Michael Pearl's view on Pacifism

Post by **_Rae** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:29 pm

I just read this and thought it was very interesting. It's Michael Pearl's (author of To Train Up A Child) views on pacifism......

---------------------------------------

Christians should be entirely pacifists in the face of legally-sanctioned persecution. If the government comes after Believers for their faith in Christ, we should be entirely non-resistant, as it says in Romans 13. Likewise, if a Christian is living in a land dominated by another religion, as is the case with 100,000 believers living in Iraq, and the Muslim religion were to launch a campaign of persecution against Christians, we should again practice staunch non-violence.

But, if a believer is appointed by his government to bear the sword, as is the case with a soldier or policeman, then he is the arm of God’s justice and should practice violence as is necessary, and no more. If a believer is the object of attempted random assault by a crazed dopehead or an evil man controlled by Satan, he is not at liberty before God to be non-resistant. He must defend himself, his family, and any other innocent party of which he is capable. Self-defense is sanctioned under the laws God gave to Israel and no where in the New Testament does God revoke the duty to self defense.

We have a Mennonite neighbor who practiced non-resistance under all circumstances. Some evil men found out about it and came into his home demanding to take sexual liberties with all his daughters. He did not resist but gave them his younger daughters as well. The men returned. His daughters became pregnant and bore little bastards. No man ever wanted them for wives. He stood by and watched the evil men strip and rape his daughters. It destroyed the family. They had to move so as to cease being used by evil men at their will. He was a fool. His doctrine was of the Devil. He should have risen up in righteous wrath and slain the enemy, like Joshua of old.

I have been struck and pushed and cursed for the gospel’s sake. I have had my life threatened several times. I have been non-resistant in all cases, but when I came across a man raping a woman in the woods, I reached for my pistol and saved her life. To this day she is thankful that I was not a pacifist. She didn’t need a spectator; she needed a deliverer.

The doctrine of pacifism is a selfish doctrine of weak men who are not led by the Spirit and are seeking salvation in their own sacrifice. I will have no part of it.

Post by **_TK** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:34 am

i agree with his viewpoint.

TK

Post by **_roblaine** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:25 am

Thanks for posting this Rae! I completely agree. I couldn't believe it when I read this:

We have a Mennonite neighbor who practiced non-resistance under all circumstances. Some evil men found out about it and came into his home demanding to take sexual liberties with all his daughters. He did not resist but gave them his younger daughters as well. The men returned. His daughters became pregnant and bore little bastards. No man ever wanted them for wives. He stood by and watched the evil men strip and rape his daughters. It destroyed the family. They had to move so as to cease being used by evil men at their will. He was a fool. His doctrine was of the Devil. He should have risen up in righteous wrath and slain the enemy, like Joshua of old.

This is where pacifism, at its extreme, will lead. The father is just as guilty as the rapists themselves.

Robin

Post by **__id_2618** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:39 pm

I have a lot of thoughts that arose from that quote Roblaine. I honestly do not think I could even entertain this in my mind with (me being him doing that) let alone letting this happen in reality. I don't think I could just stand by and let that happen to anyone. Poor guy (and girls).

Post by **_Paidion** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:45 pm

The matter of carrying out the non-resistance which Jesus taught, "Do not resist evil; turn the other cheek, etc." is not a simple matter. Actually, I have pondered it for decades, and still have not come to a definitive conclusion.

Arguments for both sides can be convincing. Sometimes I think Christ meant us to be non-resistant when we are personally attacked, but not when others are attacked. But even this rule can be faulty in some circumstances.

Perhaps we need to really pray in each circumstance and ask the Lord what he would have us do. If, in a situation, we don't have time to do so, then perhaps we need to let the Father and the Son, who dwell within us, control our actions according to their will.

Post by **__id_2417** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:10 pm

The quote from Michael Pearl is exactly my thought. Excellent. I am so glad he put it down in writing, and I am so glad you posted it. Thank you!!

When we were hippies we thought we were so righteous because we were ‘against war’ - whatever that meant, when by our morals and in our hearts we committed murder every day.

Yes, not every situation is the same, and you don’t want to fly off into one with your flesh sticking out and make it even more dangerous -- and sometimes violent people can be held off with words, even transformed on the spot. I’ve heard of it being so.

My daughter just told me tonight that she had had a talk with her daughter’s boyfriend. He had been violent with her.
She said, “I told him one, two, three and four-”
“Which is?”
“ . . . .and that he had better never, ever do such a thing again because I will protect her from him and I am not afraid of going to prison.”

Way to go, kid.

Jepne

Post by **_brody_in_ga** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:55 pm

I pity the fool who would try and break into my house and hurt my family.

You only thought Samson was strong....

You ain't met me!!!!!