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We’ve all seen the pictures of desolation. Destroyed homes. Broken bodies. Freshly made orphans. Communities in flames. The images of military conflict. And surely we’ve asked ourselves, “How could this be the will of God?”
Pacifism is the belief that violence, war, and the taking of life are unacceptable and inadequate ways of resolving conflict. A pacifist is not passive (doing nothing), but looks for peaceful solutions. The pacifist seeks non-violent ways of bringing about needed change, addressing the root of the evil rather than the expression of the evil. Once the norm in Churches of Christ, pacifism has become uncommon.
Living and ministering in a military community, I know many Christian soldiers and their families, and I’m not condemning anyone. But honest examination of the place of violence in a Christian worldview includes a look at pacifism. This is not a debate over how to best change the world. Christian ethics are based on what is morally right, not on what is most effective. The life of Jesus and the road that led to the cross followed the path of non-violence – and Christians are called to follow in his footsteps.
This overview will briefly mention the example of Jesus, the teaching of Jesus, and the teaching of Paul regarding violence and retaliation. By the nature of this article, this is not an in-depth study. I pray that it challenges you to think about these issues and provides an opening for dialogue.
The Example of Jesus
The consistent example of Christ is one of non-violence and non-retaliation. In the crucifixion story, for example, one point is consistently emphasized: Jesus did not retaliate when he was arrested, insulted, beaten, and, ultimately, executed. This point is also made in prophecy about Jesus (Isaiah 53), and by Peter who encouraged Christians through the example of Christ to be faithful under persecution (1 Peter 2.21-25). The example of Jesus is one of endurance in the face of injustice, physical attack, and personal insult.
And just in case we think this example of Jesus irrelevant to us today, Jesus made it clear that the path of discipleship is the path of the cross: ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me’ (Matthew 16.24, New American Standard Bible).
The Teachings of Jesus
Jesus’ teaching is consistently non-violent. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), for example, Jesus teaches that peace and forgiveness are hallmarks of Christian life. He says that peacemakers are children of God (Matthew 5.9). He says emphatically that Christianity leaves no room for retaliation. When a Christian is wronged, he does not resist the evildoer, but instead goes the extra mile, turns the other cheek, and gives more than expected (Matthew 5.38-41). When a Christian is persecuted, she loves and prays for the persecutor (Matthew 5.43-45). In fact, Jesus is specifically talking about love for enemies when he says ‘Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect’ (Matthew 5.48). Christian perfection (or maturity) shows in how we treat our enemies. How can one who is following the teaching of Jesus say that it is right to kill our enemies?
The Teachings of Paul
These teachings of Jesus echo in Paul’s writings, such as Romans 12.14-21. Paul commands us to bless those who persecute us and says we are never to repay evil for evil to anyone. Instead, we are to meet the needs of our enemies – provide food when they are hungry and water when they are thirsty. The clincher is verse 21: ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ Could anyone declare that war is truly good? At best warfare is a lesser evil. But Paul commands us to overcome evil with good.
Conclusion
We have briefly sampled the example of Christ, the teachings of Christ, and the teachings of Paul regarding non-violence and non-retaliation. But we have barely scratched the surface. Other issues include:
- Christians killing Christians in war.
- The sanctity of life.
- Heavenly vs. earthly citizenship.
- Making right what is fundamentally sinful (when is killing good?).
- God-directed war (Old Testament).
- The “Just War” Theories.
All of these issues require more examination and dialogue. There are no easy answers regarding Christ-like living in a fallen world. I pray that our search for truth will spur each of us to greater prayer and study as we seek to take up our crosses and follow Jesus.
Matt Carter is campus minister for Cats for Christ, Kansas State University, sponsored by the Manhattan Church of Christ (Manhattan, KS). Matt graduated from the University of Georgia (Bachelor of Music) and Harding University Graduate School or Religion (Master of Divinity).
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