Knowing Faith Does God Endorse Violence?
Apr 2, 2026
A theological conversation about whether God’s actions in Scripture count as violence and how to define violence biblically. They trace passages from Psalms, Genesis, Joshua, and Romans to map judgment, restraint, and force. They weigh just war ideas against pacifist critiques and stress motives, communal authority, and wisdom when violence is considered.
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God's Restraint Versus Wicked Violence
- The Bible distinguishes between morally wicked violence and God's restraining orjudicial action against evil.
- Jen and Kyle explain Genesis 6, Psalm 11:5, and Joshua as examples where God's opposition to pride results in corrective, not arbitrary, violence.
Imprecatory Prayers Reflect Judicial Wrath
- Scripture includes imprecatory prayers and depictions of God's harsh judgment that look violent but serve judicial ends.
- Kyle cites Psalms 58 and 3 and Isaiah 53 to show prayerful calls for God to shatter or smite the wicked as part of divine judgment.
Don't Apply Old Testament Warfare Literally Today
- Do not assume Old Testament violent commands directly prescribe New Testament church behavior; treat them with theological nuance.
- The hosts agree New Testament examples do not commission the church to enact holy war, though just war can be imaginable in context.
