" . . . I Do Not Wish Them To Be Brave In The Devil's Service""

 " . . . I Do Not Wish Them To Be Brave In The Devil's Service"


Though it is probably not absolutely historically-verifiable, the story has come down through the years, that Lt. Gen. Thomas J. ("Stonewall") Jackson (CSA), told one of his staff officers that his (Jackson's) troops should, with regard to the Union soldiers, [quote], "Kill them all. I do not wish them to be brave in the devil's service."  The staff officer had noted the courage of the northern warriors; and Gen. Jackson was concerned that their example of valor would have a savory effect on the other men in blue.  (This incident allegedly occurred during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862.)  It is no wonder that someone who could not understand Gen. Jackson's Christian faith, would call him a "blue-eyed killer," and a "religious fanatic"--as Ken Burns described him (in his Civil War series).

 

But Gen. Jackson's command--assuming the truthfulness of the story--given in wartime, made all the sense in the world.  The general understood that his own troops' wellbeing was at stake; and he knew that war demanded all-out effort; and that there was no place for sparing any enemies, when it came to the time when the battle was engaged.  (Once the battle was over, and prisoners had been taken, and the wounded on the field were being attended to--that was a different situation altogether.  In that case, mercy and clemency had their role--and Gen. Jackson excelled at this.)

 

. . . For regenerate Christian churchmen--especially those vested with leading the church under King Jesus--this attitude of, "Kill them all. I do not wish them to be brave in the devil's service," is one of our key phrases.  Of course, we do not physically or bodily "kill" anyone.  This is not the church's role or responsibility; but we do "kill" spiritually all persons, doctrines, and teachings that threaten Christ's blood-bought sheep of His church.  We destroy them/we annihilate them/we crush them.  Why?  And why so ruthlessly and mercilessly?  Because, if we do not do this, they (the enemies of Christ and our faith), will destroy us/annihilate us/crush us--and God would not have us allow this to happen, (at least not without a great "fight" being carried on by us [in Christ's service]).

 

Serious Christians are to be spiritual Joshuas or Davids.  In both of their cases, they were commanded by God to utterly wipe out all of Christ's and His church's enemies.  Need proof?  Check out Josh. 11:20 and Ps. 18:37-42.

 

For those professing Christians who do not like God's insistence that His enemies be destroyed, please note that you yourselves (and not God) are the "cruel" ones.  You would have Christ's sheep be slaughtered, rather than God's foes be eliminated.  Of course, when we say all these things, we are fully recognizing that all of us who are in Christ today, at one time, before our regenerations, were God's enemies ourselves.  We deserved the very treatment we are to mete out.  We pray for our enemies/we love our enemies/and we rejoice that the elect among our enemies will soon be our greatest friends.  But, when it comes to the battlefield of life down here on this fallen planet, there can be no "letting up."

 

Paul demolished "strongholds," and "arguments" raised against Jesus and His gospel (see 2 Cor. 10:4-6)--and so must we. . . . Perhaps you do not approve of Christ's, Paul's, David's, Joshua's, and Gen. Jackson's approach to the battlefields of Christianity--and you want a "softer," "gentler" way.  If so, understand that this is a big part of the reason you and your loved ones live in danger today.  You are your own worst enemy.

 

In truth, Jesus, Paul, David, Joshua, and Thomas Jackson were very gentle souls.  They were God's gems; and, of course, Christ is God's beloved natural Son.  Let us follow their good examples; and "fight the good fight," (1 Tim. 6:12a); and "wage the good warfare," (1 Tim. 1:18b).  As we do so, we show our love for God, His precious church, and even the entire world of dead, lost, and rebellious sinners.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #106

8 June 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

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