It seems to me that Christians – perhaps
especially Texan Christians – would do well to meditate on the New Testament’s univocal call for a life of non-violence. The implications are broad:
§ John 18:36 – “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of
this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been
fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not
from the world’."
§ Matthew 5:38-39 - "You have heard
that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to
you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right
cheek, turn to him the other also. "
§ Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they shall be called sons of God."
§ Matthew 5:43-45 - "You have heard
that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say
to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may
be sons of your Father who is in heaven. "
§ Matthew 26:52 – “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword
back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the
sword’."
§ Romans 12:14 – “Bless those who persecute you; bless
and do not curse them."
§ Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give
thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all."
§ Romans 12:19 – “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but
leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will
repay, says the Lord’."
§ Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good."
§ Luke 6:27-30 - "But I say to you who hear, Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray
for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other
also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.
Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do
not demand them back."
§ Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, and do good, and
lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will
be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
§ Hebrews
10:32-34 – “But recall the
former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with
sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and
sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those
in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you
knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one."
§
1 Peter 2:21 – “For to this you have been called, because Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his
steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was
reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten,
but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."
9 comments:
And to meditate on the New Testament's real call to a life of violence (i.e. Matt. 11:12; Lk. 18:5-7; Eph. 6:12-113; etc.)
I know you're a fan of the Anabapists. How would you apply those verses you mentioned to Christians serving in the military?
Word.
Bro, you ask a sensitive and sticky question (at least in America). It is impossible for me to reconcile murdering another person for the sake of a country when Jesus tells us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek.
Thoughts?
bw
My convictions used to be stronger, but I think I'd still have to agree with you--I just wouldn't call it murder.
Neither Jesus nor His apostles forbid Christians to enter military service. John the Baptist commends soldiers only to remain honest. Jesus comnends the faith of the centurion. Paul says explicitly that the state bears the sword by God's design and that it is a good thing. Murder, vengeance and violence are forbidden outside of that context to be sure, within personal relationships.
Pacifism is a laudable ideal but an unrealistic one. The pacifist relies on the actions of the military non-pacifist in order to be free to remain a pacifist.
Hey Matthew,
I hear you (and have heard those objections and more). It is hard. My thing is the explicitly clear statements by our Lord about loving brothers and sisters and our enemies.
Let me try to understand you better. Are you saying that the passages I have cited in the blog only apply to "personal relationships?" Would that mean we are only called to love those enemies whom we know?
Would you be comfortable killing a brother or sister in Christ who happens to be an enemy of the country you pledge allegiance to?
Thanks,
bw
Amen!
I contradicted Mr. Catalano in my posting here ““Christian” Soldiers?”.
In my almost 50 years here, the military has never protected any of my freedom(s).
This is a huge issue for the person who wants to seriously follow Jesus... and if that makes one "unrealistic"...well...
Comments like Matthews are the best arguments I have come across and are the reason why my convictions aren't as strong as they once were. We know that the Sermon on the Mount and other NT passages were never meant to apply to the kingdoms of this world. Militaries need to exist, and wars will continue; but my question is what should the believers' role be in these "civilian affairs." It might be my bias talking, but I'm not sure if the cases just mentioned are as definitive as people make them out to be. John's preaching and baptism was not New Covenant preaching and baptism. Also, with Jesus we have no idea how he interacted or what he thought about the Centurion other than his faith in Jesus' authority. We do have other statements like "those who live by the sword will die by the sword," and I would say just the general tenor of the NT which can be seen to push back against being involved with the world in this way.
Again, I'm not that confident in what I just said and admit could be driven by certain biases. Still, I don't think the fact that a pacifist needs to rely on non-pacifists is a strong argument against it. True born-again believers will always be a minority in this world, and if God led His true children out of combative service I'm not sure that it would make all that much of a difference. Where do we draw the line though? Should they not serve in the military in ANY kind of way (i.e. manufacturing the weapons used to kill people)? What about Christian police officers? What about just any role of government--especially Congress which technically is supposed to play a role in authorizing military action?
We definitely want to get rid of the idolatrous idea of "Christian Nationalism," but I just don't want to overreact and honestly am not sure where to draw the line.
I hear you Kevin. My concern is for what role believers are to have as well. I am all for just war theory with regard to nations (though I seriously doubt the criteria has ever been met since all nations think it is just to go to war when they do).
I struggle with where to draw the line. I just want to urge Christians to think through these passages - especially in America. I am also jealous to make sure Christians are pledging allegiance to One.
Btw, I enjoyed this documentary:J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM6Po862pGA
http://bible.cc/luke/3-14.htm "Vincent's Word Study" Scroll Down
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