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“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” 
—Matthew 11:12

The phrase "spiritually violent" may be unfamiliar or unexpected within Christian contexts. However, it is a term that Jesus used.

Entry into the kingdom of heaven requires intentional commitment and active engagement rather than casual or indifferent participation. According to the teachings of Jesus, pursuing the life He offers calls for spiritual boldness and determination.

It’s not about aggression toward others—it’s about refusing to be turned away from our pursuit of God. It’s ripping the roof off the house when the crowd blocks the door (Mark 2:1–12). It’s pushing through the masses just to touch His cloak (Mark 5:24–34). It’s throwing off your cloak and running blindly to the voice of Jesus when He calls your name (Mark 10:46–52).

Do we want Him like that?

The woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter didn’t stop when He ignored her. Or when the disciples told her to go away. Or even when Jesus challenged her with words that would make many walk off offended. She pressed on—and Jesus praised her faith (Matthew 15:21–28). It was violent faith. She didn’t come to Jesus politely. She came desperately.

So did Cornelius. A Roman centurion—sworn to Caesar—openly receives the message that Jesus is Lord of all (Acts 10:1–11:18). For him, that declaration wasn’t religious lingo. It was treason. But he knew: Jesus is worth everything. He had likely faced cultural pressure, maybe even danger, but he still gave generously, prayed constantly, and sought truth wholeheartedly.

Are we willing to look foolish? To be misunderstood? To challenge religious norms or comfort zones in pursuit of Christ?

The Bible is filled with men and women who wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22–32), knocked persistently (Luke 11:5–13), cried out night and day (Luke 18:1–8), gave everything they had (John 6:9), and boldly confronted the obstacles between them and the Kingdom of God.

This isn’t a polite faith. It’s not clean and measured and easy.

It’s violent—against everything that stands between us and Jesus: fear, shame, distraction, apathy, compromise. It’s a faith that doesn’t settle. It prays with groaning (Romans 8:18–27). It laments with honesty. It lays hold of God and says, “I will not let go unless You bless me.”

God isn’t offended by our desperation. He invites it.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13

We were never called to spiritual neutrality. We were called to press in. Like Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 13:25–33), to see the promise and take it by force. To live as soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3–4), not civilians. To run our race with urgency (Hebrews 12:1).

Austin-Sparks said it well: “We must desperately mean business… The only way for us to come into all that the Lord means… is to be desperate, to be men of violence… ‘By God’s grace, nothing and no one, however good, is going to stand in my way; I am going on with God.’”

So let’s go on—with boldness. 
Let’s be people of spiritual violence. 
Let nothing and no one—however good—stand in our way. 
Let’s be so filled with Him that we hunger all the more.