Needed: Violent Men to Take the Kingdom by Force

Image credit: freeimages.com/Marinela Prodan & Lucretious

The Kingdom Suffers Violence

With ISIS making suicide bombing nearly a daily event and religious wars flaming across the Middle East it ought to be a good time to look at the words of Jesus about violent men taking the kingdom by force. I suppose this title will alert numerous government agencies to put me on their watch lists. That’s OK. Maybe if they read enough of these articles they will become Christian kingdom builders and increase the ranks of the righteous. Perhaps that Second Reformation some of us have been talking about will be birthed full force.

Speaking of force, here is what Jesus said about it:

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force (Matthew 11:12).

The part about the kingdom of heaven suffering violence is not too difficult to understand. John the Baptist was imprisoned and then beheaded for his part in it. Prophets in Israel had often been persecuted for their words, and a few were killed. Being a spokesmen for God’s righteous kingdom, for justice and mercy, was not a safe career choice. Jeremiah got thrown into a well, Elijah risked death confronting the prophets of Baal, and Zechariah “who was murdered between the temple and the altar” (Matthew 23:35) is a powerful example of the kingdom of heaven suffering violence. Choosing to speak and live for the kingdom of God is not a safe choice.

Who are the Violent Men?

The more difficult part of this saying though is the second phrase where Jesus says that “violent men take it by force.” This is a head-scratcher for many of us. Is Jesus trying to say that violent people attack and conquer the kingdom of God? Or, is He asserting that men of violent character and means take the kingdom forward? Jesus’ reference to violence and His kingdom seems like a mystery statement. We turn it over in our minds and it simply does not correlate with other Scripture we have paid attention to—and so we dismiss it and move on. This is a large error on our parts. Jesus is communicating an important message with this statement about violence and the kingdom, and we ought not dismiss it.

Jesus uses a nice (perfect actually) turn of phrasing when He says “the kingdom of God suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” His double use of the word violence is a bit poetic. It is both memorable and mysterious. It is also infallible, inerrant, and sufficient for all His purposes, for every task for which He sends it. All of this being the case, we ask again, what is the meaning of these words?

Calling & Courage

Over the past few years I have realized that many of the righteous people that are on the front lines of the battle between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light are strong-willed. They have a deep sense of calling to the work and to their Savior. We talk about standing in the gap but the men and women who do so, especially in the public square, face many obstacles. It is one thing for a writer like me to sit comfortably in my safe office discussing the battle for the kingdom. It is quite another for my daughters (or anybody else’s daughters, spouses, friends, etc.) to stand in front of the local abortion clinic and speak forcefully to those who are going in to kill their children. Confronting people with their sin and calling for repentance in person requires an inner confidence and strength which many of us lack. This is not because God is not calling us to the work. It often is because we are simply not willing to answer the call of God’s Spirit and to step out in faith to do the work. Once a small step is taken courage grows and we become increasingly useful in labor for the kingdom. God is glorified when the saints imitate strong men like Jeremiah to whom God said:

Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them (Jeremiah 1:17).

This is a wonderful Scripture for anyone who wants to risk stepping out and speaking up for righteousness and against sin. It encourages the saints to arise and speak but it also warns against being dismayed at the faces of God’s enemies as we confront them. Confronting God’s foes to their faces is not easy whether you are called or not. Our hands literally shake and our voices seem like they freeze in our throats the first time we try it. This does not mean we are not called, it just means we are human.

There is a small business bordering our local abortion mill. I went one day and asked for the general manager. He agreed to talk to me. I asked him if the sidewalk counselors outside the abortion clinic could have permission to stand on his businesses’ land and speak to people at the clinic. His answer was ‘NO’ he did not want to get into a pi****g match between the two parties. At that point I was a little ‘dismayed at his face’ as God’s words to Jeremiah mentioned. I asked him if he was a Christian man and he said ‘yes’. I asked him if he understood that what was happening on the other side of those walls was the murder of innocent people and again he affirmed ‘yes’. And yet, he did not want to get involved. He told me that he wondered if the business should be left alone because, you see, he had a daughter and … what if? Our conversation was strained. I asked him if he understood that the battle between light and darkness was right there at the edge of his property. I let him know (in a friendly way) that he would be a candidate for the judgments of God. But he was a hard man and nothing I could say would change his heart.

Challenging the Wicked

When Jesus said that “violent men take it by force” he was not talking about men like the one I mentioned above. He was speaking about men who have a strong moral conscience, an indomitable spirit in God, and courage borne of strong faith and a commitment to do the right things even if no one else will. Those are the men, the people, who take the kingdom by force. Courage to challenge wicked people face to face comes from a deep well sunk into God’s very word and pumped through our veins by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ordinary men do not have the moral or spiritual wherewithal to perform this culture transforming labor.

Was I scared to have that conversation next to the clinic? A little bit, not really so much. God is our helper. One good thing about having been a construction manager is that it taught me I could have hard conversations and survive. You can too, by the way. If the Spirit of God is calling you to speak boldly and faithfully, then you can do what He asks.

Jesus taught His disciples that “the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). My experience is that this is precisely what happens. As we learn to trust Christ and obey in some of these harder places we become increasingly like those strong, courageous men who take the kingdom by force:

From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength because of Your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease (Psalm 8:2).

May God bless us as we labor for His kingdom.