The Gun and the Garden
Rejecting the War of Babylon
Imagine the sun rising over the dusty plains of Arsuf in 1191. King Richard the Lionheart, clad in shining armor marked with a cross, rallies his knights to advance against Saladin’s forces. Crusaders stand shoulder to shoulder, swords raised high, as they prepare to reclaim the Holy Land in the name of Christ. The ground shakes with the clash of steel and the cries of men in battle, each blow delivered under the banner of a "holy" cause. In this scene, the church’s emblem—a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice and peace—flies over a field marked by blood and conquest.
This example shows that the world is shaped by two kingdoms in a perpetual and profound contrast: one is the kingdom of God, marked by peace, faith, and humble reliance on God’s providence; the other is the kingdom of the world—what scripture calls “Babylon”—a realm driven by control, chaos, and a relentless quest for dominance. Where God’s kingdom invites His followers to live in trust and peace, the world’s kingdom dangles the allure of power, often leading even the faithful to wrestle with temptation.
The two kingdoms exist in stark contrast: one led by the Prince of Peace, inviting believers into a life of trust in God’s provision and humility, and the other driven by the ceaseless pursuit of power and dominance. But what happens when the church, meant to embody God’s peace, becomes entwined with the tools of war? Can faith truly advance when its hands are clenched around the weapons of Babylon?
In a world where control and strength promise righteousness and safety, Jesus’s call to peace can seem distant, perhaps even impossible. This essay dives into the tension between these two kingdoms, asking: is the way of Christ compatible with the violence of worldly power? And if not, what does true faithfulness look like?
The Two Kingdoms: God’s Garden vs. Babylon’s Chaos
Scripture paints God’s kingdom as a place of peace, humility, and steadfast trust in God’s provision. Jesus tells His followers in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” highlighting that this kingdom is not about gaining control but about reliance on God’s justice and mercy. In contrast, Babylon represents the kingdom of the world, defined by chaos and a thirst for control. The world seeks dominion, attempting to secure resources and power through any means necessary, particularly through war. Scripture warns against falling for these worldly pursuits, as 1 John 2:16 states, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
The world’s kingdom lures believers with promises of power, often by framing control and dominance as a way to promote good. This is exemplified by Satan’s temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:8-9, where he shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offers them if Jesus would worship him. Jesus’s refusal highlights that true worship and service to God are incompatible with the pursuit of worldly power. Yet, throughout history, the church has been tempted to use control and force, aligning with worldly powers to secure influence, often at the cost of forsaking the values of God’s kingdom.
Temptation to Use War for “Good”: Control and Chaos
One of the most enduring temptations for the church has been the rationalization of war as a means of advancing the gospel or achieving “godly” outcomes. In the Crusades, the church pursued the liberation of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, using war to spread Christianity and protect holy sites. Yet the methods contradicted Jesus’s teachings on peace, self-sacrifice, and humility. Rather than demonstrating the gospel through love, as Jesus commanded in John 13:34-35, the Crusades relied on violence and conquest, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.
This historical example illustrates how the pursuit of control can lead believers away from the principles of God’s kingdom. The idea that war and dominance can be used to advance the gospel still resonates today, often justified by Christians who see earthly powers as allies in defending or promoting Christian values. Instead of relying on God to build His kingdom, as Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18, many Christians support political and military interventions, believing that earthly governments can protect or even spread the gospel. However, as Jesus emphasized, His kingdom is not of this world, and He explicitly rejected any suggestion that it could be advanced through worldly power (John 18:36).
Examples of the Church’s Involvement in War
The church’s history is marred with instances where it has aligned with earthly powers, engaging in or supporting wars that contradict the gospel’s message of peace and humility. In addition to the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War and other religious conflicts throughout European history serve as examples of how Christians have been drawn into warfare, often under the guise of defending or spreading the faith. This alignment with earthly kingdoms reflects a lack of trust in God’s ability to defend His kingdom and His people, as seen in Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
In modern times, the church’s tacit support for war is sometimes more subtle but no less impactful. For instance, many Christians view political support for nations like Israel as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy, often aligning with political agendas that advocate military support. While the Bible encourages Christians to pray for peace, Jesus’s message emphasized that His kingdom is spiritual and does not advance through military or political power (Luke 17:20-21). Despite this, Christians may align themselves with political movements that support military action, sometimes even interpreting this as a divine mandate. This support suggests a subtle but real drift from the teachings of Christ toward the world’s methods of control and dominance.
Another contemporary example is the American church’s broad support for military actions and interventions abroad. Some Christians view the United States as a uniquely chosen nation, believing that its influence can be used to promote “Christian values” globally. This belief can lead to uncritical support for military interventions, even when those actions result in chaos and suffering for vulnerable populations. Jesus’s teachings, however, urge His followers to focus on loving and serving others, trusting God to protect His kingdom rather than seeking power through earthly means (Matthew 5:38-48).
Distrust in God’s Sovereignty
War often reveals a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty, as nations and individuals seek control over situations rather than trusting God to provide. Jesus taught His followers to “not worry about tomorrow” but to rely on God’s provision (Matthew 6:34). This call to faith implies that Christians should refrain from grasping at control, trusting instead that God will provide for their needs and protect them according to His will. The desire for control, however, drives nations and individuals toward conflict, reflecting a reliance on human strength and power.
Israel’s history demonstrates the consequences of seeking control rather than trusting God. In Isaiah 31:1, God warns Israel against relying on alliances with other nations or on military power, saying, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel.” Israel’s decision to trust in worldly power rather than God’s provision often led to dire consequences, showing that reliance on force or alliances ultimately leads away from God’s kingdom. Similarly, Christians today are called to trust God fully, even in a world that prizes control and power.
Jesus’s Call to a Peaceful Trust in God
Jesus’s teachings emphasize a radical trust in God’s provision rather than relying on worldly power for protection. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus proclaims, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” highlighting peace as a defining characteristic of His followers. Jesus’s approach to conflict consistently demonstrated faith in God’s will rather than seeking control. When Peter attempted to defend Jesus by force, Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Put your sword back in its place…for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). Jesus’s message here is clear: reliance on violence and control contradicts the path of faith and trust in God.
Paul’s words in Romans 12:19-21 reinforce this theme, urging believers to “not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.” By refusing to grasp for control, Christians reflect their trust in God’s justice and faithfulness. Jesus’s kingdom operates through peace, self-sacrifice, and faith in God’s provision, a stark contrast to the world’s chaos and control. Christians are therefore called to live as citizens of this kingdom, exemplifying trust and peace in every area of life.
Instead of gripping our hands around the weapons of Babylon, Christians are called to embrace the tools of peace, trading swords for plows and planting gardens that nourish rather than destroy. This vision is beautifully echoed in the prophecy of Isaiah: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4), a call for God’s people to cultivate life rather than pursue death. This return to gardening is a return to Eden, the original paradise where humanity walked in perfect harmony with God, secure in His acceptance, provision, and love. In the Garden of Eden, there was no need for weapons, for death held no power and conflict was unknown. Adam and Eve knew their significance, not through dominance or control, but through a trusting relationship with God. By embracing this vision, Christians are invited to restore that garden of peace, tending to the needs of the world in faith and trust, demonstrating that true security lies not in earthly power but in God’s eternal provision and love.
Conclusion: Living in the Garden
The choice between the gun and the garden represents a decision between the world’s path of control and God’s path of faith and peace. The gun symbolizes the world’s reliance on dominance, self-protection, and chaos, while the garden reflects the peace and trust that characterize God’s kingdom. As Christians, we are called to choose the way of the garden, rejecting the tactics of Babylon and instead trusting in God to provide for and protect His people.
In a world filled with chaos and division, the peace of Christ offers a transformative alternative. By trusting in God and refusing to pursue control, Christians can demonstrate the power of God’s kingdom in a world driven by fear and conflict. Jesus’s message challenges believers to reflect a kingdom not of this world, one that does not require earthly power to achieve divine ends. Instead, the kingdom of God is marked by faith, peace, and a deep trust in God’s sovereignty. May we, as followers of Christ, embrace this call to live as ambassadors of peace, resisting the lure of the world’s chaos and control, and faithfully embodying the garden of God’s kingdom.
Have you, or perhaps your church, fallen into the allure of the world’s kingdom of war, pursuing power, control, or security instead of living in the peace and trust of God’s kingdom of peace? If so, take a moment to invite God’s guidance and peace into your heart, aligning your life with His call to love, trust, and faithfulness.
Heavenly Father, I come before You with a humble heart, acknowledging the times I have trusted in the ways of this world instead of Your ways. Forgive me for the moments when I’ve sought strength through power and security through control, forgetting that You are my refuge, my fortress, and my provider. I confess that it is easy to be drawn into the allure of Babylon, to believe that safety and success lie in the same force and dominance that characterize the world around me. But You have called me to something higher, to a kingdom not of this world, where peace and love are the hallmarks of true strength.
Teach me to release my grip on worldly weapons and to embrace the tools of Your garden, to plant seeds of kindness, gentleness, and patience rather than grasping for power or control. Remind me, Lord, that Your kingdom grows not through conquest but through compassion, not through might but through mercy. I want to be a bearer of Your peace, a witness of Your love, and a steward of Your grace.
Help me to live in the spirit of Isaiah’s vision, where swords are beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Guide me to lay down any desire for revenge or control, transforming it instead into a longing to cultivate life, to nurture relationships, and to bless those around me. Lead me back to the heart of Eden, to a place where I am fully secure in Your acceptance, where I find my significance in being known and loved by You, and where my confidence rests not in the things of this world but in Your faithful provision.
As I step forward in faith, may I be a light in this world, reflecting the beauty of Your kingdom. Help me to love others, to forgive freely, and to trust fully in Your promises and provision. May Your peace guard my heart and guide my steps, leading me to live in harmony with You and to be a channel of Your grace. I thank You, Lord, for Your patience, for Your steadfast love, and for inviting me to participate in the work of Your garden, a place where peace, love, and life grow abundantly. In Jesus’s name, I pray, Amen.
Bibliography
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Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. Touchstone, 1995.
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Hauerwas, Stanley. A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic. University of Notre Dame Press, 1981.
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Wink, Walter. Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination. Fortress Press, 1992.
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Scriptural References
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
1 John 2:16 - The desires of the world do not come from the Father.
Matthew 4:8-9 - Satan’s temptation of Jesus with worldly kingdoms.
John 13:34-35 - Jesus’s call to love as a witness to the gospel.
Matthew 16:18 - Jesus’s promise to build His church.
John 18:36 - Jesus’s declaration that His kingdom is not of this world.
Psalm 20:7 - Trust in God rather than in military power.
Luke 17:20-21 - The kingdom of God is within you.
Matthew 5:38-48 - Jesus’s teaching on loving enemies.
Matthew 6:34 - Trusting in God rather than worrying about tomorrow.
Isaiah 31:1 - Warning against reliance on worldly power.
Matthew 5:9 - “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Matthew 26:52 - Jesus’s rebuke of Peter’s use of force.
Romans 12:19-21 - Do not take revenge, but trust God’s justice.
Isaiah 2:4 - “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks…”