Christian Pacifism

[JohnH]

A thread to discuss Christian Pacifism.

Not identical to Anabaptism or Anabaptist nonresistance but with plenty of cross-over and common themes and threads to think about.

[Neto]

For me, it was a starting point, my first step away from extreme patriotism (in spite of growing up in an MB home, where I was taught personal non-resistance). But it was actually a 'revitalization movement' I had 'joined', a "with it" Mennonite Hippie-influenced peace position presented as though it was the authentic non-resistant "Jesus path". It was then a growing Biblicism that lead me on from there. (Reading Menno Simons didn't hurt, either.)

[Valerie]

For me, it was a starting point, my first step away from extreme patriotism (in spite of growing up in an MB home, where I was taught personal non-resistance). But it was actually a 'revitalization movement' I had 'joined', a "with it" Mennonite Hippie-influenced peace position presented as though it was the authentic non-resistant "Jesus path". It was then a growing Biblicism that lead me on from there. (Reading Menno Simons didn't hurt, either.)

I read Dean Taylor’s “A Change of Allegiance” probably 15 or more years ago. I try to understand why although I get pacifism personally, I seem to still believe when it comes to helping one’s country in a time of war which I hate, I cannot conclude as of yet, that the only people to serve are unbelievers.

However I watched a movie “Testament of Youth” which was the memoirs of a young woman in Britain who gave up college to go serve as a nurse in World War 1. Based on knowing the horror she experienced, she had been pro -war then lost her finance, and brothers to the war. St one point she had to treat dying German soldiers (the enemy) then realized they were the same people “as people” and she became an anti-war advocate speaking out against it and became a pacifist. Really though there was no mention of Jesus words being the reason but how horrible war is. It changed her forever.

I am on the fence- I don’t think it was “just” the Bible that changed Dean Taylor’s mind but was influenced by an Anabaptist book he had gotten ahold of while serving.

Mostly I cannot assume someone believing they are helping a cause and willing to risk there life for the betterment of “a people” then I leave it to personal conviction- and won’t judge that.

[JimFoxvog]

I became a pacifist in college in 1971, shortly after my born-again experience and my accepting the authority of the scripture. I came to this conclusion from the scripture, mostly the teachings of Jesus, not from other people I knew. I may have been influenced by two magazines I read in the school library, Sojourners, and The Other Side.

I since learned of Anabaptism, and this was a big factor in becoming Anabaptist. I prefer the work "pacifist" (meaning peacemaker--those whom Jesus declared blessed), over non-resistance, which is a proper subset of pacifism.

[Neto]

For me, it was a starting point, my first step away from extreme patriotism (in spite of growing up in an MB home, where I was taught personal non-resistance). But it was actually a 'revitalization movement' I had 'joined', a "with it" Mennonite Hippie-influenced peace position presented as though it was the authentic non-resistant "Jesus path". It was then a growing Biblicism that lead me on from there. (Reading Menno Simons didn't hurt, either.)

I read Dean Taylor’s “A Change of Allegiance” probably 15 or more years ago. I try to understand why although I get pacifism personally, I seem to still believe when it comes to helping one’s country in a time of war which I hate, I cannot conclude as of yet, that the only people to serve are unbelievers.

However I watched a movie “Testament of Youth” which was the memoirs of a young woman in Britain who gave up college to go serve as a nurse in World War 1. Based on knowing the horror she experienced, she had been pro -war then lost her finance, and brothers to the war. St one point she had to treat dying German soldiers (the enemy) then realized they were the same people “as people” and she became an anti-war advocate speaking out against it and became a pacifist. Really though there was no mention of Jesus words being the reason but how horrible war is. It changed her forever.

I am on the fence- I don’t think it was “just” the Bible that changed Dean Taylor’s mind but was influenced by an Anabaptist book he had gotten ahold of while serving.

Mostly I cannot assume someone believing they are helping a cause and willing to risk there life for the betterment of “a people” then I leave it to personal conviction- and won’t judge that.

I realize that what you write here is a compelling and logical process of thinking. My own conclusion ( and conviction) about this question is based on kingdom membership. I recognize that the State has legitimate roles to perform in the world, but I am not a member of that kingdom, so must not "put my oar in".

[barnhart]

I think a worldview such as Valerie projects hinges on an underlying conviction that force and violence have redemptive power, they align with the character of God and are the methods he wants to use. Assuming this groundwork, pacifism is negligence.

[Valerie]

I think a worldview such as Valerie projects hinges on an underlying conviction that force and violence have redemptive power, they align with the character of God and are the methods he wants to use. Assuming this groundwork, pacifism is negligence.

Not really, somewhat true- and I don’t think pacifism is negligence, I believe it’s personal conviction which I am all for. I just don’t see Christians who sense a call to serve as being “disobedient “ or evil, many have told how God used them in that service. Maybe testimonies have influenced my thinking, personal relationships, and the fact my brother was a Chaplain- this would of course align with my understanding that loving your enemies is referring to personal relationships and treatment. Perhaps also knowing the allies will be leading an army I realize the Father & Son advocated for war-even as evil ad it is to fight evil. May He convict & show me where I see it wrong.

[Praxis+Theodicy]

I came to an understanding of nonviolence in the Christian walk through reading the Bible. It was hard to come then to a conviction on it. I had a lot of false teaching to overcome. Leo Tolstoy's book "The Kingdom of God is Within You" was the thing that really spurred me to take the teachings of Jesus seriously instead of grinding them into the dirt under my boot heel like the evangelical church had taught me to do. After this I began looking for real, continuing Christian movements that held to non-violence based on following Jesus. I had long been a "fan" of Jesus, and I wanted to be a follower. As soon as I realized I wasn't just some lonely kook coming to the conclusion that Christians should follow Jesus and obey His teachings, I felt more comfortable with the conviction of a living, active, peacemaking stance.

[MattY]

I think a worldview such as Valerie projects hinges on an underlying conviction that force and violence have redemptive power, they align with the character of God and are the methods he wants to use. Assuming this groundwork, pacifism is negligence.

Maybe I don't know what you mean by "redemptive" but I don't know why that would be necessary to such a view. How about "restraining" or "corrective?" I wouldn't say that making society more outwardly peaceful is redemptive either; I would only associate that with the blood of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel.

[JohnH]

I think a worldview such as Valerie projects hinges on an underlying conviction that force and violence have redemptive power, they align with the character of God and are the methods he wants to use. Assuming this groundwork, pacifism is negligence.

Maybe I don't know what you mean by "redemptive" but I don't know why that would be necessary to such a view. How about "restraining" or "corrective?" I wouldn't say that making society more outwardly peaceful is redemptive either; I would only associate that with the blood of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel.

I think it's redemptive, for example, to have people settle a dispute in small-claims court rather than having a shootout and a resultant 100-year family feud.