Warlike Christians in an Age of Violence: The Evangelical Case against War and for Gospel Peace

by Nick Megoran, Nick Ladd (Foreword by)

Overview

How should Christians respond to war? This age-old question has become more pressing given Western governments' recent overseas military interventions and the rise of extremist Islamist jihadism. Grounded in conservative evangelical theology, this book argues the historic church position that it is inadmissible for Christians to use violence or take part in war. It shows how the church's propensity to support the "just wars," crusades, rebellions, or "humanitarian interventions" of its host nations over time has been disastrous for the reputation of the gospel. Instead, the church's response to war is simply to be the church, by preaching the gospel and making peace in the love and power of God.   The book considers challenges to this argument for "gospel peace." What about warfare in the Old Testament and military metaphors in the New? What of church history? And how do we deal with tyrants like Hitler and terrorists like Islamic State? Charting a path between just war theory and liberal pacifism, numerous inspiring examples from the worldwide church are used to demonstrate effective and authentically Christian responses to violence. The author argues that as Christians increasingly drop their unbiblical addiction to war, we may be entering one of the most exciting periods of church history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498219600
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	330
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Nick Megoran is Professor of Political Geography at Newcastle University and Minister of Wallsend Baptist Church, England. He is the author of numerous books and articles on nationalist conflict, war, terrorism, and human dignity in the modern workplace.
Nick Megoran is Professor of Political Geography at Newcastle University and was formerly Minister of Wallsend Baptist Church, England. He is the author of numerous books and articles on nationalist conflict, war, terrorism, and human dignity in the modern workplace.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments: Justice, Peace … and Christianity? ix

1 Jesus, Prince of Peace 1

2 Doesn't the Bible Permit Warfare? Part I: The Old Testament 24

3 Doesn't the Bible Permit Warfare? Part II: The New Testament 49

4 Hasn't the Church Allowed Soldiering? Part I: The Early Church 78

5 Hasn't the Church Allowed Soldiering? Part II: The Medieval and Modern Church 95

6 What about Hitler? Part I: What Was the Second World War? 130

7 What about Hitler? Part II: The Churches and the Second World War 166

8 Conclusion-Part I: Being a Gospel Peacemaking Church 198

9 Conclusion-Part II: Making Peace in a Violent World 237

Bibliography 271

Scripture Index 287

General Index 291