Elder McNeil Honea – The Violent Take it by Force

In Matthew 11, Jesus rebukes a generation standing on the sidelines of the kingdom of God. Even John the Baptist, who had once witnessed Christ’s baptism and divine confirmation, later questioned whether Jesus was truly the Messiah or merely another prophet. Yet John was called to prepare the way for Jesus and to proclaim the kingdom of God with boldness—even a kind of spiritual violence. Elder McNeil explains that this “violence” refers not to physical force, but to spiritual intensity—an unwavering, passionate pursuit of God. Elder McNeil encourages us not to be passive, but to live a life marked by consistent prayer, deep study, acts of love, hospitality, and good works.