Nations often call upon their citizens to take up arms and go to war. After the third century rarely have Christians refused. The passage of scripture most often used by Christians to support their participation in violence is Romans 13: 1-7.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

Paul refers to government as “God’s minister”, some translations read “God’s servant”. If there is “no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” it only makes sense that if this minister of God calls the Christian into war they are obligated to go. And many do.

The modern reader should not forget that the government Paul refers to as “God’s minister” is the Roman government that considered its ruler, Caesar, as a god. But Paul’s reference to a pagan leader as a servant of God is not unique. Consider this passage from the book of Jeremiah 27:4-11:

Paul’s reference to the pagan Roman government as “God’s minister” is reminiscent of Jeremiah’s reference to Nebuchadnezzar as God’s “servant”. Both writers make reference that God has appointed the pagan rulers. And both writers insist God’s people should be obedient to these rulers. It seems obvious that the believer called into war by a God appointed leader should go, doesn’t it? Or does it?

Nebuchadnezzar was being used by God to punish an unfaithful people. Paul is not writing to an unfaithful people. He is writing to a faithful people giving them additional details on how to continue to be faithful to God’s calling. In a time when the zeal of zealots encouraged rebellion against the Roman government, Paul encouraged Christians to be a law abiding people. Clearly the Christian should be obedient to the governing rulers, he reasoned.

But even more clearly Paul taught the Christian should be obedient to the teachings of Christ. What should the believer do if the instructions of the government caused the Christian to disobey the instructions of Christ? They were to follow their Lord.

One should not forget that the Paul who wrote the Christian should be subject to earthly rulers was also the same Paul who wrote many of his letters while imprisoned. It appears there were those who thought he was not being subject to some of the edicts of the appointed rulers.

If the government gave the edict to no longer witness about the salvation of Christ should the Christian become silent? Peter gives the answer in Acts 5:27-29: “Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”’

If Jesus commands us to peace and the appointed rulers require something else, what should the Christian do? We must follow Christ. Paul’s teaching to be subject to a sometimes unjust government is no different than Christ’s instruction to go an extra mile. If the individuals in government become the enemy, are we not still bound to follow Christ’s rule to love our enemy?

Romans 13:1-7 can only be correctly understood when those words are read in context with the words that come before and after them. The end of Romans 12 reads:

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (12: 9-21)

Romans 13 ends with:

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments,“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (13:8-14)

Paul’s instructions to believers on how to live their lives are no different than Jesus’ commands, including loving your enemy, found in the Sermon on the Mount. There would not be many worldly generals who would accept soldiers who would bless persecutors, who would not avenge transgressions and would owe no one (enemies included) anything except a debt of love. The life of the fighting soldier was incompatible to believing Christians in the early church.

When Jesus disarmed Peter, He disarmed all future Christians, or so believed the early church. This is reflected in a teaching from the second century that is attributed to an early Bishop of Rome:

Clement of Alexandria echoed those words in numerous writings: “The Church is an army which sheds no blood.” …“In peace, not in war, we are trained.”…“If you enroll as one of God’s people, heaven is your country and God your lawgiver. And what are His laws? You shall not kill, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. To him that strikes you on the one cheek, turn to him the other also.”

It is not surprising that since the early Christians refused to participate in acts of violence that they were regarded as being worthless to the emperor. Celsus in the second century complained: “If all men were to do as you there would be nothing to prevent the Emperor from being left in utter solitude, and with the desertion of his forces, the Empire would fall into the hands of the most lawless barbarians.” It is the same complaint modern non-violent Christians still face.

Origen responded to Celsus: “Christians have been taught not to defend themselves against their enemies; and because they have kept the laws that command gentleness and love of man, they have received from God that which they would not have achieved if they were permitted to make war, though they might have been quite able to do so…The more devout the individual, the more effective he is in helping the Emperor, more so than the soldiers who go into the lines and kill all the enemy troops they can … The greatest warfare, in other words, is not with human enemies but with those spiritual forces which make men into enemies.”

Unfortunately Christians have frequently ignored Jesus’ and Paul’s words and instructions on non-violence. World War I gives a noted example. The war to end all wars had Christians on each side obeying the call of their worldly rulers to kill one another.

On a cold Christmas Eve night in 1914, on a battlefield filled with trenches, opposing German and British soldiers, for a brief moment in time, remembered Christ’s teaching on peace. A British soldier, Frank Richards, recorded that moment in his diary : "We stuck up a board with 'Merry Christmas' on it. The enemy stuck up a similar one. Two of our men threw off their equipment and jumped on the parapet with their hands above their heads as two of the Germans did the same, our two going to meet them. They shook hands and then we all got out of the trench and so did the Germans…"

Richards describes this spontaneous truce and how soldiers from both sides sat together around campfires and actually shared family photos and small gifts from their meager rations. With the morning of December 26 the Christmas truce was over. The soldiers returned to their respective trenches, saluted their newly made friends and began again to kill each other. German Christian soldiers killing British Christian soldiers. British Christian soldiers killing German Christian soldiers. Each soldier being obedient to their appointed worldly ruler, all ignoring Jesus’ commands to love their enemies.

Those who believe this is what Paul intended, with his message in Romans 13:1-7 to be subject to worldly appointed rulers, make a mockery out of his words. They would have us believe there are times when it is permissible for Christians to kill Christians.

Jesus and the apostles instructed to not only love fellow Christians but our non-Christian enemies as well. May all believers become soldiers of His word and become obedient to His commands.

Nothing I Can Say Will Make Sense

I realize there is nothing I can say that will make sense.

“Under no circumstances should a true Christian draw the sword.” – Tertullian, 155-230 A.D.

At Jesus birth there was the slaughter of innocents and I am sure God was cursed for allowing it to happen.

“We, who were formerly slayers of one another, not only do not make war upon our enemies, but, for the sake of neither lying nor deceiving those who examine us, gladly die confessing Christ.” - Justin Martyr, 100 - 165 A.D.

War and senseless slaughter will not go away. Each side with the sword will say they have a legitimate reason for striking and a just reason for going to war. But with each blow they strike they begin to mirror those who they say they oppose until the line is so blurred it is difficult to tell who is who.

“We who had been filled with mutual slaughter and every wickedness, have each one - all the world over - changed the instruments of war, the swords into ploughs and the spears into farming instruments, and we cultivate piety righteousness, love for men, faith and hope which is from the Father Himself through the Crucified One.” - Justin Martyr, 100 - 165 A.D.

We will dress the villains in terms that will make them seem inhuman to help justify the violence. They will be called barbarians or savages or devils on horses. They will be less than human and clearly evil.

“And so, in this commandment of God, no exception at all ought to be made to the rule that it is always wrong to kill a man, whom God has wished to be regarded as a sacrosanct creature…Thou shalt not kill… It is always unlawful to put a man to death.” - Lactantius of Bithynia, aprox 240-317 A.D.

But in the end it is not the barbarian or the savage or the devil on the horseback we really need to fear.

“Christians have been taught not to defend themselves against their enemies; and because they have kept the laws that command gentleness and love of man, they have received from God that which they would not have achieved if they were permitted to make war, though they might have been quite able to do so.” Origen

Rather it will be us the Christian. You know the one. The one who fought in the crusades. The same one who bought and sold slaves. Yes the same one who murdered and raped the people they called Indians. The very one who tried to exterminate the Jews. The one who dropped the atomic bombs on civilian centers in the name of justice. And the one today that searches hard to find the reason to draw the sword. Onward Christian solider…

“The greatest warfare, in other words, is not with human enemies but with those spiritual forces which make men into enemies.” Origen

And with each blow we strike we nail Jesus back on the cross, again and again and again.

“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;” Apostle Peter

So now here we are, needing to ask the question: Who really is the barbarian and the savage and the devil on the horseback? And is there anyone willing to try a different way?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Jesus)

Jesus gave us all an invitation to follow. Will you?

Situations involving harm of a family member are almost always the most difficult to deal with. Yet this is exactly what God was dealing with when His Son went to the cross for His enemies. Often in worldly situations there isn’t much we can do. We may be out numbered. Their worldly weapons may be stronger than ours. But God had the upper hand when His Son went to the cross. He could have stopped it at anytime. But He didn’t. Not only did God’s Son die for us be He also left an example for us to live by… that we too may be willing die for our enemies.

The concept of us being willing to die for our enemies seems almost foreign. But to the early church it was not. Consider what Justin Martyr in the second century wrote: “We, who were formerly slayers of one another, not only do not make war upon our enemies, but, for the sake of neither lying nor deceiving those who examine us, gladly die confessing Christ.” For 300 years such comments were the norm. Today they are seldom heard.

The early Christians clearly had something we lack today. First they truly believed in the afterlife and that death in this world for the believer was not loss. Secondly they were truly concerned about the deaths of non-believers. They would rather die than have a non-believer die in their place.

Paul and Silas demonstrated this in Acts 16. They were beaten and chained. Through a miracle they are set free. The only person in their way was a jailer about to commit suicide. Paul and Silas could not let an unsaved man die so that they might escape. They immediately stepped forward and “saved” their enemies life. It didn’t matter that they risked being beaten again. What mattered to them most was acting in love towards the unsaved man before them.

There is a huge misconception that non-violent believers are unprotected. Reading the New Testament might give that impression. Jesus is crucified. John the Baptist is beheaded. Stephen is stoned to death. Paul and Silas are beaten. Tradition tells us Peter was crucified upside down along side his wife. What is amazing was that Jesus and His early followers knew that violent worldly fates awaited them. Yet they still trusted in God and followed. If we knew this would be our fate, would we be Christians today? Or would we deny Jesus in order to protect our belongings, our families and our lives?

What then is the protection offered to non-violent believers? Do we have any weapons at our disposal? God does not leave us defenseless. But are we willing to trust the weapons He gives to us?

Consider what Paul wrote: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Paul also wrote about the divine armor God gives us: “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” Ephesians 5:8-11

And finally consider these amazing words of Paul written while he was chained. Do you think for one moment he believed he was without divine protection?“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6: 11-20

Jesus gave some very clear instructions on what to do when persecuted or facing attack. I have searched and searched but I can’t find anywhere He says to slug, stab, shoot or bomb the attacker? Now He does give us some advice on what to do… pray for your enemies, turn the other cheek, give to those who ask, feed your enemies, bless those who persecute you… and more. As crazy as it must of sounded, the earliest of Christians believed in Jesus and His words and followed.

Unfortunately since the time of Christ, people and nations proclaiming themselves Christians have dropped more bombs than any other religion. While we mourn the death of our country’s soldiers in a foreign war the sad fact remains more of our citizens our murdered on our nation’s streets on a daily basis then are killed in battle.

Jesus asks for us living in a violent world to follow a different path and to be part of an army guided by divine love who discards worldly weapons. Let’s give it a try.

We have been given divine weapons. How often do we use them? In times of trouble do we put them aside and rush to use the weapons of this world?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Pacifist Praying for Brave Armies?

Read On....

The early Christians clearly believed there was place for pagan government and that governments serve God.

The Christians of the early church were often condemned because they would not fight for the emperor. The Christian Tertullian responded that the Christians with their prayers did more good than the emperor's army. But he also wrote the following:

"We invoke the eternal God, the true God, the living God, for the safety of the emperor.... Thither (heavenward) looking up, with hands extended, because they are innocent; with our head bare, because we are not ashamed; in fine, without a prompter, because it is from the heart; we Christians pray for all rulers a long life, a secure government, a safe home, brave armies, a faithful senate, a good people, a quiet world.... (Apology, Section 30)

The reader must understand that this man praying for brave armies was a noted Christian pacifist. He believed that people with the light of Jesus in their hearts could never fight with the sword. This same man instructed converted soldiers that they must leave the army. And now he is praying for “brave armies”? Is this a contradiction?

Both the Old and New Testaments have records of pagan governments serving God including with acts of violence. Paul in Romans 13:4 reads “…But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” The government sword Paul refers to is a real sword that could cause death. This verse has unsettled many non-violent Christians. But should it?

Often what we lack today is a true appreciation on how dearly early Christians held to their belief in salvation. They would rather die professing Christ than kill their attacker. But why? As Christians they had been called to lead people to salvation. Worldly death was not loss to them. It was gain.

To slay a non-Christian was the opposite of their heavenly call. To the early Christian the death of a non-believer was the loss of a soul for eternity. This was one of the main reasons they were so ready to accept martyrdom.

But they also believed there was a purpose for government especially as it related to controlling the behavior of non-believers. There was a sense that the pagan should fight for survival - they had nothing else to live for. But they also believed that once the pagan accepted Jesus -  the way they lived their lives would be transformed.

Consider the words of Justin Martyr: "We who had been filled with mutual slaughter and every wickedness, have each one - all the world over - changed the instruments of war, the swords into ploughs and the spears into farming instruments, and we cultivate piety righteousness, love for men, faith and hope which is from the Father Himself through the Crucified One.” - Justin Martyr, 100 - 165 A.D.

Paul and Silas reflect the urgency of salvation in Acts 16: 16-41:

24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Reflect on what has happened. Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned for serving Jesus. They have done no wrong. They respond just as Jesus has instructed: with prayer and praise to God. Consider for a moment their setting: chains in a dark prison cell. Does anyone believe they had ointment for their wounds? Or flush toilets near their chains? Was the keeper of the prison a kind man?

The miraculous earthquake freed them from their chains. The jailer’s fear is that he too will soon be beaten and jailed for their escape. Hidden by the darkness of the cell they see the keeper of the jail ready to commit suicide to escape the punishment he know will be coming.

What would you have done if you were Paul or Silas? Would you have hidden in the darkness and let the jailer commit suicide knowing you could then escape? Paul and Silas could not. Before them was an unsaved man ready to not only lose his life but his salvation as well.

It did not matter if by revealing themselves they would be jailed and beaten again. Their duty was simple. They needed to reach out in love to the man who had been their enemy. And they did. Due to the boldness of their actions and the power of their message the keeper of the jail and his family joined the ranks of believers.

Tertullian's prayers for a pagan government should not be surprising. He realized that those without the light of Christ should not be expected to live the life of Christ.