When the Gospel Becomes a Weapon: Lessons from History and Today

Introduction

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is fundamentally a message of love, redemption, and peace. However, throughout history and even in contemporary times, there have been instances where individuals and groups have weaponized the gospel for personal, political, or ideological gain. 

This includes the use of Scripture to judge, exclude, and marginalize individuals based on personal interpretations. We see this in the increase of Christian nationalism and political fragmentation within the faith.

My purpose of this essay explores what it means to weaponize the Gospel, provide historical and modern examples, analyze the consequences, and reflect on the authentic message of Jesus Christ.

Understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The word “gospel” means “good news.” In the Christian faith, the Gospel refers to the teachings and life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament. Central to the Gospel are messages of love for God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39), forgiveness (Matthew 6:14–15), humility (Philippians 2:3–8), and the pursuit of peace (Matthew 5:9). The gospel calls believers to emulate Christ’s compassion, self-sacrifice, and service to others.

The Gospel as delivered by Jesus and His disciples was to be a message of hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation between God and humankind. The Laws of Moses, on the other hand, were given as judgment and a measure that if trespassed resulted in sin and penalty. The Law also came with a constant reminder of sins in the periodic and annual animal sacrifices that had to be performed to recognize and seek forgiveness of sins.

What Does It Mean to Weaponize the Gospel?

Weaponizing the Gospel refers to the distortion or manipulation of Christian teachings to justify harm, exclusion, or domination over others. 

This can occur when Scriptural passages are taken out of context or selectively interpreted to support personal or group agendas. Rather than fostering unity and love, the gospel is used as a tool for division, judgment, or control.

Historical Examples of Weaponizing the Gospel

Throughout history, there have been notable examples of the Gospel being weaponized:

The Crusades: During the medieval period, religious leaders and monarchs invoked the gospel to justify wars in the Holy Land, leading to violence and atrocities that contradicted the teachings of Christ about loving one’s enemies (Matthew 5:44).

Colonialism: European colonizers often cited the “civilizing mission” of spreading Christianity as a rationale for subjugating indigenous peoples, resulting in the destruction of cultures and loss of life.

Slavery: In the United States and elsewhere, some Christians used selective readings of the Bible to defend the institution of slavery, ignoring the broader scriptural themes of freedom and equality (Galatians 3:28).

American Christian Nationalism: This newer development is based on a rigid fundamentalism using Scripture to justify political positions, law enforcement practices, and promotes segregation within populations based on race, immigration status, and obedience to Christian lawful principles. 

This movement is built on the notion that America is a unique “chosen” nation by God and is built on a history of Biblical principles that are applicable to all claiming to be American.

Modern Manifestations

Weaponizing the Gospel in contemporary society can be observed when religious rhetoric is used to marginalize minority groups, justify discrimination, impose judgments and exclusions on other fellow believers, or advance political ideologies. 

For example, some have misused Scripture to exclude remarried individuals, those who receive abortions, and LGBTQ+ individuals, or to promote nationalism, conflating faith with political identity.

Consequences of Weaponizing the Gospel

The misuse of the Gospel has significant consequences:

Division: Instead of fostering reconciliation, weaponized religion deepens social and cultural divides.

Violence: Justifying aggression or oppression in the name of faith can lead to conflict and suffering.

Loss of Credibility: When the Gospel is misrepresented, it undermines the credibility of the Christian message and alienates people from faith communities.

Spiritual Harm: Those targeted or marginalized by weaponized religion may experience spiritual trauma, exclusion, or disillusionment. Worse, they may become weaponized against the church in return, further alienating others from the gospel of Christ.

The Authentic Message of Jesus

The weaponization of the Gospel stands in stark contrast to the authentic teachings of Jesus. Christ consistently challenged His followers to love their enemies, serve the marginalized, and seek justice with humility (Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:31–46). 

The Apostle Paul wrote that the fruits of the Spirit are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). These values leave no room for violence, coercion, or exclusion in the name of Christ.

It is imperative that today’s churches understand that Biblical principles, while true, are dependent and specific to the time the laws and commands were given. There are many nuances and contextual matters that have to be adapted to modern social practices that were not identified specifically in Scripture. The weighing of those factors must be done to balance legalistic concerns and the call for mercy and love.

The call of the Gospel is to a world of lost sinners, and many are trapped in serious and complex sinful patterns that take time and healing to recover, even after they receive and accept the Gospel message. 

The Holy Spirit then begins the healing and growing process, which will result in periodic sins, but over time, the Spirit will move the willing toward a more perfect example of Jesus.

Building on the foundations of Scriptural intent:

The church is to encourage this journey and model the way rather than harshly judging or taking action to punish. This is all the more true for unbelievers, as only God can judge their behaviors. For those who claim to believe and accept the gospel, the churches must be patient and allow God time to mold the immature believer and not seek to hurriedly cast the immature that sin away as unredeemable. 

Only God can judge what is or is not redeemable, and all will face the judgment of God.

I do understand that there are exceptions when the church must determine the need for disfellowship or separation in rare cases. These cases are deliberate, corrupting the teachings of the Gospel and Biblical principles (1 Timothy 6:3–5; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; Titus 1:9; Romans 16:17) and those that claim to believe yet openly practice and condone sinful behaviors ( 1 Corinthians 5:1–13). 

Even so, when and if these individuals present remorse for their actions, they are to be readily brought back into fellowship. ( 2 Corinthians 2:6–8) Outside these examples of behaviors, the church should not seek to extend judgments.

This can be summarized in two categories: refusal to follow Scriptural doctrine when taught, and proudly living a life of sin contrary to sound Biblical principles after being warned. The nuances from these types of issues begin to multiply into actions seeking problems to rebuke. 

Be careful not to become engrossed in legalistic attitudes, creating unforgivable clauses that block the repentant from receiving the mercy Jesus extends to all. However, in whatever status a person comes to Jesus, they are to be received as they are — not conditioned on going back and cleaning up their past as they become a new creation in Christ. (Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 1:18)

Conclusion

Weaponizing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a profound distortion of its true purpose. While history provides many cautionary tales, the call for Christians today is to return to the core message of love, humility, and service. 

By no means are the teachings in this essay a permission to openly sin and live a worldly life once accepting the Gospel. Like the woman caught in adultery — sins are forgiven but go and sin no more (John 8:3–11), but if we sin, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ to forgive (1 John 2:1). Growth in Jesus will lead to less sinning and a desire to serve God over time.

By resisting the temptation to use the gospel as a weapon, believers can more faithfully embody the teachings of Jesus and contribute to a more just and compassionate world. 

It is only when this restoration takes place that the true purpose of the church is realized, and only then can it hope to impact a fallen world.

References

· Holy Bible, New International Version. Relevant passages: Matthew 22:37–39, Galatians 3:28, Matthew 5:44, Galatians 5:22–23.

· Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. Oxford University Press, 2011.

· Carter, Craig A., Rethinking Christ and Culture: A Post-Christendom Perspective. Brazos Press, 2007.

· Wright, N.T., Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters. HarperOne, 2011.

© Bob Russell