Violence Is Not Inherently Evil — And God Does Not Condemn It

Introduction: Reclaiming the Truth About Violence

We live in a culture where the word “violence” has been surgically separated from its moral context and shoved into the “always evil” category. This is not an accident. Modern secularism — armed with a distorted sense of morality — has tried to convince generations of Americans that all violence, under all circumstances, is not just wrong but the antithesis of righteousness. This is a lie.

Violence is a tool. It is neither inherently good nor inherently evil. Its morality is entirely dependent on context, purpose, and intent. Scripture does not categorically condemn violence. In fact, throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God Himself employs violence for righteous ends, commands His people to fight, and explicitly blesses those who defend the innocent with force when necessary.

This truth matters not just for theological precision, but for the survival of Western civilization. A society that condemns violence in all forms will inevitably surrender to evil men who do not play by such rules. Let’s break this down, biblically, historically, and philosophically.

Violence in Scripture: A Biblical Reality Check

If your theology says "violence is always wrong," then your theology does not come from the Bible — it comes from weak men desperate to be liked by the world.

1. God's Own Violent Actions

From the flood in Genesis 6 to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, God Himself uses violence as judgment against evil. His justice is not soft-handed sentimentality. It is swift, decisive, and, yes, violent.

"The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name." (Exodus 15:3)

This verse alone obliterates the modern notion of God as a passive, pacifist sky-grandfather. The Bible repeatedly describes God as a warrior who wages war against the wicked.

2. God Commands His People to Fight

The conquest of Canaan was a divinely mandated military campaign. Israel was explicitly commanded to take up the sword in obedience to God’s justice.

"Cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed." (Jeremiah 48:10)

The sword itself is not cursed — cowardice in the face of evil is. When justice requires force, withholding violence is not virtuous. It is sin.

3. Self-Defense is Blessed, Not Condemned

In Exodus 22, God gives clear legal and moral sanction for the use of force to protect home and family:

"If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him." (Exodus 22:2)

This is not a neutral comment — it’s moral approval. God recognizes the right of the individual to meet force with force. Defense of life, family, and property is righteous.

4. Jesus and the Sword

The modern pacifist loves to twist the Sermon on the Mount into a blank check for cowardice. They conveniently ignore the full teaching of Christ, who told His disciples:

“Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” (Luke 22:36)

This was not symbolic. Jesus prepared His followers for real-world dangers in a violent world. Self-defense is not only permitted, but prudence demands it.

Violence vs. Murder — Know the Difference

One of the most common errors made by Christians with soft spines and soft theology is the conflation of violence and murder. This is biblically illiterate.

The commandment says, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) This is a prohibition against unjust killing — the intentional, unlawful taking of innocent life.

It is not a blanket ban on all violence. Otherwise, every soldier, every law enforcement officer, and every father who defends his home would be condemned as a murderer. That is absurd, and it is not biblical.

Why This Matters for Civilization

This discussion is not an academic exercise. It has direct implications for whether or not your children and grandchildren will live in a free and just society.

Pacifism is a luxury belief — the kind of idea that only survives when good men with guns stand guard to protect it. And here’s the cold reality: evil men exist. They are not impressed by your virtue signaling. They are not moved by your peaceful protests. They will exploit your weakness until you are either enslaved or dead.

The only antidote to evil men with violent intentions is good men who are willing to meet them with equal or greater force. This is a simple, biblical truth that has governed the rise and survival of every free society in history.

The False Gospel of Modern Pacifism

Pacifism masquerades as virtue. In reality, it is cowardice dressed up as holiness. It is the refusal to bear the weight of moral responsibility in a fallen world. Worse, it abandons the weak to the mercy of the wicked.

The church that refuses to defend itself and its community physically is no better than the shepherd who watches the wolves slaughter his sheep and shrugs. That shepherd is not righteous — he is a hireling, a coward, and an accomplice to evil.

Conclusion: Redeem Righteous Violence

Violence is not the enemy. The unrighteous use of violence is. We need to reclaim the biblical framework: Violence is the moral neutral tool through which justice is often executed. It is the God-ordained instrument to restrain evil, protect the innocent, and uphold order in a fallen world.

If we refuse to acknowledge this truth, we are not pacifists — we are simply clearing the way for evil to triumph.

As the late theologian John Murray once said, “A pacifist is one who enjoys the benefits of a free society without possessing either the courage or will to defend it.”

It’s time for men of God — righteous savages, if you will — to reclaim the sword.