"If you are not in the business of forgiving other people, then God is not in the business of forgiving you.”

Today’s episode challenges many cultural norms and interpretations of how Christians should respond to violence. The guys open to Matthew to see how forgiveness ties into our study of violence. Instead of asking, “When is it appropriate for me to act violently,” we should ask, “How can I be as forgiving as the Lord?”

But how do we reconcile the above with Jesus' words, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." 

Tune in to find out!

Blessed are the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… This week, the guys delve into Matthew and his recording of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount. What is the difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper? Which should we be? Does peace only come under the threat of violence? Do the teachings of Christ undermine our inclination to defend ourselves? All this and more in today’s episode of the After Class Podcast.

New Testament. New context. Join Sam, John, and Ron in today’s episode as they set the stage for understanding the New Testament’s view of violence, providing insight into the shift in the Israelite mindset. Once a people in a land God provided, now strangers in a land owned by foreign rulers. How did this new cultural, social, and political-economic structure affect the way they understood God's purpose for them? And how does it inform our understanding of violence and God's people today? Tune in to find out!"

This week the guys turn to the pages of wisdom literature in their study of Christian violence in the Bible.

In today’s episode, John, Sam, and Ron unpack “a time for war” in Ecclesiastes and examine the revenge of God’s people in the book of Esther.

How do those who find wisdom find peace, according to wisdom literature?

Also, tune in for a special promotion for the high school students in your life!

This week John, Sam, and Ron unpack the implications of Psalm 137:9, "Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks."

Tune in as the guys survey the Psalms, where God's people overtly and illustratively talk about violence and peace. According to this collection of writings, what do the righteous do when persecuted, and how does the above verse fit into a posture that relies on God's justice and vengeance? 

This week we enter the world of the prophets to sample how they speak about violence.

What happens when the nations and rulers abuse the sword God gave them for justice? Is the vision of peace depicted throughout the Bible only for the next life, or is it a reality to be lived out now? In a world where national powers rely on horses and chariots, will you rely on God, armed only with His word?

In a world of perpetual violence and military arms races, would you start a community between warring countries with no military defense of your own? What if God told you to? We want to be strong, powerful, and impressive in every imaginable way; does this put us at odds with God’s role for his set-apart people?

In today's episode, follow the unfolding narrative as we transition from personal violence to corporate violence and national defense/offense. And perhaps more importantly for some, find out what God and Charles Barkley have in common!

This week the guys continue their walkthrough of scripture on the way to answering a listener's question: How do we respond to a break-in; does God condone killing in self-defense? What about the defense of the country? How seriously is the taking of life to God? In today's episode, Sam, John, and Ron investigate what scripture has to say about land stewardship, the taking of a census, the priest's role in warfare, and David’s use of mighty men. How do these inform our understanding of the Christian response to violence? Tune in to find out!

We may become coaxed by rage to act out in hostility, violence, and vengeance. Join the guys as they unpack more of God’s response and instruction to His people on how they should be witnesses to and uphold the sacredness of life.

Tune in this week for part two of our series on violence, self-defense, and Christian participation in bloodshed.

Sam, John, and Ron begin a new series this week in response to numerous listener requests. It is time to talk about Christian participation in violence. Is violence ever justified for a Christian? What about self-defense? We can agree that unprovoked killing is bad, but what about a killing resulting from self-preservation or retaliation?

Join the guys as they trace the theme of God’s people and their relation to violence through the Bible.

Related Episodes. 

3.18 - Violence of the "Conquest"

3.28 - God's Wrath Revealed

3.29 - God's Wrath Revealed - Part Two

1.30 - Telling the Story: Raising Cain