3religonsSWORD

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THREE RELIGIONS CONSIDERED IN
RELATION TO THE SWORD
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WHEN WE HEAR a word, or a name, a distinctive mental picture usually flashes across our minds. This is likewise true in reference to things religious. The word "Christianity" is heard. Immediately the picture of a cross appears in our minds. With the words "Old Testament," two tables of stone are seen. We hear the word "Moslem," and, without any obscurity, this writer sees a sword. Perhaps this would be the mental image surfacing in the minds of most people, and this is not without reason.

Let us consider the Moslem religion, the Old Testament religion and Christianity in relation to the sword. From this perspective the Moslem religion and the religion of the Old Testament stand in sharp contrast with Christianity.

I. THE MOSLEM RELIGION
x The Sword, Key of Heaven and of Hell
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It is a matter of history and public record that the Mohammedan religion in its inception relied heavily upon the sword. Moslems when they had the upper hand gave those whom they opposed the options of (1) embracing their religion, (2) paying tribute money or (3) being devoured by the sword. Edward Gibbon, noted historian who wrote The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, quotes Mohammed in these volumes as saying, "The sword is the key of heaven and of hell: a drop of blood shed in the cause of God, a night spent in arms, is of more avail than two months of fasting and prayer: whosoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven: at the day of judgment his wounds shall be resplendent as vermilion, and odoriferous as musk; and the loss of his limbs shall be supplied by wings of angels and cherubim." These words are in chapter 50 of this classic work.

Koran Quotations
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Quotations from the Koran (Quran) fall in line with the spirit of this mode of thought. It has been said, "The eighth and ninth chapters of the Koran are the loudest and most vehement." Chapter 8:12 reads, "…Verily I am with you; wherefore confirm those who believe. I will cast a dread into the hearts of the unbelievers. Therefore strike off their heads, and strike off all the ends of their fingers." Chapter 8:67 reads, "It hath not been granted unto any prophet, that he should possess captives, until he hath made a great slaughter of the infidels in the earth." Then throughout chapter 9 Moslem believers are repeatedly summoned to go to war, thereby promoting their religion. As that chapter draws toward a conclusion, 9:123 reads, "O true believers, wage war against such of the infidels as are near you; and let them find severity in you: and know that God is with those who fear him."

Victory or Martyrdom
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Earlier in this chapter, in urging them to go to war, the question is asked, "Do you expect any other should befall us, than one of two most excellent things; either victory or martyrdom?…" (9:52). What is he saying? Only one of two "most excellent things" could possibly happen to you while fighting. One, you would be victorious. Great! Two, you would be killed in battle, which he calls "martyrdom." Wonderful! Being killed in battle while fighting for your religion, you would be unquestionably ushered into heaven. And what waits for the true believer in heaven? That’s another story that goes beyond the bounds of Christian thought (and would make us blush). It is a sensual heaven wherein youthful black-eyed maidens, among many other things, have been especially created to attend to the sexual pleasure and the continual delight of the true believer throughout eternity. Read chapters 55 and 56 of the Koran.

There seems to be different schools of thought among Moslems. Some are more radical than others. In the context of a modern, pluralistic society radical views are more inclined to be modified. But in our mental picture of the Moslem religion the icon of the sword is always there.

II. THE OLD TESTAMENT RELIGION
x Represented By Two Tables of Stone
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Our mental picture of the Old Testament is represented by two tables of stone upon which were Ten Commandments. Christians know that the Old Testament religion, which had its beginning at Mt. Sinai (Deuteronomy 5:1-3; Nehemiah 9:13,14; Hebrews 8:7-9; John 1:17) and lasted until Christ died on the cross (Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 9:15-17), was not a permanent arrangement. It was all a part of God’s progressive and unfolding revelation to man as He was getting him ready for the Savior. It involved the physical entity of the nation of Israel. Overall it was a "schoolmaster" to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Its end in view was Christianity.

The Use of the Sword
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Although two tables of stone fittingly represent the Old Testament religion, a sword would not be out of place. Any way that you look at it, that system was a "law of sin and death" (whether as a result of disobedience or the sword of conquest). In the unfolding of His plan, God called Abraham. He promised to make his descendents a great nation, and through the vehicle of this nation the Savior would come (Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 3:25,26; Galatians 3:8). Canaan was the Promised Land where all of this would take place. God gave them this land, but as it turned out it would be theirs only as a result of conquest. God would lead them in this (Exodus 33:1-3; Joshua 3:10). And from a military viewpoint, He is repeatedly called "the LORD of hosts" throughout the Old Testament. In conjunction with this, Israel’s part involved the sword.

A Twofold Accomplishment, God’s Judgment
Executed and Promises Fulfilled
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With the call of Abraham, God could have executed His plan earlier, but He had more than one thing in mind. Not only was the land of Canaan being given to Abraham and his descendants in connection with the purpose of the Old Testament in anticipation of the coming Savior, but in their conquest of this land they would be God’s means of executing judgment upon its wicked and depraved inhabitants. In Genesis chapter 15 God reveals to Abraham that His promises to him would be "put on hold" because "the iniquity of the Amorites [Canaanites] is [was] not yet full" (15:13-16). After an interlude in Egypt his descendants would be given the Promised Land. By then the Canaanites would be ripe for judgment. God made us and we are accountable to Him. He is the judge of all the earth, sometimes now and ultimately in eternity, and sooner or/and later all will face Him in judgment. Sin is an awful thing (more than we realize) and must be dealt with. At this point in history, Israel became God’s instrument of judgment in the conquest of Canaan (Deuteronomy 20:16-18; 18:12; 7:1,2,23,24; Leviticus 18:24,25; Joshua 10:40). At the same time, He was fulfilling His promise of giving this land to them (Exodus 33:1-3; 13:5; Deuteronomy 1:20,21).

An Integral Part of the Nation
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Throughout the history of ancient Israel the sword was an integral part of the nation (even in a religious context). The "man" who appeared to Joshua upon their entrance into the Promised Land typified this (Joshua 5:13-15). Joshua became the renowned military leader in the conquest of Canaan. The 12th chapter of Joshua is a summary of all the kings that were put to the sword. Repeatedly we are told that he smote them "with the edge of the sword" (Joshua 6:21; 8:24; 10:28,30,32,35,37,39; 11:11,12,14; etc.). During the period of the judges "the sword of the Lord and Gideon" was representative of the times (Judges 7:18,20). The time of the kingdoms is largely synonymous with the sword. King David, reflecting the spirit of the Old Testament, said, "He [God] teacheth my hands to war…" (Psalms 18:34). The Old Testament religion embodied the wrath of God and judgment. It was the "law of sin and death."

Initially Israel was like a theocracy with God being their king (Psalms 44). At the same time they were the depository of God’s ongoing revelation and the vehicle of bringing the Savior into the world. Later on as a kingdom with an earthly king, they became the physical antitype of the spiritual church of Christ that was to follow. But finally as a stiffnecked and apostate people, they would face the sword themselves in judgment and be carried away into captivity. The sword was ever present.

III. CHRISTIANITY
x "Grace, Mercy, and Peace"
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The law, or Old Testament religion, served its purpose. God emphatically got His point across. We see the awfulness of sin, and that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:9-23). Man needed a Savior. "For the wages of sin is death," but how wonderful is the rest of this verse, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23)! And parallel with this verse is John 1:17, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (Here in these verses the sharp contrast between Christianity and the Old Testament religion is made by the simple word "but"). And how wonderful are the words of Paul and other New Testament writers addressed to Christians as follows: "Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2; Jude 2)! How representative of Christianity!

"Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified"
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Yes, and all of this is reflected in the cross. In reference to the preaching of the gospel, Paul declared, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2; 1:18-30; 15:1-4). Likewise Paul declared, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14). Jesus summed it up by saying, "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). Bearing one’s cross represents the life lived for Christ. By no stretch of the imagination could a literal sword be representative of Christianity. In his sinless body on the cross Jesus bore our sins (1 Peter 2:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21).

"Swords into Plowshares"
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A literal sword, very much evident in the context of the Moslem religion and the Old Testament, is not a part of New Testament Christianity. The prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 spoke of the coming of the "Prince of Peace," and the next verse continues by saying, "Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end…" This is in line with Isaiah 2:2-4, where it seems to look forward to the establishment of the church in Jerusalem and the spread of the gospel from this point (Luke 24:46,47; Acts 1:8; Acts 2). Here Isaiah says that "out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the lord from Jerusalem…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." This is all in keeping with what the Lord told Peter, and what he said before Pilate. "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matthew 26:52). And before Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…" (John 18:36). The Old Testament antitype of an earthly kingdom finds its fulfillment in the church of Christ.

"The Sword of the Spirit"
(Illustration Drawn from the Literal)
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However, and consequently, Christians are engaged in a spiritual war, not a physical one. Thus, Paul is careful to say, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [physical], but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). In Ephesians 6:11ff, he tells us to "put on the whole armour of God" in prep aration for battle. And he continues by saying, "For we wrestle [struggle] not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places…" It is a spiritual battle. In this connection it is interesting to note that "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" is the weapon that is wielded. And that one’s feet is "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." No physical violence is pictured here. It is the "good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12), not a Moslem jihad.

"Love Your Enemies," Not Hate Them
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Furthermore, what the Lord Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount really stands in sharp contrast with the Moslem and the Old Testament religion. Listen to him. "Ye have heard that it hath been said [the Old Testament], Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…" (Matthew 5:43-48, also 38-42). Did Mohammed teach anything like this? This is a pretty big order that many do not practice, even professing Christians, but this is Christianity. This is what the Lord practiced (1 Peter 2:21-23; Luke 23:34).

Closing Statements
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We hope that we have made our point in this short article in considering three religions in relation to the sword. So much more could be said. Oh the beauty, purity and perfection of Christianity. It has not been tried and found wanting, but still largely is wanting (and waiting) to be tried. It is God’s completed and final revelation to man (Hebrews 1:1-3; Jude 3), a religion of love and peace. Would that all men were walking in its light.

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