True Religious War

In 1850, Hong Xiuquan started a conflict that erupted into a widespread Chinese civil war. Xiuquan believed he was the brother of Jesus, selected to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish the heavenly kingdom. During the 14-year war, known as the Taiping Rebellion, approximately 20 million people died, making it one of the deadliest wars in history.

Incredibly, Xiuquan named his short-lived kingdom the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace. The Taiping Rebellion is one of many religious wars that non-believers point to as a reason the world would be better without religion. Yet Jude exhorts us to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). Is Jude encouraging religious war?

Lest we misunderstand it, Jude quickly explains: False doctrine had been creeping into the church “unnoticed” (Jude 4). How should the church handle the promoters of these false doctrines? Jude gives this answer: The Lord saved Israel and destroyed the Egyptians, the Lord will judge the angels who defected, and the Lord sent fire on Sodom. Jude suggests we follow Michael the archangel’s example—when contending with the devil himself, He said only “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9).

If we aren’t to fight with a religious war, how should we fight? Jude includes these instructions: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord” (Jude 21). In addition, we must “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire” (Jude 22, 23 NIV). In true religious war, we fight by remaining in Christ, offering mercy to those weak in faith, and striving for the salvation of others.

Key Bible Texts

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (Colossians 2:6 KJV)