Can a Christian be a Pacifist?

[Paidion]

JR, I am sure Matt is talking about true Christians, disciples of Christ, who follow Christ's teachings. He is not talking about the "Christians" whom you have mentioned (whom you have put in quotation marks) who beat their wives. If everyone were to become disciples of Christ, people who forsake all and follow Him by fulfilling His words in the Sermon on the Mount, there would be no more murders, theft, war, rape, etc. What need would there be for police or soldiers? None whatever! Also there won't be any "Christians" in such a world, who beat their wives, steal, and kill.

[psimmond]

Hi mattrose,
I don't really have any additional thoughts on the topic but I do want to say that your response that we are priests and priests didn't go to war is a strange argument. You could use that same argument to say that Christians shouldn't be farmers or builders because priests didn't do these things.

I also believe this is a secondary issue and I tried to throw emoticons in every now and then so you'd know that my mood was light and I wasn't on the attack.

[steve]

Mattrose wrote:

I have carefully considered it (otherwise I would not be taking a position that puts me in such a small minority and makes people angry).

I too have carefully considered these things, and I am in the same minority with Matt. Of course, I don't have to jump into this discussion to tell you all that, since my thoughts on this have long been posted at the website (under "topical articles"). I have refrained from getting involved in this thread because my involvement would obligate me to read rather long posts and give them a response. I am glad to have Matt in the ring defending what I also believe. In most cases, when he has posted, I would have little to add, other than "Ditto."

[psimmond]

I think I've said it before, but I'd like to say it again: Y'all are wonderful! So many of you have contributed to my spiritual growth. The differences between us and the questions that are asked have caused me to study the Bible like never before. And as I study, I am more and more amazed at how great God is, and I'm more and more aware of the importance of our high calling.

Thanks

[Singalphile]

Resurrecting an old thread for a brief comment:

Surprisingly, the instruction not to be unequally yoked (2 Cor 6:14+) was not mentioned (directly) in this thread nor in this similar thread.

Upon reflection, it does seem to me that for a Christian to join the modern, standing military with its oaths and contracts might well qualify as being unequally yoked. It's certainly more of a yoking together than simply being employed in a secular job. I can't actually think of anything besides marriage that is more likely to qualify as being unequally yoked. But I don't think the same is true for police/law enforcement.

[morbo3000]

Interesting for this thread to pop up given a recent conversation with my 12 year old. He wanted to play "Call of duty," a first person shooter on the Xbox. I've been adamant against war simulations that dehumanize people as wins-in-a-game. I have a Mennonite background, and have a nuanced stance on no -violence similar to what I've heard Steve explain. My son has an interest in the military, which I am sure comes from a sense of honor in serving to protect people. I explained my ideas of violence this way: if someone came into my house, and threatened you, I would use any force necessary to protect you. And if I knew that in a village a group of people was holding innocent people hostage and killing them, I would organize, or join a group of people organized to free those people. But I could not serve under a chain-of-command that asked me to use deadly force based on strategic or tactical decisions that I wasn't able to question. Being a policeman is closer to the first example. Though unfortunately, they are not always models of honor. Anyway... That's my 2c


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[Singalphile]

I explained my ideas of violence this way: if someone came into my house, and threatened you, I would use any force necessary to protect you. And if I knew that in a village a group of people was holding innocent people hostage and killing them, I would organize, or join a group of people organized to free those people. But I could not serve under a chain-of-command that asked me to use deadly force based on strategic or tactical decisions that I wasn't able to question. Being a policeman is closer to the first example.

Yeah. That's just how I'm starting to think. To join our modern, standing military to do whatever and go wherever the chain of command says, which could very well involve killing and destruction (at least indirectly) in far away places, would make me very uncomfortable based at least largely on 2 Cor 6:14.

I'm glad that you're passing that thoughtfulness on to your kid. (Some people are of course wholly pacifistic.)

Merry Christmas to you all!