Is non-resistance a required belief to be a sincere Christian believer?

[barnhart]

One thing about Anabaptism I have always appreciated is the reluctance to speak boldly about things that are not entirely clear, such as the exact point of apostasy. I think this is part of the reason we have not warmed up to systematic theology. It's Ok to practice with confidence and certainty on being within God's will without clear judgement on believers who differ.

I agree, but I would be interested in knowing when and how this became part of our mindset. We certainly didn't get it from Menno.

Agreed. This is evidence the movement was greater than single leaders. I would speculate the first generation of leaders were on average educated, well read,vconversant in the language of systematic theology and more opinionated. As time when on that died out and leadership was pulled from the common man an a humbler theology emerged. Just my opinion.

[Southerner]

I voted "yes" in light of everything Jesus has said..."turn the other cheek", "going the 2nd mile", etc.. For me, it is a daily call. Jesus says that to hate your brother is the same as murder and I deal w hate often...a heart matter. So I want to be compassionate towards anyone who kills another human. Although I believe things like "blessing the troops" are perverse.

[MattY]

I sat down on my couch and picked up a Christian magazine from my coffee table. The first page has a note from the president:

"When I joined the US Air Force over 30 years ago, every military member I knew shared a unifying motivation: the deep conviction that the strongest in our society must dedicate themselves to defending the most vulnerable - those who cannot defend themselves. This fallen world is filled with those who find themselves powerless and undefended, and who endure severe abuse, like our precious Christian sister Mariatu... Her new faith in Christ had resulted in her being cast out of her Muslim home, sexual assault, pregnancy and miscarriage while still living on the streets...
...
Our loving Shepherd has said, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20) and "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Even in the tragedies of Mariatu's story, Jesus' promises proved true...

Like so many of our persecuted Christian Brothers and sisters, the most powerful part of Mariatu's story and the other stories in this magazine is not their commitment to Christ at any cost, but their willingness to forgive. Mariatu's stand is truly heroic; and yet her forgiveness is beyond that - it is supernatural, a behavior from another world. As such, it shouts ETERNITY! in a way that cannot easily be dismissed by even the most skeptical.

Mariatu forgave her abusers, Youseff forgave the ISIS militants who imprisoned and tortured him, and Sabina Wurmbrand forgave the Nazi soldiers who murdered her family. In the same way, Christ has forgiven us. Who must we forgive? Let us do so today with the understanding that it will be glorious."

A sincere Christian cannot say, "I believe in Jesus but I will not obey Him." But can Christians follow Jesus and forgive their enemies without holding to the consistent and IMO correct position of nonviolence/nonresistance? Absolutely. Following Jesus means following Jesus, not following my opinion of Jesus, and it is the Scriptures that are inerrant, not your or my opinion of them.

[joshuabgood]

Jesus is Lord of the scriptures. He has been given all authority and all things are under his feet. One can make a biblical argument for violence and warfare pretty easily, however, one struggles to make an argument that Jesus promoted warfare and violence.