Thirteen Irrefutable Arguments for Christian Pacifism and Nonviolence
Daniel Keeran, MSW Victoria, Canada
Thirteen Irrefutable Arguments for Christian Pacifism and Nonviolence by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria, Canada Calling everyone to follow Jesus of Nazareth
Nonviolence is a lost teaching in many self-identified Christian communities, yet among them
in early centuries, nonviolence was a core belief. 1. Jesus and the New Testament teach that one must love, do good to, and pray for one’s enemies. 2. The early Christians in scripture and early centuries were always victims of violence and never used violence to deal with the evil actions of others. 3. The Christian idea of love is only self-sacrificing, in imitation of the death of Christ for us when he could have destroyed us. 4. If nonviolence is the teaching of the New Testament, one should expect to find it in the earliest Christian writings thereafter, and this exactly what we do find. 5. Augustine who defined the just war theory, said: "Why, therefore, should not the Church use force in compelling her lost sons to return, if the lost sons compelled others to their destruction?" - Augustine of Hippo, Letter 185, 6:23 6. The innocent victim of violence, as well as bystanders, are called upon to follow the teaching of Jesus in argument number one. 7. The apostles’ having swords and Jesus’ crucifixion between criminals were both in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy: “ ‘For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.‘ ” So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered. 8. The writings of the post-apostolic church show that nonviolence was practiced in order to follow Jesus, not to avoid persecution and in fact their belief in nonviolence contributed to the persecution of Christians. 9. Military and security converts would have to follow the teaching of the apostles and prophets of the Lord in the first argument. 10. Jesus cleansing of the temple was because of his unique authority as the divine Son of God, for it says: …the Jews demanded, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do these things?” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” 11. It would be wrong for Christian soldiers in one army to kill Christian soldiers in an opposing army. 12. Killing a non-Christian enemy would send him to an eternal hell, and that would be wrong. 13. Followers of Jesus are called upon to emulate His nonviolent conduct in suffering: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. - 1 Peter 2:21-23