missions
Did God Command Genocide in Deuteronomy 7?
By Andrew Wilson at The Gospel Coalition
· June 18, 2026
· 12 min read
It's been 20 years since Richard Dawkins released The God Delusion, the mighty atheist screed that launched a movement, drew headlines around the world, got translated into dozens of languages, and sold more than 3 million copies. A lot has changed since. Memories of 9/11 have faded. Global threats
Key takeaway The Christian right has been overtaken by the post-Christian right.
Why this matters
The debate surrounding Deuteronomy 7 and its depiction of God commanding genocide raises complex questions about the interpretation of scripture and its implications for Christian ministry and missions. As Christians grapple with these passages, they must consider the historical and cultural context in which they were written, as well as the broader themes of justice, mercy, and compassion that are woven throughout the Bible. The fact that critics like Richard Dawkins continue to cite these passages as evidence of God's supposed cruelty highlights the need for thoughtful and nuanced engagement with scripture, particularly in the context of evangelism and outreach. By acknowledging the challenges and complexities of these passages, Christians can work to develop a more robust and compassionate understanding of their faith, one that is grounded in a deep understanding of scripture and a commitment to loving and serving others. This, in turn, can inform and shape their approach to missions and ministry.
About this story
Original reporting by The Gospel Coalition . Jesus Give surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit The Gospel Coalition . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: missions ·
Published: June 18, 2026 ·
Source: The Gospel Coalition ·
Reading time: 12 min
Get more Jesus Give stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering missions and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? It's been 20 years since Richard Dawkins released The God Delusion, the mighty atheist screed that launched a movement, drew headlines around the world, got translated into dozens of languages, and sold more than 3 million copies. A lot has changed since. Memories of 9/11 have faded. Global threats
When was this published? This article was first published on June 18, 2026 by The Gospel Coalition and curated for Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Andrew Wilson at The Gospel Coalition. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Jesus Give, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .