Nonresistance and 2 Kingdom Scripture Foundation?

[MaxPC]

I have been trying to put together a list of Scriptures that reveal the Anabaptist foundation for nonresistance and the 2 Kingdoms. I know what I would choose but being unfamiliar with all of the history and theology of these Anabaptist concepts I feel it is better if I ask for help in this.
Help?

[Wade]

Focusing on Christ will take a person to the words of Christ. We hear a lot about the "Gospel" today as one thing, but for those who focus on Christ we see His description of the Gospel was the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Read the scriptures, especially start in Matthew and pay attention - it is over and over again. Jesus say the kingdom is at hand in chapter 4, to seek it FIRST in chapter 5 (not to seek first your own personal salvation), into further chapters He speaks in parables and keeps saying in them, "the kingdom of God", somewhere around chapter 22 he talks about the end coming after the Gospel is preached in the whole world and specifically says the Gospel of the kingdom of God, a few chapter laters when Peter cuts off someones ear Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world, in Luke 4 Jesus says he was sent here to preach the gospel of the kingdom, in chapter 17 he explains the kingdom of God is within you, in John 3 Christ says being born-again is about seeing and entering the kingdom of God, what did Jesus do for the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension? - read Acts chapter 1 teaching them about the kingdom of God, the last chapter of Acts says that is what Paul preached, what does the Lord's prayer say - for His kingdom to come down to earth, later in Romans it says something about the kingdom being, peace, righteousness, and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is just off the top of my head. Read the scriptures and pay attention to what Jesus said and the Gospel He preached is not the same message you will hear from most professing Christians today or at least most Gospels preached today are actually incomplete because they leave out the kingdom of God.

[Neto]

For me, at least, the central passage is in John 18, especially vs 36. (I do take a somewhat different approach to nonresistance compared to many modern anabaptists, in that I do not regard it as a primary doctrine, but rather as one which flows out of the teaching of citizenship in a single kingdom, the kingdom of God through Christ Jesus. I also hold that nonresistance MAY BE a 'temporary' injunction, something that is for this age only. This depends on whether we as his followers are a part of the 'Army of God' spoken of in relation to the final rebellion of the unrighteous.)

I would also point to the verse that appeared on the title page of every booklet Menno Simons wrote - I Cor 3:11 - There is no other foundation other than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. He is the central theme of all Scripture, which is also why I do not discount or diminish the importance of the OT.

[Sudsy]

Focusing on Christ will take a person to the words of Christ. We hear a lot about the "Gospel" today as one thing, but for those who focus on Christ we see His description of the Gospel was the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Read the scriptures, especially start in Matthew and pay attention - it is over and over again. Jesus say the kingdom is at hand in chapter 4, to seek it FIRST in chapter 5 (not to seek first your own personal salvation), into further chapters He speaks in parables and keeps saying in them, "the kingdom of God", somewhere around chapter 22 he talks about the end coming after the Gospel is preached in the whole world and specifically says the Gospel of the kingdom of God, a few chapter laters when Peter cuts off someones ear Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world, in Luke 4 Jesus says he was sent here to preach the gospel of the kingdom, in chapter 17 he explains the kingdom of God is within you, in John 3 Christ says being born-again is about seeing and entering the kingdom of God, what did Jesus do for the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension? - read Acts chapter 1 teaching them about the kingdom of God, the last chapter of Acts says that is what Paul preached, what does the Lord's prayer say - for His kingdom to come down to earth, later in Romans it says something about the kingdom being, peace, righteousness, and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is just off the top of my head. Read the scriptures and pay attention to what Jesus said and the Gospel He preached is not the same message you will hear from most professing Christians today or at least most Gospels preached today are actually incomplete because they leave out the kingdom of God.

Amen ! We do need to get the Kingdom understanding that Jesus preached and how the apostles interpreted this and went about proclaiming and living it.

I like the way this excerpt puts it from here -
https://www.reformation21.org/articles/ ... ipture.php

The fundamental biblical truth that is expressed in the two kingdoms doctrine is that the Christian's hope is to be fixed not on the things of this life that we see and experience all around us - our families, our work, politics - but on the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we are promised a kingdom that will transform and transcend all of these things. This conviction, in turn, arises out of Christ's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount that though believers' lives are often characterized by poverty, mourning, an unsatisfied hunger and thirst for justice, and humiliating persecution, they are nevertheless said to possess the "kingdom of heaven," a kingdom in which they will be comforted, satisfied, and granted the inheritance of the earth (Matthew 5:1-12).

[PetrChelcicky]

Max, I recommend Guy F. Hershberger: War, Peace and Nonresistance (1944). Here Hershberger sums up all Bible verses which can be used as a defendance for conscientous objectors in WW2. So this ought to be a complete register.
Hershberger at that time was a traditionalist who not only objected against violence, but as well against non-violent coercion, in this sense a radical adherent of nonresistance.

As for the Two-Kingdom formula, I never use it. I prefer the formula "I am a citizen of heaven, not of this world". The problem with the Two-Kingdom formula: If one realm is the kingdom of Christ, whose kingdom is the other realm? The kingdom of the devil? Or, as the Lutherans put it, the kingdom of the Father? Gifted theologians would have a clear idea about this, but Mennonites are no gifted theologians.

[MaxPC]

Thank you both. The Scripture verse that started this train of thought this morning is:
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.”

It occurred to me that I do not have a comprehensive listing on this topic. Are there other verses that should be included?

Max, I recommend Guy F. Hershberger: War, Peace and Nonresistance (1944). Here Hershberger sums up all Bible verses which can be used as a defendance for conscientous objectors in WW2. So this ought to be a complete register.
Hershberger at that time was a traditionalist who not only objected against violence, but as well against non-violent coercion, in this sense a radical adherent of nonresistance.

As for the Two-Kingdom formula, I never use it. I prefer the formula "I am a citizen of heaven, not of this world". The problem with the Two-Kingdom formula: If one realm is the kingdom of Christ, whose kingdom is the other realm? The kingdom of the devil? Or, as the Lutherans put it, the kingdom of the Father? Gifted theologians would have a clear idea about this, but Mennonites are no gifted theologians.

Thank you, Petr. I am a bit unclear regarding your definitions of Two Kingdom vs the citizen of heaven distinction. Could you clarify it for me?

[Wade]

Max, I recommend Guy F. Hershberger: War, Peace and Nonresistance (1944). Here Hershberger sums up all Bible verses which can be used as a defendance for conscientous objectors in WW2. So this ought to be a complete register.
Hershberger at that time was a traditionalist who not only objected against violence, but as well against non-violent coercion, in this sense a radical adherent of nonresistance.

As for the Two-Kingdom formula, I never use it. I prefer the formula "I am a citizen of heaven, not of this world". The problem with the Two-Kingdom formula: If one realm is the kingdom of Christ, whose kingdom is the other realm? The kingdom of the devil? Or, as the Lutherans put it, the kingdom of the Father? Gifted theologians would have a clear idea about this, but Mennonites are no gifted theologians.

I don't know who you could be referencing about people thinking there are two realms and only one of them is Gods? First time I heard that. When I think of realms I think of the physical and spiritual - both are the Lords.

[barnhart]

Luther used the terms God's "left handed kingdom" and his "right handed kingdom". This is a two kingdom theology but not an Anabaptist theology. This is why I am nervous to hear Anabaptist speak of "dual" citizenship, meaning heavenly and earthly. This is far too close to the Lutheran model and will likely fail to protect from nationalism just as Lutheran theology did not provide a robust, unified critique of the third reich.

Like Petr, I prefer to be a heavenly citizen and let the chips fall where they may. I had a mini crisis when the border policies changed and I could no longer visit Canadian family without a passport. This was the first time I was forced to claim US citizenship. My wife snickers quietly when the border agents ask if I am a citizen and I answer "I was born here."

For a scriptural basis, I would look to the prophets who foretold a ruler and a kingdom, coupled with Matt.5-7 as the founding document of that ruler and his kingdom.

[Kai]

The kingdom of God is “the realm where His will is done” The only place this can happen is in a person who is filled with God’s Spirit. You can notice in the Gospels that Jesus, John the Baptist and the disciples all preached that the kingdom of God was “at hand” or close by. It was not yet present in the Gospels. After Pentecost this tense changes to the kingdom being present.
God’s will for humanity is that they would carry His image into the world. You can see this in God’s stated purpose for man in Genesis 1. Man without God’s Spirit is unable to show God to the world by doing God’s will. When the Spirit is given man is able to do the will of the King, hence the “kingdom” of God

As far as the 2 kingdom understanding. In the 2nd temptation of Jesus, Satan claimed possession of all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus never contested Satan’s ownership of them. The kingdom of God is at war with all the kingdoms of this world. It is this conflict that makes the dual-citizenship argument unworkable. I can hold citizenship in 2 countries but if those 2 countries are at war with each other than I must choose which nation I will fight for and which I will fight against.

Nonresistance to me hinges on 2 principles.
#1 We are called to bear the nature of Christ, He insists on giving me free choice so I also am unable to coerce others against their will.
#2 God is love, Vengeance is not His nature but rather is His possession Deuteronomy 32:35 Psalm 94:1 and Hebrews 10:30
Romans 12:19 specifically requires that we do not engage in vengeance but leave that to God.

Nonresistance is not part of God’s nature. He has given us a day of grace for an opportunity to repent and avoid vengeance for our sin. Who am I to shorten someone’s day of grace?

[Wade]

Luther used the terms God's "left handed kingdom" and his "right handed kingdom". This is a two kingdom theology but not an Anabaptist theology. This is why I am nervous to hear Anabaptist speak of "dual" citizenship, meaning heavenly and earthly. This is far too close to the Lutheran model and will likely fail to protect from nationalism just as Lutheran theology did not provide a robust, unified critique of the third reich.

Like Petr, I prefer to be a heavenly citizen and let the chips fall where they may. I had a mini crisis when the border policies changed and I could no longer visit Canadian family without a passport. This was the first time I was forced to claim US citizenship. My wife snickers quietly when the border agents ask if I am a citizen and I answer "I was born here."

For a scriptural basis, I would look to the prophets who foretold a ruler and a kingdom, coupled with Matt.5-7 as the founding document of that ruler and his kingdom.

I never heard of people thinking of it that way about separating the kingdom. That is helpful to understand what Petr was getting at. I've never agreed with "dual" citizenship either.
Let's face it though we are speaking of a Kingdom that people can only see if they are born-again. I'm never quite sure how to approach people who proclaim they are devout Christians and yet have never seen the kingdom of God?