Graham—

I appreciate your concerns about the conquest narratives, which I hope it’s clear I share. I also share your dismay that at least three commenters here have expressed little if any concern about holy war/genocide. Perhaps they should read more about Sudan and Congo. I believe this site’s stated purpose has to do with the church engaging the world.

However, I don’t think you need to argue that God is subject to certain "rules" to make your case. I think a better approach is to argue that holy war/genocide is inconsistent with God’s character, as it is revealed in Jesus.

You conclude: "But, this isn’t so much about saying what God can and cannot do. It’s simply saying what He is really like." I tried to say much the same thing when I wrote: "The question is not, ‘Can God use violence?’ The question is, ‘Does God use violence?’”