Like it or not, Jesus was nonviolent. I don’t mean symbolically, or selectively, or sometimes. I mean totally, radically, unflinchingly committed to a way of love that refused to pick up the sword—even when it would’ve made sense.

Now, I know that saying something like that these days will get me side-eyed at church potlucks and maybe even shouted down in some pulpits. I’ve heard it all before: “But what about the whip in the temple?” “But Jesus said to buy a sword!” “But don’t you care about protecting your family?”

Trust me—I’ve wrestled with those same questions. But once I took a long, hard look at the Jesus we meet in the Gospels—not the Americanized, weaponized version—I couldn’t keep pretending he was cool with violence. Because he wasn’t. And if we’re following Jesus, we shouldn’t be either.

Let’s Talk About the Real Jesus

The Jesus I see in the Gospels is a disarming figure—literally and spiritually. He tells his followers to turn the other cheek, to bless those who curse them, to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. And he doesn’t just preach it—he lives it.

When Peter pulled out a sword to defend Jesus, what did Jesus say? “Put your sword back in its place. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” (Matt. 26:52). Not “Nice try, Pete.” Not “You’ve got good instincts, but maybe tone it down.” No—he rebukes him and heals the man Peter attacked.

That’s the Jesus I follow. The one who, instead of calling down legions of angels, allowed himself to be arrested, beaten, and executed. Not because he was weak—but because he was showing us a strength more powerful than violence: love.

Why Are So Many Christians Obsessed with Guns?

I grew up, like a lot of American boys, idolizing cowboys, soldiers, and space captains—all of them armed to the teeth. Good guys with guns. That mythology runs deep. So I understand why so many Christians today are clinging to their firearms like they’re part of the faith.

But here’s the thing: guns don’t belong in the Gospel. You don’t need an AR-15 to follow Jesus. In fact, I’d argue it’s pretty hard to carry a cross and a rifle at the same time.

I’ve heard pastors brag about how many people in their congregations are carrying concealed weapons—in church. I’ve read the articles and seen the memes where Christians use Luke 22:36 (“sell your cloak and buy a sword”) as if it were divine permission to lock and load.

But let’s be real: Jesus didn’t tell them to buy swords so they could start a revolution. He told them to fulfill prophecy. And when they did use the swords? He told them to stop. He even healed the very guy they attacked.

So no, Jesus didn’t tell you to carry a Glock to church. That’s not faith—that’s fear dressed up in Sunday clothes.

The Early Church Got It

You don’t have to take my word for it—just ask the early Church. For the first 300 years after Jesus, Christians refused to join the military. They wouldn’t kill, even in self-defense. You can read the writings of early Church Fathers like Tertullian or Origen—and pretty much every single one of them, because there are no early Christians who justify the use of violence for any reason—they made it clear: violence has no place in the Kingdom of God.

It wasn’t until Constantine came along and merged the cross with the sword that Christians started baptizing violence. And ever since then, we’ve been justifying crusades, colonialism, slavery, and genocide—all in the name of the Prince of Peace.

If that sounds like a contradiction, it’s because it is a contradiction.

The Church of AR-15s and American Flags

We’ve reached a point where many American Christians are more committed to the Second Amendment than the Sermon on the Mount. And I’ve got to ask: When did following Jesus start looking more like following John Rambo?

I’ve heard people say, “Jesus may have been nonviolent, but we live in the real world.” But the world doesn’t get more real than a Roman cross. And Jesus didn’t fight his enemies—he forgave them.

If we claim to follow Jesus, we can’t keep clinging to this myth of redemptive violence. We can’t keep pretending that loving our enemies is optional. Because Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said, “Love your enemies.” He wasn’t winking. He wasn’t hedging. He meant it.

[I’m looking at you, Pete Hegseth].

No, Nonviolence Is Not Passivity

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “So we’re just supposed to let evil happen?” No. That’s not what Jesus did. And it’s not what he’s asking us to do.

Jesus didn’t ignore evil—he confronted it head-on. But he did it without a sword. He did it by exposing injustice, healing the wounded, forgiving sinners, and standing with the marginalized. That kind of love is fierce. It’s powerful. And it terrifies those who rely on violence to stay in control.

So no, nonviolence isn’t weakness. It’s the strength to resist hate without becoming hate. It’s the courage to lay down your life instead of taking someone else’s. That’s not passive—it’s prophetic.

A Better Way to Be Human

Here’s the truth: we’ve tried violence. For thousands of years. And it’s never brought lasting peace. All it does is continue the cycle of pain and death.

Jesus showed us a better way. A harder way, sure—but a more beautiful one. He invites us to step out of the pattern of revenge and into the pattern of love. To beat our swords into plowshares and learn how to be peacemakers instead of warriors.

That’s the kind of Christianity I want to be part of. One that takes Jesus seriously—not just as a Savior, but as a teacher. Not just as the Lamb who died for us, but as the Prince of Peace who showed us how to live.

For more on this topic, I recommend my book, Jesus Unarmed: How the Prince of Peace Disarms Our Violence, featuring a Foreword by John Fugelsang. Available now on Amazon>

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The new book, “The Quantum Gospel of Mary and the Lost Gospel of Truth” is now available on Amazon.

The book from Keith Giles, “The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas” is available now on Amazon. Order HERE>

Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has been interviewed on CNN with Anderson Cooper, Coast to Coast Radio with George Noory, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.”

He co-hosts The Heretic Happy Hour Podcast and his solo podcast, Second Cup With Keith which are both available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Podbean or wherever you find great podcasts.