Fighting Against God

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life….Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save Me from this hour”? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:24-25, 27

People talk a lot about Jesus’s message of peace. We often forget that he made statements like these:

Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. Luke 12:51

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. Matthew 10:34

Yet the good news of Jesus Christ is called “the gospel of peace,” (Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:15). What did Jesus mean when he said he would bring division and a sword? Didn’t he tell Peter to put away his sword (John 18:11)? Is the Bible contradicting itself?

I think Jesus was simply saying that his message and his way would automatically divide people into two groups: those who seek peace with God, and those who fight against God, whether it be with a sword, a gun, words, or simply a refusal to change.

In Acts 5:38-39 Gamaliel said to the Jewish council:
And now I say to you, keep away from these [Christians] and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.

I wish that more unbelievers today would follow this advice. But Satan is real and active, and his tactics cause some people to hate the very thing that could give them peace. These people are at war with themselves and at war with God. And anyone on God’s side may become a target.

As regards the shooting at the Christian school in Nashville, there are only two broad possibilities.

1. When the shooter was a young student at that school, it is possible that the Christian community there failed to share the gospel, or failed to live out the gospel, as a witness to that student. Perhaps they did not reach out and offer the hope of Jesus Christ to help ward off or heal the inner turmoil that ultimately lead to the horrible events of March 27, 2023.
2. It is equally possible that the Christians at Covenant School did everything they were supposed to do to share and model the gospel before this student. They may have shared the truth and shown Christ’s love at every opportunity.

It’s tempting to think, well, if they had properly shared the love of Christ and built healthy relationships with this person, this never would have happened. But Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble. He himself had trouble. He came to bring a sword knowing it would be used against him. In John 12:27 he said, “for this purpose I came.”

Sometimes sharing the gospel leads to conversion and unity. Other times it exacerbates division and leads to hate.

I don’t know whether the people at Covenant School shared the gospel with Audrey Hale. I don’t know what her motive was. Perhaps she was simply insane. But it appears that she was, at one point, in an environment to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and yet ultimately rejected it, choosing to fight against God. We understand that a negative, even a violent response is possible when we do as commanded and share the gospel. When we offer peace, some will choose war instead.

Is this reason to lay down “the sword of the Spirit” and give up? God forbid! There are still plenty of people out there longing for peace. For their sakes we must make sure we are living according to the peace we have found in Jesus Christ.

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” Ephesians 6:14-18a

Dear Heavenly Father, our hearts are grieving for the families affected by the tragedy at Covenant School. We ask you to be with each person involved, including the shooter’s family members. May every Christian respond in a way that would be a witness to the fact that in the world there is trouble, but in Christ there is peace.

We ask You to protect schools, children, and Your people everywhere from wicked and violent schemes. And when Satan wins a battle, remind us that You have already won the war. We who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ trust in Your promises to us, and we know that Death has no power over us.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins