From a Muslim point of view—
1. Holy War is only one aspect of Muslim teaching regarding Jihad, which literally means struggle or effortin God’s way.
2. There are two broad categories of jihad:
a. Greater jihad which includes:
i. struggle against one’s evil desires.
ii. inviting people to Islam. (dawah).
iii. working for betterment of society.
b. Lesser jihad, i.e., armed struggle in God’s way.
i. Some believe that it is only justified to defend your land from foreign aggression. It is an obligation (fard) which is fulfilled if a sufficient number in that country participate (e.g. armed forces).
ii. Others see it as their responsibility to work to bring the whole world under divine rule in a single Islamic state.
iii. Jihad originates in the teaching of the Qur’an and Traditions regarding the Prophet. When his followers faced non-Muslim enemies, they were to offer one of three courses of action:
• become Muslims
• pay a special tax, or
• prepare to die
3. When Muslims are criticized about Jihad, they frequently point to the Crusades. The word crusadederives from the Latin crux, or cross, a reference to the injunction of Matt. 10:38. For this reason and others, the cross is seen as a symbol of confrontation, conquest and colonialism.
From a Biblical point of view—
1. Muslims also refer to the Holy War carried out by the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan.
a. Deut 20:10-15 — An offer of peace was to precede battle with neighbor nations, provided the nation agreed to become slaves to Israel (10-11). Otherwise, all men were to be killed (13).
b. Deut 20:16-18 — Nations of Canaan were to be completely destroyed.
Why?Gen. 15:16 — the sin of the inhabitants
Deut. 20:18 — their bad influence on the Israelites
2. We need to make a distinction between our response as the church of Christ and as citizens of nations.
•How do the roles of the church and government differ?
•Is there any paradox between how we might act toward an enemy as disciples and how we might act as citizens?
3. The “smaller Jihad” of Islam is inconsistent with Christ’s teaching about His Kingdom (Jn. 18:36).
4. Even quarrelling is outlawed for those under Christ’s reign (Matt. 12:19; 2 Tim. 2:14, 24).
5. The Christian is however called to greater Jihad, or struggle in God’s way. These areas of struggle (agonizomai) include:
a. Control of bodily appetites (1 Cor. 9:25-27).
b. Suffering for Christ (Phil 1:29-30).
c. Working for spiritual maturity in the Church (Col. 1:28-2:2).
d. Praying for others (Col. 4:12).
e. Personal godliness (1 Tim. 6:11,12).
f. Persevering to the end (2 Tim. 4:6,7).
g. Pursuit of holiness (Heb. 12:4 “struggle”).
