Does the Bible really call to Jihad (war against unbelievers)?

A reader of the portal which appeared to be a Muslim Moldavian came with two texts from the Bible to argue that the Word of God calls for war against unbelievers, as the Koran does. The texts of the Bible that he has brought as arguments are Luke 12:49-53 and Matthew 10:34-37. Let us look at each of them.

Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said in this text:

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

This text speaks about the persecution that Christians will suffer because they chose to believe and enter into covenant with Jesus. Much of this persecution is happening in Muslim countries. I have recently met someone whose Muslim father-in-law killed his wife after she chose to believe in Christ following the example of her husband. Any my comment on the above passage is superfluous, because in chapter 12 of the Gospel of Luke Jesus continues to make references to the price that those who chose to follow Him would have to pay, price that Christians have been paying up to nowadays.

Matthew 10:34-37

In this text Jesus says the following:

 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Before the text, the Savior told His disciples about the persecution they were going to have, to not fear them and not forsake Him during persecution:

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:30-33)(NASB)

After the text of Matthew 10:34-37, the Lord Jesus said His disciples what the price of faith in Him would be and said to them:

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:38-39)(NASB)

As you see, none of these texts shows that Christians were called to fight against other people and to persecute them for their religious beliefs.

What does the Koran say in this regard?

Translated by Felicia Rotaru