Archive for January, 2010

1.  What is unconditional non-violence?
Many believe  that unconditional non-violence means that a person could do nothing if his wife were being attacked and assaulted.  I disagree.  Unconditional non-violence is not the same as do-nothing.  Jesus said when you are persecuted in one place flee to another Mt. 10:23.  I would remove myself and family from any potentially violent situation.  Also, I would not hesitate to place myself in harms way for the sake of my wife and family.  I would not sit idly by while someone harmed my family, but neither would I pull out a gun and “shoot and ask for forgiveness later”.  Also, I do trust God to protect me and that prayer, loving your enemies, and asking for mercy or to help a violent person may be more effective (and less risky) than responding with violence.

2.  Although God allowed violence in the Old Kingdom under the Jews, He foretold a time when violence would not be part of His Kingdom:
And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.  Is 2:4
And He will judge between many peoples And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.  Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they train for war.  Mic 4:3

3.  What does the New Testament say about violence.
God allowed the Old Testament Israelites to engage in many practices that were against His ultimate will for humans. For example, He permitted polygamy and remarriage while the original spouse remained alive in the Old Testament even though those practices were contrary to His ultimate will for mankind. He permitted this even though later He would forbid them to His people. It would seem that war falls into this same category.
For example, quoting from the Old Testament, Jesus told His followers: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Matt 5:38-41 NKJV Again He went on to say:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:43-45 NKJV
Through the teachings of Jesus and also His apostles, God breathed a new spirit of life and gentleness into mankind. Most humans did not accept this new spirit but He introduced it into mankind through His people. Jesus not only taught against violence, He lived what He taught. He never used physical violence to defend Himself or His disciples. When Jesus was about to be arrested He told Peter:
“Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”  Matt 26:52 NKJV
The apostles taught very similarly to Jesus. For example, Paul wrote to the Corinthians: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Cor 10:3-4 NIV.  He also told the Ephesians:  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:12 NIV In his letter to the Romans Paul taught Christians this:  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:  ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.  On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Rom 12:14, 17-21 NIV
Although, these teachings are clear, there is no specific example in the NT where a convert to Christianity is told to leave the military or forbidden a violent occupation.  There is good reason for this:  initially all of the Christian converts were Jews and then Samaritans. During the New Testament period, the Jews were not allowed to have their own army and the Romans would not let them join the Roman army. So participation in the military was a non-issue. There is the example of Cornelius, the Centurion, and there is nothing recorded in the Bible about him leaving the military.  Yet, biblical silence is no grounds for doctrine.  There are many passages where baptism is not mentioned as part of the conversion process either – yet I think many would agree that baptism is necessary.  Luke’s audience (the book of Acts) understood that Christianity was non-violent so there was no need for him to stress the importance of it when recording Cornelius’ conversion.

4.  What did the early Christians say about violence?  Although, I believe the Scriptures are sufficient to show Jesus’ Kingdom was non-violent, let’s look at what the early church said:

Addressing the Romans:
We who formerly murdered one another now refrain from making war even upon our enemies. Justin Martyr (c. 160), 1.176. Again from Justin Martyr: We used to be filled with war, mutual slaughter, and every kind of wickedness. However, now all of us have, throughout the whole earth, changed our warlike weapons. We have changed our swords into plowshares, and our spears into farming implements. Justin Martyr (c. 160), 1.254.
We who formerly used to murder one another do not only now refrain from making war upon our enemies, but also, that we may not lie nor deceive our examiners, willingly die confessing Christ. Vol. 1 pg. 176 Justin Martyr AD 165

Middle-East
I do not wish to be a king. I am not anxious to be rich. I decline military command.  Tatian(c. 160) (speaking of himself as a representative Christian)

Addressing the Romans
We have learned not to return blow for blow, nor to go to law with those who plunder and rob us. Instead, even to those who strike us on one side of the face, we offer the other side also. Athenagoras (c. 175), 2.129

Leon, France
The new covenant that brings back peace and the law that gives life have gone forth over the whole earth, as the prophet said: “For out of Zion will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; and he will rebuke many people; and they will break down their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and they will no longer learn to fight …. These people [Christians] formed their swords and war-lances into plowshares, … that is, into instruments used for peaceful purposes. So now, they are unaccustomed to fighting. When they are struck, they offer also the other cheek.” Irenaeus (c. 180), 1.512.

Alexandria, Egypt
It is not in war, but in peace, that we are trained. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195), 2.234.

Tertullian, North Africa
An enemy must be aided, so that he may not continue as an enemy. For by help, good feeling is compacted and enmity dissolved. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195), 2.370
If, then, we are commanded to love our enemies (as I have remarked above), whom have we to hate? If injured, we are forbidden to retaliate, lest we become just as bad ourselves. Who can suffer injury at our hands? Tertullian (c. 197), 3.45. Also from Tertullian’s apology to the Romans: We willingly yield ourselves to the sword. So what wars would we not be both fit and eager to participate in (even against unequal forces), if in our religion it were not counted better to be slain than to slay? Tertullian (c. 197), 3.45.
A soldier of the civil authority must be taught not to kill men and to refuse to do so if he is commanded, and to refuse to take an oath.  If he is unwilling to comply, he must be rejected for baptism.  A military commander or civic magistrate who wears the purple must resign or be rejected.  If an applicant or a believer seeks to become a soldier, he must be rejected, for he has despised God.”  Apostolic Trad. Pg 16  Hippolytus AD 200
Our prayers defeat all demons who stir up war…Accordingly, in this way, we are much more helpful to the kings than those who go into the field to fight for them.  Vol 4 pg 667 Origen AD 248

5.  Argument from History:
History shows that while Jesus’ church was faithful to His teachings on unconditional non-violence, the Western world experienced the longest recorded time of peace the world had ever seen; the “Pax Romana”:
This period is considered to have lasted from 27 BC, when Augustus Caesar declared an end to the great Roman civil wars of the first century, until either AD 180 , when emperor Marcus Aurelius died, or the death of his son, Commodus, in AD 192 . It was a time in which Roman commerce thrived, unhampered by pirates or marauding enemy troops. It was not always peaceful; rebellions frequently appeared, but were quelled…Indeed, one might argue that Rome was constantly involved in some conflict or another during the “Pax Romana.” However, the interior provinces remained largely untouched by warfare, thus giving the empire the semblance of peace. Wikpedia
God blessed the world when the church faithfully obeyed Jesus’ teachings on non-violence.  Yet, as the church slowly abandoned Jesus’ teachings during the third century and finally abandoned the idea of unconditional non-violence altogether (Council of Nicea and acceptance of Augustine’s Just War theory), the Western world plunged back into perpetual warfare (often between professedly Christian nations).