Evangelicalism's Obsession with War

Why is the American church consumed with looking for war around every corner? This article explores how a fixation with the boogeyman of evil has tempted evangelicalism to embrace the wars of the Old Testament instead of the freedom of Jesus. American Christianity often reflects a framework of conquest, dominance, and control rather than the service, sacrifice, and love exemplified in the New Testament. Have we accepted salvation in Jesus and simultaneously rejected His core teachings for a power grab? I think Evangelicalism has, and I want to talk about how we got there.

A People at War: Nation Building by Conquest and Control

The Old Testament is full of narratives of war, conquest, and divine judgment. From the Israelites’ battles to claim the Promised Land to the laws governing how society was structured, a recurring theme is the establishment of order through force and submission. The Hebrew people were very familiar with war, which, from a Christian perspective, was necessary for the nation-building God had in mind. Scriptures like Exodus 15:3 (“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name”), Deuteronomy 20:4 (“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory”), and Joshua 1:9 (“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”) underscore this focus on divine support in warfare. God’s people were predestined, God-ordained, to attack those apart from Him.

What’s the problem for us today? For many evangelical communities, these stories are foundational to a theology of seeing the world around them through the lens of battle. Every week, pastors and leaders teach that Christianity must TAKE back the world from evil. Conquering is our God-ordained destiny.

What does this narrative miss? Jesus. These narratives overshadow and forget the revolutionary shift introduced by Jesus. Sure, we all say we love Jesus. We accept Jesus. We want to be like Jesus. However, our actions speak a different story. Our interactions with the world around us show that while we accept Jesus and His salvation, we give lip service to the message of Jesus beyond that teaching. We instead embrace a kingdom established through military might or coercion. While we teach that Jesus inaugurated a kingdom characterized by love, grace, humility, and service. Our application of this teaching shows that we do not really take Jesus seriously.

The Sermon on the Mount, for instance, stands in stark contrast to the "eye for an eye" justice of the Mosaic Law, calling instead for forgiveness, turning the other cheek, and peacemaking. One must then ask: why are we constantly embracing a fighting stance when we are called to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit? Might it be easier to fight than to live in peace?

The New Testament Call: A Kingdom of Peace & Grace

If a person knew nothing of Jesus, they might think that His primary stance is defensive and fearful of the world. This is not the Jesus found in Scripture. The New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus and His teachings highlights a radical departure from the war-driven mindset of the Old Testament. Paul’s letters emphasize the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—as hallmarks of a life transformed by Christ. Similarly, Jesus’ Great Commission calls His followers to make disciples of all nations through love and teaching, not force.

Yet, many modern evangelical churches seem to revert to the Old Testament mindset. From militaristic language in worship songs to the glorification of geopolitical power, the church often appears more comfortable with the sword than the cross. Christian publishing—books, TV shows, movies, websites, podcasts, and more—typically speaks of a fight against an evil coming to destroy our way of life. This is evident in political rhetoric, cultural battles, and even church governance, where authority is frequently enforced through dominance rather than servanthood. I have seen this firsthand over the seventeen years I was in full-time ministry for the local church. The invention of the MAGA movement threw fire on culture war fears and stoked Evangelicalism to embrace a mindset soundly against any real teaching of the New Testament.

Theological Implications: Rejecting Jesus for the Law?

Back to my original idea: Why does the church—which professes to follow Christ—so often cling to the Old Testament’s paradigm of conquest and control? One possible explanation is that the message of Jesus—with its emphasis on humility, sacrificial love, and reliance on the Holy Spirit—is profoundly countercultural and difficult to live out. To live as Jesus did demands a relinquishment of power and a trust in God’s sovereignty that runs counter to human instincts for self-preservation and control.

I think of Philippians chapter two. What Paul and Timothy write is foundational to how the church should look today and how Christians should operate. Consider Philippians 2:2, “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” What is being “like-minded” referring to? Philippians 2:3-8 goes on to say, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Moreover, another reason why the church has embraced a battle tone is the Old Testament’s clarity and structure can feel safer than the open-ended call to love unconditionally. Rules and hierarchies provide a framework that’s easier to navigate than the messy, relational work of grace and humility. I think this is one reason why many churches prioritize adherence to laws and doctrines over embodying the fruits of the Spirit.

Moving Forward: Embracing the Law of Love

If the church is to truly reflect the heart of Christ, we must critically examine its fascination with war—both in its theology and cultural practices. This doesn’t mean discarding the Old Testament but interpreting it through the lens of Jesus’ fulfillment of the law. The church must move from a mindset of conquest to one of servanthood, from dominance to grace, and from the law of retribution to the law of love.

This transformation requires a renewed focus on the fruits of the Spirit and a commitment to the countercultural way of Jesus. It challenges believers to reject the allure of power and embrace the vulnerability of love. It also asks us to trust that God’s kingdom is built not by force but by the gentle, relentless work of the Holy Spirit. This version of American Christianity is much messier, lives in the gray areas, and approaches everything from a place of grace.

If Evangelicalism does not abandon its obsession with culture wars and begin to rededicate itself to Jesus alone, the church will continue to lose. How ironic that the church is obsessed with winning in a way that guarantees failure.