As investigations continue into Friday’s ‘terror attack’ in Norway, disturbing details have emerged. The shooting, which has killed 92, happened shortly after a huge car bomb exploded outside government offices in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Seven were killed, and at least 15 injured in the blast. After initial claims that the attacks were the work of Al-Quaida, reports now reveal the suspect, Anders Breivik, as a right-wing Christian Zionist of Norwegian descent.

The question is, how could any kind of Christian, Zionist or not, see an act like this as being consistent with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ? Here are five reasons he’s terribly wrong.

1. Jesus told us to love our enemies – not shoot them. No matter who Breivik perceived as his ‘enemies’ – whether the Norwegian Prime Minister, or the rallying students, his only Christian option was to love them.

2. Jesus said the days for militarism were over. When Peter and the other disciples tried to protect him from arrest before his trial and struck out with their weapons, Jesus said, “Put away your swords.” That was, in fact, his final word on “Zionism” too. The Old Testament fight for real estate was over. And while Jesus was now looking to establish a Kingdom that spanned all the nations, it wasn’t going to be by force.

3. The missionary apostle Paul says our only weapons are love and persuasion. In 2 Corinthians 10 he says, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Paul says that “the sword of the Spirit is the word of God,” and that we should “speak the truth in love.”

4. Paul says we should submit to our leaders, not bomb them. In Romans 13, he says “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” He tells Timothy to “pray for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

5. Jesus said that the all the necessary blood to be shed would be his blood… on the cross. He said things like, “I have come to give my life as a ransom for many,” and “this is going to be a new contract written in my blood.” As he died, he made amends, or atonement, between mankind and God in a way that left nothing more to be done, and no more blood to be shed. At the end of the day, he said, “It is finished.” And it was.

So whatever motivated Anders Breivik on that day, it certainly wasn’t the spirit of Christ or his kingdom. Whatever he imagined he was achieving for the Cause of Christ, he was dreadfully wrong. And true Christians everywhere will now need to be on the front foot demonstrating gentleness, love and the art of gospel persuasion as we work to make that clear to our world.
Phil Campbell, July 2011