The Old Testament Case for Nonviolence Book Review

by Gregory A. Johnson

Matthew Curtis Fleischer has a passion for God and God’s will. He is a lover of God and truth. It became evident to me as I read each chapter of his book, The Old Testament Case for Nonviolence.

On the back cover of the book, it is stated, “The violence in the Old Testament is one of the biggest obstacles facing Christianity today.” I sense that assisting to remove this obstacle is the motivation of the author in writing a book that so adequately and thoroughly lays out the case that the Old Testament (OT) does not advocate violence. Instead, the OT is anti-violence.

Fleischer starts the book in Chapter one with a series of questions that I’m sure most of us have thought and probably have even been asked:

Can we reconcile the violence of the Old Testament with the nonviolence of the New Testament (NT)? Can we honestly and rationally square God’s violent OT actions and commands with Jesus’ nonviolent actions and commands?

Who are we to imitate and obey? Are we to ruthlessly and mercilessly slaughter our enemies like the OT God or are we to self-sacrificially love our enemies like Jesus? What is the moral standard today—the OT, the NT, or a bit of both?

What is God really like? Is he more like the angry, jealous jihadist God revealed in the OT or the patient, merciful, nonviolent God revealed in Jesus?

Top 10 Posts of 2018

by Gregory A. Johnson

I am always humbled by the number of people who take the time to read what I write. I pray for the Spirit of God to encourage and inspire each reader as they read each word.

I simply write what God lays on my heart, finding that God often allows me to be transparent, writing from a life that has experienced not only joy and peace, but also pain, hardship, hurt, trials, and tribulations on my journey as I follow Christ.

I'm thankful for the readers from 87 countries in 2018 that have read what I shared.

Please allow me to share with you the top ten posts that were read in 2018:

10 Benefits of Loving God

by Gregory A. Johnson

Please allow me to share with you ten benefits of loving God:

1. God redeems us from a life of sin.
2. God forgives all our sins.
3. God removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.
4. God does not give us the punishment we deserve for our sins.
5. God heals us.
6. God renews our youth by satisfying us with good.
7. God works righteousness and justice for us.
8. God remembers that we are human.
9. God shows us compassion.
10. God loves us endlessly.

Given these ten benefits, why would anyone not want to love God? The benefits are out of this world!

The Promise of Answered Prayer

by Gregory A. Johnson

The Bible, God’s word to us, is full of promises. With those promises come conditions. For example, Jesus says, “if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! (John 15:7, NLT)."

Let’s explore that Scripture. The promise is that our prayers will be answered. The condition attached to that promise is that we are to remain in Jesus and his words remain in us.

As Christ-followers, we know and do what Jesus teaches, continuing his point-of-need ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers will be in accordance with his life and teachings. Our prayers will not conflict with the life and teachings of Jesus. Our prayers will agree with them.

As we pray according to the life and teachings of Jesus, he promises that our prayer requests will be granted. We can stand on that promise. We may not get what we are asking for in our timing, but our prayers will be answered.