In a world saturated with violence, from global wars claiming over 240,000 lives in 2025 (including major conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Palestine, and Myanmar), to tens of thousands of murders and millions of assaults annually in the U.S., and staggering abortion numbers, this sermon confronts how Christians should respond biblically. Cole begins by affirming that God hates violence, especially against the innocent, because every person bears His image (Psalm 11:5; Proverbs 6:16-17). He explores key questions through Scripture: Governments may use violence to punish evil (Romans 13:1-4), but Christians must submit to authorities without rebellion (Romans 13; Titus 3), even under unjust rule, following Jesus’ example.
Vengeance belongs to God alone (Romans 12:17-21), so personal retaliation or vigilante justice is forbidden. Self-defense is permitted when life is genuinely threatened (Exodus 22:2-3; Luke 22:36), but not to protect mere property. Military service is not inherently sinful if conducted ethically and subordinating to Christ’s commands. Ultimately, Christians fight spiritual battles with good, peace, gentleness, and the gospel, not physical force, overcoming evil as light overcomes darkness (Ephesians 6:12).
God despises violence due to the sacred value of human life, yet permits limited, necessary force in specific contexts (government punishment, life-threatening self-defense), while calling believers to a radical ethic of peace, submission, and gospel-centered response to evil.
Main Talking Points
- Violence is everywhere in our fallen world
- Global wars killed at least 233,000 people in 2025 alone.
- In the U.S.: ~23,000 murders (2022 FBI data), millions of assaults, and over 600,000–1 million abortions annually (CDC & Guttmacher).
- Violence confronts us daily through news, crime, and conflict—Christians cannot ignore it.
- God hates violence—especially against the innocent
- Every human is created in God’s image → an attack on any person is an attack on God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27).
- Psalm 11:5 – “The Lord… hates the one who loves violence.”
- Proverbs 6:16-17 – God hates “hands that shed innocent blood.”
- Violence grieves God because He values every soul He created and redeemed.
- Governments have God-given authority to use violence justly
- Romans 13:1-4 – Rulers are God’s servants; they “bear the sword” to punish wrongdoers and protect the good.
- Old Testament capital punishment laws show God authorizes the state to execute justice (e.g., murder, serious crimes).
- We want criminals to fear consequences—society without enforced justice would be chaos.
- Christians must submit to governing authorities—even unjust ones
- Romans 13:1-2 & Titus 3:1-2 – Submit, obey, be gentle, avoid quarreling, speak no evil.
- Jesus submitted to an evil Roman government without resistance (Matthew 26:52 – “All who take the sword will perish by the sword”).
- No biblical warrant for Christians to rebel, revolt, or use violence against the government (even oppressive regimes like Nero’s Rome).
- Exception: We obey God rather than men when commands directly contradict God’s law (Acts 5:29; Daniel 3), but we still do not take up arms.
- Vengeance belongs to God alone—never take it into your own hands
- Romans 12:17-21 – “Never avenge yourselves… Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
- Overcome evil with good: feed your enemy, give drink, heap burning coals.
- Vigilante justice, revenge killings, or personal retribution (e.g., shooting abortion providers, killing assailants) are sinful.
- Taking vengeance steals from God what is rightfully His.
- Self-defense is biblically permitted when life is genuinely threatened
- Exodus 22:2-3 – No bloodguilt if a thief is killed at night (uncertain intent, darkness); bloodguilt if killed in daylight (clearly just theft, property ≠ life).
- Lethal force is justified to protect life (yours or family’s), not to protect possessions.
- A human life (image-bearer) is infinitely more valuable than any material thing.
- Jesus permitted carrying swords for protection from bandits (Luke 22:36), but not for use against government (Luke 22:49-51).
- Christians may serve in the military—but only ethically and under Christ’s lordship
- John the Baptist did not tell soldiers to quit, only to act justly (Luke 3:14).
- Cornelius the centurion became a Christian without being told to leave his post (Acts 10).
- The profession is not inherently sinful, but actions matter: no unjust killing, no targeting civilians, no following immoral orders.
- Christ’s commands always supersede country’s commands.
- Our ultimate battle is spiritual, not physical
- Ephesians 6:12 – “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against… spiritual forces of evil.”
- Weapons are not guns or swords, but goodness, love, truth, prayer, and the gospel.
- Christians fight violence by living peacefully, showing gentleness, preaching Christ, and trusting God’s justice.
- Application: A Christian posture toward violence
- Hate violence and grieve over it—never love or celebrate it.
- Pursue peace “so far as it depends on you” (Romans 12:18).
- Value every image-bearer, even enemies and wrongdoers.
- Trust God’s justice rather than taking matters into your own hands.
- Respond to evil with good, and leave ultimate vengeance to the Lord.