War can be such an overused metaphor in today's world. From professional sports to corporate takeovers, we are said to be "at war."
The Bible specifically talks about the fact that we as Christians are "are war." Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against Satan and his demons.
When I become a Christian I don't join a country club, I'm not signing up for a cruise. It's more like joining the military and signing up for a battleship.
Jesus said, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." Matthew 11:12
The New Spirit filled life Study Bible writes,
"Jesus asserts the "violence" of the kingdom. The unique grammatical construction of the text does not make clear if the kingdom of God is the victim of violence or if, as the kingdom advances in victory, it does so through violent spiritual conflict and warfare.
But the context does.
Jesus references to the nonreligous style of John and the confrontive, miraculous ministry of Elijah teach that the kingdom of God makes its penetration by a kid of violent entry opposing the humans status quo.
It transcends the softness (Matthew 11:8) of staid religious formalism and exceeds the pretension of child's play (Matthew 11:16,17). It refuses to "dance to the music" of society's expectation that the religious community provide either entertainment ("we played the flute") or dead traditionalism ("we mourned").
Jesus defines the "violence' of His kingdom's expansion by defining the "sword" and the "fire" He has brought as different from the battle techniques of political or military warfare (compare Matt. 10:34-39 and Luke 12:49-53 with John 18:36).
The upheaval caused by the kingdom of God is not caused by political provocation or armed advance. It is the result of God's order shaking relationships, households, cities, and nations by the entry of the Holy Spirit's power working in people. (See also Luke 16:16)."
Good stuff.
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