DID JESUS TEACH PACIFISM?

Did Jesus teach pacifism?

The attacks of September 11 and the resulting war against terrorism have brought to the front once again the question of the Christian view of war. The question is particularly complex because it is hard to see how war can be consistent with the biblical emphasis upon forgiveness and forebearance and love. This emphasis is perhaps most pointed in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus says:

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:39-44)

Does Jesus' teaching that we should turn the other cheek and love our enemies mean that it is always wrong to go to war? Should the world have turned the other cheek to Hitler and tried to love him into surrender? When Osama Ben Laden ordered the attack on the World Trade Center, should the U.S. have responded by sending him the Sears Tower as well? Or does Jesus allow a place for both loving our enemies and yet, in certain situations, using force to restrain life-threatening wickedness?

What follows are some of the primary reasons we believe that it is right for the military (and Christians who are a part of the military) to engage in wars that have just cause--namely, self-defense, the restraint of life-threatening evil, and the punishment of nations and individuals who have committed unjust acts of war against one's country. This is called the just war theory. We will close by seeking to explain how this fits with the command to turn the other cheek, love our enemies, and not resist him who is evil.

Pacifism is harmful
To let someone murder when it is in your power to stop them is completely contrary to our moral sentiments. If a Hitler is on the move and seeking to bind the world in tyranny and destroy entire ethnic groups, it would seem very clearly wrong not to oppose him with force (which sometimes is the only effective method). It is true that war itself is harmful and tragic; but pacifism would result in even more harm to the world because it would give wicked people virtually free reign. We of course must be open to letting the Bible transform our moral sentiments, but this observation should at least cause us to pause and reflect more deeply before concluding that Jesus is intending to teach pacifism.

Consistent pacifism would have to eliminate the police, not just the military
In fact, if we were to conclude that governments should always turn the other cheek and never resist evil, then we would be logically committing ourselves to getting rid of not only the armed forces, but also the police force and criminal justice system. For police officers arrest criminals, using force against them if necessary, and put them in jail. That is not turning the other cheek. Does Jesus intend his command to turn the other cheek to apply to the police? Surely not as their primary way of responding to evil. God does not want evil to run about in our society unchecked (cf. in the OT the numerous civil laws and in the NT Romans 13, to be discussed below). If one accepts the legitimacy of police using force in some instances, there can be no objection to the military using force in some instances, either.

Luke 3:14 allows military service
It is significant that John the Baptist did not tell the soldiers to leave the military when they asked him what it meant to repent: "And some soldiers were questioning him, saying, 'And what about us, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages'" (Luke 3:14). Since it is, therefore, possible to live a godly life and yet be in the military, it must be because engaging in war is not always sinful.

John 18:36 acknowledges the right of the sword to earthly kingdoms
In this passage, Jesus says: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." When Jesus says that if his kingdom were of this world his servants would be fighting, he implies that it is right for kingdoms of this world to fight when the cause is just and circumstances require it. As Christians, we are citizens of "two kingdoms"--our country on earth, and heaven. Jesus shows us that it is never right to fight for the sake of his spiritual kingdom, but that it is right to fight on behalf of earthly kingdoms (when necessary to counter evil and destruction).

Romans 13:3-4 grants governments the right to use force to restrain and punish evil
Paul writes: "For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil."

Here Paul affirms the government's right to use force in two ways. First, he says that it "does not bear the sword for nothing." Second, he states that government is a "minister of God" when it executes vengeance against evildoers.

Governments, of course, do not have the right to use force for any purpose whatsoever. They do not have the right to use force in order to lord it over their citizens and impose unnecessary restraints upon freedom. There are two purposes for which this text says the government is justified in using force: the restraint of evil and the punishment of evil. The purpose of force is not just to prevent further evil from happening, but to punish evil acts by bringing the perpetrators to justice. Government is acting as a "minister of God" when it serves as "an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil."

Does the right of the sword in this text extend to the case of war? The immediate context does have in mind the use of physical force in regard to a government's own citizens. But by extension this also implies that if one nation commits an act of war against another nation, the offended nation has the right to engage in self-defense and to avenge the wrong. Would it be consistent to say that a nation has a right to restrain and punish evil committed against it by its own citizens, but not to restrain and punish evil committed against it by another nation? The mere fact that the civil offense was committed by another country does not remove their accountability to the country they attacked.

1 Peter 2:13-4 confirms the teaching of Romans 13:3-4
In 1 Peter 2:13-14, we are taught: "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right." Once again, the right of governments to punish evil is affirmed.

Is it right for a Christian to fight in a war?
Since the Scriptures teach that it is right for a nation to engage in a just war, it follows that it is therefore right for a Christian to fight in such a war. Some have argued that non-Christians may fight in wars but believers may not, but this distinction is not found in Scripture. Scripture teaches that it is not sin for a government to engage in a just war, and there is therefore nothing that forbids Christian from being involved in just wars.

Church and state must be distinguished
It is very important, however, to remember here the distinction between church and state. The Christian fights in a war not as an ambassador of the church or on behalf of the church, but as an ambassador of his country. The church is not to use violence (John 18:36), but the government at times may (John 18:36; Romans 13:3-4; etc.). So the Christian fights not as an agent of the church, but as an agent of the government of his country. Both are ultimately under the authority of God, but each has a distinct role.

What about turning the other cheek?
What, now, are we to make of Jesus' radical commands in Matthew 5:39-41? "Do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two." How does this fit with what we have seen above?

First, we need to clarify what the problem is not. The problem is not that Jesus appears to be telling us to lie down and let evil overtake us. That is clearly not what he is saying. Instead, he is telling us what it looks like "not [to] be overcome by evil, but [to] overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). We have all seen the wisdom of Jesus' words here in our everyday lives. Much of the time, the most effective way to overcome evil is by not resisting. If someone says a mean word, it is far more effective to respond with kindness than with another mean word in return. If someone tries wrongly to cut you off on the freeway, it is usually best just to let them do it. If we would learn these principles, our lives would be much more peaceful and, ironically, we would be vindicated more often.

So the problem is not that it looks as though Jesus is telling us to let evil steam-roll over us. The problem is that it looks like Jesus is telling us that the only way we should ever seek to overcome evil is by letting it go and responding with kindness. It looks as though he leaves no place for using force in resisting evil.

Part of the answer to this difficulty lies in understanding the hyperbolic nature of much of the Sermon on the Mount. I don't think that Jesus is telling us never to respond to evil with force (such as in self-defense) or always to literally turn the other cheek when we are slapped any more than his command later in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:6 means that we should only pray when we are completely alone or his command in 5:29 means that some should literally gouge out their eyes. Jesus himself drove the thieves away from the temple with a whip (John 2:15) and Paul at times insisted on his rights as a Roman citizen (Acts 25:11; cf. also the interesting instance of 16:35-40). Jesus is using hyperbole to illustrate what our primary disposition and attitude should be, not to say that we should literally give in to every attempt to do evil against us. That is part of the answer.

The main part of the answer, however, lies in remembering that Jesus is speaking primarily to individuals. He is not mainly addressing governments here, but is primarily speaking at the personal level. This text, then, shows that an individual's primary response to evil should be to "turn the other cheek," while the other texts we have seen (e.g., Romans 13:3-4) show that government's God-given responsibility is to punish those who commit civil crimes (murder, terrorism, acts of war, etc.). While it is sometimes appropriate even for individuals to use self-defense, it is never appropriate for individuals to seek to punish others. But it is right, however, for governments both to take measures of self-defense and to execute retribution.

There are, in other words, various "spheres" of life. God has willed that some spheres include responsibilities that are not necessarily included in other spheres. Personally, it would be wrong for us to execute retribution on people who harm us. But passages like Romans 13:3-4 and John 18:36 show that Jesus is not denying governments the right to execute retribution on evildoers. Therefore, when a Christian is under the authority of the government and authorized to fight in a just war on the nation's behalf, it is appropriate for him to fight. For he is not fighting as a private individual, but as a representative of the government to which God has given the power of the sword.

In doing so, a Christian soldier should strive to love one's opponents in war as people, remembering that he opposes them as agents of the opposing government/system, not as private individuals. When at war, we need to look at people in the opposing army/terrorist group at two levels--the private, and governmental/public. Because of the private level, the soldier should pray for and love the opposing soldiers. And because of the public level, the soldier fights against them--not as private individuals, but as public representatives of the system and evil that is being opposed. That distinction, I am sure, would be hard to maintain in battle. Neither would it remove the pain and difficulty of being involved in fighting against other human beings. But it is perhaps a faint reflection of how the personal and governmental spheres overlap and involve one another while still remaining distinct.

Further Resources

John Piper, "Terrorism, Justice, and Loving Our Enemies"

Robert Clouse, ed., War: Four Christian Views.

John Feinberg, Ethics for a Brave New World, chapter 13, "The Christian and War"

Norman Geisler,Christian Ethics, chapter 12, "War

By John Piper Click here for bio and archived articles

Re: Re: Re: Re: Did Jesus teach pacifism? Posted On: 09/15/07 12:51:55 AM Age 33, AL Christian People, Please, please, please, stop yammering on and on about controlled demo or no controlled demo. WTC 7 wasn't hit by a PLANE! Look at the MOUNTAIN of other evidence implicating the government involvement in false-flag terrorism. This is not the first time!!!! Oklahoma City, the first WTC bombing, and you've got to be kidding if you count it a coincidence that G.W.Bush's brother was head of the security company for the WTC complex with a contract that just so happened to end on Sept. 11th. Think people!!! Open your eyes!!! It's about world government of which this same website is reporting on!!! Connect the dots for crying out loud!!! See much of the documentary evidence at 911files.net. For, condemnation or "speculation" in this case, without investigation (and that being objective) is the height of ignorance. We are called to be people of wisdom and knowledge. Don't reject it out of hand. 911 WAS an inside job!!!! Welcome to the New World Order!!! Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day which is fast approaching and you and I bible-believers are already being targeted. Re: Re: Did Jesus teach pacifism? Posted On: 09/12/07 02:48:03 PM Age 48, CA Once again, you speak of the wrong Jesus. Any Jesus who "Was" Anything is a fake Jesus. The true Jesus "Is" Not "Was". If he "Was a man of peace" Then once again you have a fake Jesus. The True Jesus was more than "A man" He is also God himself in Human form. The same God who Created all the Heavens and the Earth, The same God who wiped out the Earth in a massive flood sparing only Noah and his family, The same God who destroyed Soddom & Gomorra. The same God who will unleash the seven seals, seven bowls, and seven trumpets of judgemnt upon the Earth. The same God who will return and strike down the nations and rule with a rod of iron. Allowing a rapist to rape without violent resistence is not peace. Re: Re: Did Jesus teach pacifism? Posted On: 09/06/07 06:47:50 PM Age 48, CA Who would make that decision? The enemy. If we need a self procaliamed expert to explain to us why we need to invade a nation 8000 miles away, we don't have a just war. When an eney army lands on our shores and imposes its will on us, we don't need anybody to explain why there is a need to fight. Pacifists would call upon us to not fight and submit to the enemy. If this enemy invader called upon us to bow to thier god or secualr agenda, how many pacifists would comply? How many would cooperate with the enemy and point out Christians who refused to bow down. Too many cowards hide behind pacifism. GOD'S FIRST PROPHECY TO MEN WAS WAR - FAMINE - AND DEATH Posted On: 09/06/07 02:13:53 PM Age 63, OH Jer 28:8&9 TLB "The ancient prophets who preceded you and me spoke against many nations, ALWAYS warning of WAR, FAMINE, AND PLAGUE. So a prophet who foretells peace has the burden of proof on him to prove that God has really sent him. Only when his message comes true can it be known that he really is from God. What an amazing scripture, is it really true. Look at the first prophecy spoken to man in Gen 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly(DISEASE) and you will eat dust(FAMINE) all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring [a] and hers; he will crush [b] your head,(WAR) and you will strike his heel." 16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;(DISEASE) with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband,(FAMINE) and he will rule over you."(WAR) 17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.(WAR) 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,(FAMINE) and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."(DISEASE) Lou Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Did Jesus teach pacifism? Posted On: 09/06/07 01:47:48 PM Age 63, OH John, I find this very interesting John. If the buildings had the structure insulated well enough from heat then it would not have collapsed. However there are many factors here to consider. It is not only the main columns of steel that would need to be insulated from heat but the floor beams and their connections as well. The floor beams keep the columns straight so they will not buckle and then fail. The study that I seen said the connections of the floor beams to the sides of the building failed in the heat and this allowed the floor beams to fall of course. Without the floor beams the columns buckled and failed. Once they failed at the point of the fire, then the momentum of the falling structure caused complete failure. If you have any info concerning the asbestos please let me know as I would be very interested about this. Lou - lounewton1347@yahoo.com WOULD A PACIFIST CALL THE POLICE Posted On: 09/06/07 01:24:01 PM Age 63, OH You bring up a very good point. Would a pacifist call the police if someone was stealing from him, raping his wife, kidnapping his child. I think almost all who claim to be pacifist would call the police. But the police would get there too late to prevent the crime and I speak from much experience. But why would he call the police. If he does not believe in violence, the police will use violence. He condemns the policeman for being a policeman, but then calls him. The pacifist does not want to use violence, but it is OK for a vile policeman to use violence for him. He expects the policeman to do what he will not do. Does not this indicate he thinks himself better than the policeman. If it is sin then why would he encourage sin by calling the police. If he thinks turn the other cheek was an answer for ALL situations then if the man is stealing from him then let him help the thief carry out his goods. (which sometimes would be the correct thing to do)If the man is raping his wife, who would say it was right to help hold her down for the man. If the man is kidnapping his child what kind of monster would say here is my other child. In these responses many who say they are pacifist are quick to go to hate and war just because a person disagrees with them. I am tempted to think that some take this position just because they are afraid to fight. We are all afraid to fight. We should all trust in the Lord Jesus to help us for He surly will help us if we ask Him to. I hate to fight but the Lord has told me to do things that would have paralyzed me in fear if He had not also gave me the courage to do what he asked. The Bible does NOT TELL US TO FOLLOW PACIFISM. THE BIBLE DOES NOT TELL US TO FOLLOW WAR. THE BIBLE TELLS US TO FOLLOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Lou Ah... Posted On: 09/05/07 08:12:46 PM Age 19, MN Thank you very much. You actually answered the second point I was going to make. When one is going to argue what Jesus did during His earthly ministry, it is often treated as if the rest of the Bible is irrelevent, when if fact, the Bible claims to be the inerrant Word of God (something Jesus Himself stated)! So thank you for your well stated point. Re: I have question.... Posted On: 09/05/07 02:18:32 PM Age 48, CA The very nature of your question is significant. Who IS Jesus? Too many false believers speak "Jesus was...(Fill in agenda)" Jesus is God himself in human form. The same God who created the HEavens and the Earth. The same God who cast Adam & Eve out of the garden of Eden. The same God who wiped out the entire Earth sparing only Noah and his family. The same God who destroyed Soddom & Gomorra. The same God who commanded Joshua to take the promised land by force.The very God who allowed the Pagan nations to over run Isreal when they became disobedient. The King of Kings who will return to strike down the nations and rule with a rod of iron. Even at the Cross, he took on his own wrath to spare us all from a judgement none of us could pass by our own works. Re: Re: Did Jesus teach pacifism? Posted On: 09/05/07 02:09:45 PM Age 48, CA I agree with what you are saying but even in Afgahnistan, we have shifted from going after those who did it to propping up our puppet government. Being a 26 year veteran, I can hardly be called a pacifist but the military I joined was a military who repelled invaders. Not assumed the role of invader. Re: Re: Re: Re: Did Jesus teach pacifism? Posted On: 09/05/07 12:52:42 PM Age 47, MO Here is something I never heard stated anywhere by anyone- My theory is that the buildings colapsed because of the asbestos removal mandated by our government to apease lawyers. What I am saying is that if the asbestos was not removed, the steel wouldn't have heated to the point of collapse. My theory, friends, is the real travisty of the Government cover up. The government did not bring down the towers, greedy lawyers did with bogus asbestos/cancer data. John