Were Old Testament Wars the Same as Muslim Jihad?

Have you heard this propaganda: “God's Old Testament commands to destroy nations are just as evil as Muslim jihad”?

Let's examine this claim:

1. God’s commands were specific, not ongoing.

God's Old Testament commands to destroy nations didn't target any/all pagan nations. But the “Quran is replete with explicit and implicit sanction and promotion of armed conflict, violence, and bloodshed by Muslims” against non-Muslims (source).

2. God’s Old Testament commands targeted unimaginable evil.

The nations destroyed in the Old Testament weren't simply pagan; they were involved in “brutality, cruelty, incest, bestiality, cultic prostitution, and even child sacrifice by fire” (source). 

 

And God gave them hundreds of years to repent before destroying them. (See The Sin of the Amorites; Why Did God Destroy Entire Nations?)

3. Every biblical example is part of ancient history.

The most “modern” accusation of a biblical “holy war” isn't found in Scripture. But it still requires going back 800 years to the Christian Crusades. And accusers fail to mention that the Crusades were a response to many years of cruel Muslim jihad (source).(1) 

In addition, Christians readily admit the Crusades weren't biblically sound.

4. New Testament Scriptures command us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14-21). 

Not all Muslims agree with jihad, but their holy book, the Quran, encourages it (source 1; source 2; source 3). Not all Christians agree with loving their enemies, but our holy book, the Bible, commands it. 

 

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For additional insights see Half-Truths about the Crusades and Why Muslims Can't Believe Jesus Was a Prophet.

 

Note: There are a few places in the Quran that talk of treating non-Muslims humanely, but they contradict other passages such as the one below:

 

Quran (9:5) “And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists [worshipers of any deity besides Allah] wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah [donations for Islamic needy], let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” 

Full-text Scriptures:

There are many passages in Scripture that talk about loving, forgiving, and helping our enemies. I'll just share these two:

Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  

Romans 4:14-21: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

 

(1) In researching the Crusades and jihad, it becomes clear that you can find articles to support a variety of views. It's clear that someone is lying. So look at the provable evidence in your own lifetime: List the situations where extremist Christians have violently attacked non-Christians. List the situations where extremist Muslims have been violently attacking non-Muslims. Keep that in mind when you read different views about the Crusades.

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