The Bible states that extremists can be saved…We should not be like Saul but more like Paul...

To the Christians being martyred by the likes of Saul back in the times of the New Testament times it is no stretch to assume that these martyrs saw Saul and those like him as terrorists.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 7:57-60, 8:1.

Paul said: “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” Acts 22:3-4

And Paul wrote: “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:9

 So if it is God's desire that "all" should not perish but instead repent and  be reconciled back to Him then why is this not our desire as well? Many would prefer to just kill all the extremists out there without any consideration as to these soul's eternal destinies. Many self-professing Christians today actually do not have the same desires that the God they profess to serve has.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.2 Peter 3:9


In this sense I find it quite odd that self-professing Christians today prop up as their heroes the likes of famous snipers such as Chris Kyle. This man is reported to have killed more people as a sniper than any other sniper in American history. Every person killed that was not saved went straight to hell. Folks seem to be more concerned about our safety instead so they applaud the deaths of those that threaten them instead of mourning over the lost opportunity of another soul not being reconciled back to God.

From what I see in the modern church today is an attitude more aligned with Saul's before God got a hold of him. They want those that oppose their God dead. It's as simple and sad as that.

After Paul's conversion we do not read of him trying to persecute, imprison or kill anyone instead we read of his tireless efforts to save people and to strengthen other Christians.

We should not be like Saul but more like Paul...