out social justice and retribution,” but “that is not our calling as people in Christ’s kingdom.”
- Later he grounds the disciple-ethic in “turn the other cheek” and “the Sermon on the Mount basically.”