Why I'm Not a Pacifist

This article is adapted from a sermon I preached on Memorial Day Sunday 2011.

Introduction:

Tomorrow is a day that has been designated in our nation as Memorial Day for the purpose of honoring all those who have sacrificed their lives in the cause of freedom and liberty in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces. As I thought about Memorial Day I was reminded that we owe a great debt of thanks not only to God, but also to our dedicated members of the armed forces for the freedom we enjoy today to meet here and worship publicly.

I truly hope that I won’t offend anyone with my thoughts. It is never my intent to purposely offend anyone. However, I do realize that I am treading in territory that is controversial. Therefore, I give you permission to disagree with me and my interpretations of Scripture. As my Bible College president used to say, “You have the privilege of being wrong if you want to!”

I recognize that there are good Christian people and capable Bible scholars who disagree with me and sincerely believe that pacifism better illustrates the heart and mind of Christ than the opposing view of “just war.” I happen to believe that there are biblical grounds for the use of war and the use of lethal force to protect the citizens of a nation. I felt that this Memorial Day Sunday would be an appropriate time to address this question.

There are a few points that I would like to address as we examine this topic today.

I. Biblical role of government and its armed forces.

II. Contrast between role of government and the individual.

III. The ultimate goal of a peaceful and free society.

I.          The biblical role of government and its armed forces.

Without taking the time to go into a lot of detail and background information about the Old Testament and the nation of Israel, I think we can all basically agree that the government set up by God in the O.T. was a theocracy. The original purposes for government in the Old Testament therefore would not necessarily still be applicable today.

In the O.T. government structure God was overseeing a nation that would be the recipients and caretakers of His revelation to mankind and especially the people to produce the Messiah (personal revelation of God in bodily form – Jesus the Christ.) While we can glean a few basic principles from the O.T. therefore, we would not claim that God wants us to establish a new theocracy for modern times. There is no passage in the New Testament, for example, that teaches Christians to form a theocracy like the Israelites of the Old Testament.

There are passages in the O.T. that generally promote the concept of justice and protection of the innocent within a society. For example: Ps. 82 ¹ God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods. ² How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah ³ Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. ⁴ Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. It’s as though God is condemning (judging) the nation(s) because they are not properly defending the poor, the needy and the helpless.

One of the main passages that is quoted in the N.T. is found in Romans chapter thirteen. In this passage, the Apostle Paul stresses that one of the roles of government or civil authorities is the punishment of evil. 13⁴For 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. 

Again, in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul emphasizes that we are to pray for those in authority so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life. The implication seems to be that the proper and appropriate use of government authority will bring about peace and tranquility in civic life. There are so many more passages that could be referenced, but the point seems to be that God intended for government authorities to provide for the safety and security of its citizens by protecting them from all who would do them harm, either domestically or by foreign invasions. It may be argued that there are other obligations of government as well, but this seems to be the most basic.

II.       The contrast between role of government and individual.

One source of confusion for many people is the blurring of distinctions between the biblical mandates for the conduct of individual Christians and the biblical mandates for government authority structures. Over the years I have read many “letters to the editor,” articles, etc. that refer to biblical principles that were directed to and for individuals but they have applied them to governments as well. For example, Matt. 5:9 – Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt. 5:39 – Jesus says “Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matt. 5:44 – Jesus says “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matt. 26:52 – Jesus says that whoever takes the sword will perish by the sword. Rom. 12:17,21 – Paul says “repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Do not be overcome with by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

I personally believe that all of these references are commands directed to individual Christians as instructions on how we are to respond to our personal enemies. Each one of us has the option of non-violence and non-resistance when someone personally treats us with aggression. We can choose to “turn the other cheek,” and “return good for evil” in trying to follow the commands of Christ. I would even concur that a Christian working in a government capacity could and should exercise these principles as he or she tries to live out his Christian faith in the environment of politics or government.

However, if we find ourselves in a God-given place of authority and have the specific responsibility to defend and protect others under our jurisdiction, then I believe we not only have the right but we have the obligation to vigorously fight in order to protect those whom God has placed under our care and authority. Now, I am specifically speaking about safety forces (law enforcement) and military forces. It’s one thing for me to “turn the other cheek” when someone strikes me, but it is an entirely different matter when someone strikes my child, my wife or someone that I have authority to defend and protect. At that point, I personally don’t believe I have any other option, but to defend and protect.

Having said this, I want to stress the fact that I do not believe the Bible endorses the personal use of retribution, revenge or vigilante types of actions. We should strive to settle issues and resolve conflicts through legal and legitimate use of authority structures available to us. From some of the articles and comments that I have read, it appears that some would allow for the just use of war by civil governments, but not for Christians. In other words, some who promote a theology of pacifism tend to imply that it might be legitimate for a government or nation to wage war against an aggressor, but it is not right for a Christian to join that effort.

I do not agree with this argument based on my belief that God desires for all men to know Him and serve Him. I believe that it would be God’s will for everyone in any given society to know Him and serve Him. Even if every person in the society were Christians, I think it would still be God’s design and purpose for the civil government of that society to defend it against evil aggressors.

Therefore, if God has ordained for some people (government authorities) to use aggressive force against an evil, murderous aggressor, then He would also sanction the participation of Christians in this just cause. (Not acting independently on their own, but as a member of the legitimate armed forces of the government authority that has been charged by God with the responsibility of safety and security of its citizens.) I think this is even more important, because the Christians, especially if they were in positions of leadership, would have the moral and spiritual fiber necessary to resist the temptation to abuse the use of force by going beyond the “just cause” of the conflict.

III.       The ultimate goal of a peaceful and free society.

Now that we have talked about the God-ordained use of force to overcome evil. Let me raise the question, “What is the overall purpose anyway?” Is there any predominant goal behind the desire for safety and freedom? Or, is it just simply for our own ease and comfort; just so we can coast through life and enjoy a life of ease? I believe that the Scripture gives us a hint that there is an ultimate purpose and goal behind it all. That is found in the context of the passage we read earlier in 1 Timothy 2. ³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

It seems that Paul is saying to Timothy that the main reason why we are to pray for kings and people in authority is so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and reverence. But then he goes on to say just a few words later that God “desires for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” In other words, there is a direct connection between a quiet and peaceful society and the ability for people to be saved and know the truth.

Now, maybe you have heard it said before that the gospel spreads the fastest or the kingdom of God grows the fastest under persecution. I know that I have made statements like that before. For instance when persecution hit the believers in Jerusalem they immediately spread out and carried the message of Christ every where they went.

On the other hand, we have also believed that the general conditions existing at the time of Jesus’ birth under the Roman Empire (a time of peace, legal to travel among provinces of the empire, common language and government stibility) made it “just the right time” for the new covenant to be ushered in. “In the fullness of times, God sent forth His Son…”

There are many who have suggested that all the years of peace and freedom that have existed in this country has allowed for this nation to be engaged in the greatest missionary efforts that this world has ever known. It is true that many people get so comfortable with their lifestyle of leisure that they forget to promote the gospel like they should. They become “drunk” with the life of leisure. But, it is also true that if we were a nation that had been constantly plagued with tyranny and overrun by evil aggressors, then we wouldn’t have had the wealth and freedom to support missions and send out missionaries around the world like we have done for a couple of centuries.

Conclusion:

There is certainly much more that can be said in addressing this controversy between legitimate use of war and the idea of pacifism. Many theologians and church leaders have outlined very specific guidelines for engagement in war in order to avoid the immoral use of force. I realize that we do not have the time or ability to get into all of those guidelines and issues right now.

I believe that God has ordained for government authorities to protect and defend its citizens. And, I believe that for those of us who are believers, the ultimate goal of our freedom and safety and security is so that we can cooperate even more than ever for the advancement of God’s kingdom and the spread of the gospel. Let us not just settle down in our life of safety and ease to simply satisfy our own pleasures, but let us leave here today with gratitude to God and with a firmer purpose to promote His kingdom here in this land and around the world.