The Use of Violent Imagery in Scripture
- Mark R. Rushdoony
Whether Old or New Testaments, the Scriptures are filled with oftentimes violent imagery of weapons and war. Does this mean Christian are to take up arms in revolution? Do these texts imply Christians should attack or harm their cultural or social opponents?
Critics of Christianity—and dominionism in general—are easily frightened by what they deem to be the violent rhetoric of Christians. When Christian children sing of being “in the Lord’s army,” does that somehow mean that Christian families are raising their children to be some sort of Christian militia?
Take a few minutes right now as Chalcedon president, Mark Rushdoony, shares his brief thoughts on the Bible’s use of violent imagery and how the ultimate goal of Christianity is “peace on earth.”
- Mark R. Rushdoony
Mark R. Rushdoony graduated from Los Angeles Baptist College (now The Master’s College) with a B.A. in history in 1975 and was ordained to the ministry in 1995.
He taught junior and senior high classes in history, Bible, civics and economics at a Christian school in Virginia for three years before joining the staff of Chalcedon in 1978. He was the Director of Chalcedon Christian School for 14 years while teaching full time. He also helped tutor all of his children through high school.
In 1998, he became the President of Chalcedon and Ross House Books, and, more recently another publishing arm, Storehouse Press. Chalcedon and its subsidiaries publish many titles plus CDs, mp3s, and an extensive online archive at www.chalcedon.edu. His biography of his father will be published later this year (2024).
He has written scores of articles for Chalcedon’s publications, both the Chalcedon Report and Faith for all of Life. He was a contributing author to The Great Christian Revolution (1991). He has spoken at numerous conferences and churches in the U.S. and abroad.
Mark Rushdoony has lived in Vallecito, California, since 1978. His wife, Darlene, and he have been married since 1976. His youngest son still resides with him. He has three married children and nine grandchildren.