In the name of God

I wonder what must have been going through the minds of those Confederate soldiers, who manned the large cannons on the Battery, as they prepared to fire upon Ft. Sumter? The cannon balls were impractical because the weight of the ammunition prevented direct volleys from being fired upon the enemy. Yet, a way to cause the most damage by a weapon, which at that time must have seemed technologically advanced for that era in history, was implemented. The cannon balls were skipped along the water in the same fashion one skips rocks. This almost seems laughable compared to our weapons technology of today. Stop and think about how weapons in modern history have become more and more destructive. From the musket to the rifle to the Gatling gun, humans have found more efficient ways to inflict maximum damage. WWI saw chemical warfare in the form of mustard gas break on to the scene. Let’s not forget about other weapons, which made their debut during this war. Tanks and bi-planes improved our ability to kill each other. In WWII the Nazi war machine featured the top of the line fighter plane (Messerschmitt) as the Allies countered with the P-51. Adolf Hitler launched the V1 and V2 rockets against the British people during his reign as Fuhrer of Germany with the hopes of destroying their will to fight. Above all else we cannot forget about the damage, including death, caused by the A-bomb dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Guns, chemicals, bombs, and missiles are continually being improved so they may inflict the most damage possible.


There is another weapon that often goes unrecognized by the inhabitants of the earth but seems to be used more often than any other weapon known to humankind. We could almost call this a weapon of mass destruction. The weapon I speak of is the Holy Bible. Scripture has been used to justify wars such as the Crusades. God’s commands have been referenced when medical clinics have been bombed because of certain procedures performed inside of them. Slavery around the world has been justified with Scripture by oppressors who claimed those being enslaved did not have a soul. No soul meant God created the enslaved as lesser beings. At times the events of 9/11/01 have been compared to God’s destruction of the Tower of Babel. Even better, natural disasters like the Haitian earthquake or certain hurricanes are portrayed as God’s punishment against sinful nations of cities. Ethnic groups, different religions, and those living alternative lifestyles are among many whose sin is called out by Christians. Christians and non-Christians appear to have an endless supply of Christian Bibles to hurl at the groups they do not like.

It seems the most effective method of implementing damage in the name of God is redefining God to support ideological beliefs. Michael Yaconelli referred to these Christians as Kingdom Monitors. These are congregations or individuals who have developed standards by which upon a person’s value in God’s eyes are assessed. The actions of others are judged, the target is sited, the weapon is fired, and people are condemned. One church, in reference to local ministries such as a soup kitchen, said, “These people are just lazy. There are perfectly healthy men capable of finding a job and making a living. That is why we refuse to get involved”. When did the church receive the authority from God to determine who is worthy of God’s grace and love? John 3:17 states, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” The church is supposed to the first place where the kingdom of God is experienced, yes?

Recently I have been watching a person I know going through a difficult time in their life experience the “ugly” side of the Christian faith. My friend has seen their life discussed openly on Facebook. The same people, those thought to have a close personal relationship with my friend, have wiped the dust from their Bibles and found appropriate verses to hurl in a way the damage is maximized. Each one is a DIRECT HIT. There is no grace being shown. There is no love being shown. There is no compassion being shown. Only judgment is being offered up. Instead of support regardless of the outcome there has been a constant barrage of Biblical references designed to inflict maximum damage on its target. All is done in the name of God. Is this really what the Bible teaches us to do? Is Scripture a tool for judgment or a way in which God’s grace is revealed?

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” 1 John 4:21 “And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Look up John 15:13) How has the command to love one another become so distorted? The challenge for us, as professed Christians and local churches, is daunting. We should be reflecting to others the same love and grace from God we have experienced. Instead of judgment let us hold each other’s hands in support. Instead of hurling Bibles let us speak a language of love. It is time to stop the mass destruction in the name of God. If we read, study, and meditate on the word of God then combine this with prayer our churches may start to fill up again. Our relationships with each other will improve. Our hearts will be transformed and instead of living our lives for ourselves we will be living them for God. Then, when all is said and done, maybe we will hear these words found in Matthew 25, “Well done good and faithful servant”.