The apostle Paul tells Christians the type of warfare in which we are to participate. Read this:
Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:1-6 NKJV)
Although Paul has a tendency to write some items which are somewhat difficult to understand, his speech here is recognized that the Christian has to realize his primary duty is that of keeping his mind focused on the word of God, and being ready and able to correct false doctrines and opinions opposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is not the Christian’s duty to enter into physical (carnal) warfare with disbelievers. Paul also expresses another way to the saints at Thessalonica:
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:6-10 NKJV)
And although Paul uses the term “sober” as those who drink to a drunken state, the word also means thoughtful and alert mentally, circumspect and using sound judgment. Peter may put it in words a little easier to fully understand in his first epistle:
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13 NKJV)
One will never read of Christians physically attacking those who are teaching error. But they do condemn them verbally. A slight variation of this is the case of Paul when he was attempting to teach the proconsul of Paphos.
Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:6-12 NKJV)
Many today condemn Christians and the doctrine of Jesus Christ, accusing them of causing all manner of wars and physical abuses of mankind. These were not the works or teachings of Jesus the messiah. All who profess to wear the name “Christian” are not New Testament Christians. Those who engage in physical warfare on religious grounds are not doing so based on examples and words of our savior
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