Confession: I’m Dogmatic about Non-Violence
What would you do if someone broke into your house and started beating your grandmother, torturing your sister, raping your wife and kidnapped your kids?
That’s the kind of ridiculous, hypothetical question pacifists are asked. I like Shane Claiborne’s idea of responding with an equally ridiculous answer like: “well I guess I would put my shoes on my hands, stand on my head and cluck like a chicken!” The truth is no one knows how they will respond in a situation like that until they are faced with it.
Rest assured, as always, one thing I am not about to suggest here is that there are easy answers. But consider this question, a better one in my opinion, and one that I have asked myself often: Can you picture Jesus ramming a bayonet into someone’s guts on a battlefield? My answer to this is, and always will be, NO.
I heard a story one time about how John Howard Yoder, the famous Mennonite theologian, was debating a man on this issue of non-violent resistance to evil. After the meeting, the man who was debating Yoder came up to him and said something like “well John, we have our differences on this matter, but we both worship the same God.” John looked at him and said, “No, I don’t think we do.”
I think Yoder makes an important point. When we talk about pacifism and just war theory, what we are really talking about is our understanding of God. I believe this is an important discussion that all Christians need to have. It is certainly something that is central to my life as a follower of Jesus. As much as I am happy to say that many of my beliefs are completely open for revision, I find it very doubtful that this one will change anytime soon. In this sense, on this issue specifically, I am openly admitting my dogmatism.
Violence breads violence.
Jesus said that those who “take up the sword shall perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52).” This is really all I need to hear. How much more simple could this be? Sure there may be periods when no fighting takes place between wars, but this is really a lull in the hostility until the next battle starts, often times with much more furry and malevolence attached. True peace will never come through violent means. I really do think, as the saying goes, that when Jesus disarmed Peter in the garden, he disarmed all Christians.
The ethic Jesus teaches, in my opinion, is not one that uses redemptive violence and power to change the world. It is a creative ethic of humble servitude and kenosis, that peacefully, lovingly and weakly subverts and conquers evil. Now I fully acknowledge that this ethic is very different from that of a civilized society like the one we live in today. After all, we all know that empires have to punish their enemies to keep everyone in order, that’s just common knowledge. So I guess this is where I agree with the Anabaptist tradition, that as a follower of Jesus I am bound to a much different “alternative” lifestyle, an upside down Kingdom of God type logic and way of life.
I’ve heard stories that the first Christians would say things like “for Christ we will die but we cannot kill.” I really do believe that as a Christian, if your last resort is violence, than either you don’t know the Jesus story very well or you’re ignoring something vitally important. Jesus’ last resort was not to use violence, it was to die so that all may live.
Two Masters
Our arms are too small to carry a Cross and a Sword.
I’m convinced that if violence is an option for someone, even as a last resort, then it’s actually more than that, it actually becomes a real possibility for solving a problem, however small, sub-conscious or inconspicuous it may be. It’s kind of like saying well, I could be creative, work hard and solve the math problem on my own, but just in case that doesn’t work, I’ve got the calculator in my back pocket. What are the chances I will not use the calculator? OK this analogy isn’t quite cutting it, but I think it gets my point across.
I think if you asked anyone if there is killing or violence in their “perfect world” (Heaven if you will) they would dismissively and laughably say no. Therefore, as people called to live out Heaven on Earth, how can we justify violence in any way? I for one cannot and will not, attempt to do it.
G.K. Chesterton writes, “”The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”
I am not saying that the path of non-resistance to evil is easy, it is exactly the opposite. It’s a path that demands creativity and a passion and dedication to life, love and relationships–and for me, it is the only path.
Above Painting:
Artist: James Benjamin Franklin
Title: Prayer
Date: 2OO6
Medium: Flashe® and resin on canvas 15 X 14 inches 38.1 X 35.6 cm
Casey, I hear you dude. I guess I'm just more optimistic that love will win in the end. It's actually funny though, I saw some statistics that the twentieth century was the most violent in human history.http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/the-most-violent-century-of-human-history/
It really makes ya wonder...
A small argument about numbers. When people spout off numbers, like 170 million, We need to take into account the constantly booming population of our species. A city size of seattle is born every 7 days. Thats huge. Humans are living longer and thats not slowing down either. The numbers will keep rising and so will violence in the world.Population increase speaks to how easily humanity can be devastated. Take away the easy and inexpensive that companies like Tyson make and our population will have problems sustaining itself. Then its man eat man. Not saying Tyson in is a company that i support. We are urged to overpopulate because that make more money that way. Our numbers increasing is the gas that runs the engine of capitalism. I digress... violence is all humans. Violence is the animal inside of us that is let loose when is survival mode.
Humanity can be evil and selfish. Imagine a world where technology suddenly is no more and everyone lived in a tribal state. Food and supplies become scarce. Large groups of people move from tribe to tribe dominating weaker tribes. That being said I would do whatever I had to do to protect my loved ones and myself. Right our society allows for pacifist way of life to be possible. This is a good thing because intellectual conversation to solve problems is far more rewarding than physical altercations. Not to say I do not have a violent side. ;)
Who is this Jesus?Rev 19:11And the heaven was open; and I saw a white horse, and he who was seated on it was named Certain and True; and he is judging and making war in righteousness.
Rev 19:15And out of his mouth comes a sharp sword, with which he overcomes the nations: and he has rule over them with a rod of iron: and he is crushing with his feet the grapes of the strong wrath of God the Ruler of all.
Rev 19:21And the rest were put to death with the sword of him who was on the horse, even the sword which came out of his mouth: and all the birds were made full with their flesh.
@Casey I hear all your points man and totally agree with you on the population increase and corruption of corporations. One thing I'm not so sure about is the complete break down of society if something disastrous happens. I guess, like I said, it's just my optimistic side coming out. Besides, I'm pretty sure that one of the things mammals learned, humans in particular, as far as survival goes, is that there is a better chance of survival if they stick together as opposed to living for oneself.@Chris I'm not quite sure what you're trying to get at by quoting these controversial bible verses, but I'm willing to bet that my understanding of the scifi/fantasy/apocryphal book of Revelation is quite different from your understanding of this genre of writing.
Anyway, even if Jesus does come back with a sword sticking out of his mouth (quite suspicious it's coming out of his mouth by the way) I fail to see how that gives me permission to use violence. I also find it very strange that Jesus' ministry was filled with teachings of love for enemy and dying to oneself, but in the verses you quote he sounds like a violent lunatic. Either Jesus didn't mean the things he taught, or like I said, my understanding of Apocrypha writing is bit more radical.
My point in citing these verses was not to give you permission to use violence but rather to point out they indicate a very different aspect of the character of Jesus than you present in your blog. As you state in your response, this is quite a dichotomy that, I believe, cannot be explained away by one's opinion of the literal validity of the book of Revelation. No matter how "scifi/fantasy" Revelation appears, this description of Jesus is quite clear and very difficult to juxtapose next to the Jesus you present. I understand your delimma. We can use scripture to make Jesus into who we want him to be ("I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword" - Matthew 10:34 - could be used to counter Matthew 26:52) but I think its best to use scripture (all of it) to tell us who he is. Even if it makes us uncomfortable...and perhaps it should.
One more thing...I followed the series by Dan Oudshoorn on the Jesus Manifesto you turned me unto and was wondering what you thought about the last article? I posted highlights on Facebook.
@Chris Thanks for responding. Like I said, we understand Apocalyptic writing very differently. My reading of Revelation, or the Old Testament for that matter, does not contradict my understanding of Jesus as non-violent. Obviously yours does. I will agree that all scripture should be considered as a whole, but I will make no excuses about my primary emphasis being on the life and teachings of Jesus--the pinnacle being the Sermon on the Mount. Honestly, its not that Im attempting to make God fit my understanding, its that my experience of God just does not fit with the idea of a violent, murderous deity. Therefore I must keep digging, searching, questioning and seeking truth no matter where it leads me. Although at one time I did, I now reject the idea that a God who died for all could turn around and condemn the very ones he lovingly saved. Ive experienced a far greater God than that.I havent read Jesus Manifesto in a while but Ill take a look and get back to you.
[...] Eventually, one way or the other, we’ll realize that hatred breeds hatred, and confronting evil with more evil only leads to destruction. [...]