Pacifism & Christianity
A pacifist is someone who refuses to fight even if their life is in jeopardy. They ‘morally’ object to violence or warfare of any kind. Often times individuals that believe this way gravitate to statements that Jesus Christ made while on earth and come to the conclusion that the Bible supports this ideology:
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. – Luke 6:29-30
At first glance it would appear that indeed Jesus Christ, God himself, is advocating a “just sit there and take it” mentality. However, that is inconsistent with everything else in Scripture regarding the character, nature, and commands of God. Consistently throughout the Old and New Testament we are commanded to protect the weak, confront evil doers, God is even called a “Mighty Warrior” on numerous occasions. Since we know that God cannot lie and that He is always consistent with His character (Titus 1:2;Numbers 23:19) what could Jesus have possibly meant?
The key to understanding Scripture is understanding the context and the situation. These words are said in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, to the Jewish people, and in confrontation of the current teaching of the Pharisees. Taking all of those things into consideration here is my understanding and interpretation of what Jesus was communicating to the crowd that day. First, the Jewish nation had become a nation of captivity and slavery. They were looking for a Messiah that would come in power and warfare to free them and exact vengeance on the Romans. Christ was making it crystal clear that was not his intention nor his teaching. He had come not to free them as a nation but to free them as individuals from the slavery of sin. Second, the Pharisaical teachings of the day were filled with vengeful proverbs and rules. Jesus was making it clear that taking revenge on someone was taking things into our own hands and usurping what God was attempting to do through that situation (Romans 12:19). Finally, he was communicating an attitude change that needed to take place. Many of the Jewish people of that day walked around with a ‘chip on their shoulder’ almost looking for a fight. Christ challenged that attitude and said that instead we should have an attitude of humility and service.
If you’re still convinced that Jesus was promoting pacifism then I encourage you to take a look at these verse:
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. – Matthew 10:34
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. – Luke 22:36
Guess who said that…yep, Jesus Christ speaking to his disciples. All this brings us to really the bigger point of this little devotional, “Be careful using an isolated verse to prove a point!” The Bible is the living and active Word of God it is not something that we should wield to support our personal ideologies. Study your Bible, learn your Bible, read your Bible!
