Why do some Christians have such a hard time with the idea that Jesus was a Pacifist?

Question

His teachings, his life, and even his death exude pacifism. Why is it that the same people that claim to follow him, claim a "right" to "defend" themselves through acts of violence and war?

Answer 1

Jesus was not a pacifist. Nor was he a warmonger. He held no political affiliations. He was not concerned with human political strife. He was concerned only with the salvation of human souls.

That said, Jesus was not a little beneficent lamb who was all kind and placid all the time. Let us try not to forget that Jesus, once at least, was furious. This was when the money changers had set up shop in the temple.

How many people is Jesus? Jesus is one man. How many people were in the temple, changing money? “The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!’” (John 2:13-16). So, we have many people selling cattle, sheep, and doves; in addition we have the money changers. And in opposition to this herd of people, we have one man.

Tell me, please, the level of fury that one man must exhibit in order to cause a whole mass of men to flee a building.

Then tell me that Jesus was always this meek and mild little turtledove.

Jesus got angry about things. And at least once—this one time I’m talking about here—he got so angry as to be a massive force. No one tried to apprehend him, restrain him, or stop him. No one argued with him that day. They did not. They turned on their heels and fled. Because what they saw was an anger that they could neither stop nor restrain. And they were afraid.

Where is Jesus’ mercy here? Where is his loving-kindness? Why has he *armed himself* with a whip of cords? Do pacifists arm themselves?

In general, many people don’t like to think about it. It blows their whole image of who Christ is. (They are more in love with their own image of Christ than with the actual Christ himself.)

But anyway, how are we to respond to this moment in Jesus’ life? What is to be learned? What is he saying, through his actions, about love and tolerance and peace? Is he saying anything about these things at all?

What he is saying is that there are things that are unacceptable. There are things about which God does get angry. There are lines that one does not cross without facing the wrath of God. The line, in this case, is bringing what is explicitly of the world into the very house of God, and thinking that it’s all well and good to do so.

Answer 2

From what I can understand of God's Word through the ministry of Jesus The Christ I see no indication that He could be catagorized as strictly pacifistic. The admonition to "turn the other cheek" did not render the self defence statutes of God's Law moot. Nor did the the second Greatest Commandment to Love thy neighbor. If you are slaped it dose not require and armed responce. If your home is invaded you are free, at least under God, to defend by any means that will save your Family and home. It is, of course, best to get out the back door as a first option, but you may defend, even to using deadly force, If that is the only viable option. The comandment, often misinterpreted, is to not commit murder(not the same as not kill). at times killing is an unfortunate necessity

Answer 3

Jesus layed down his life voluntarily, he does not tell us to do so. Yes, peace must be attempted, but when your dealing with enemys who would cut the head off of a 2 year old American child you need to pick up your own sword. Nothing in the Bible is against defending ones self, and that includes a country.

Answer 4

because he wasn't a pacifist as you intend the meaning. he came to make the human race understand the true will of the almight creator ; who if you have read or are remotely familiar with the books known as the bible, killed sent a great world flood that killed untold numbers of humans and the offspring of spiritual rebellious angels and human females. to say jesus is a pacifist is to denie what he is going to do when he returns. which basically is to kick *** like its never been done before and take names, also biblical.

Answer 5

Prince of Peace....That sounds pretty passive to me.

I believe that the answer to that question comes from the word violent.... Christ said, "from the time of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of God suffered violence and the violent take it by force."

I did a word search, throughout the Bible on the word violent and I came up with the definition, "a violent man leads people down the wrong path." It was either spoken by David or Solomon.

Anyway, so it makes sense....the violent are not on the right path (Christ), and unfortunately they are leading multitudes down the wrong path with them.....

Answer 6

Actually, we don't know much about Jesus. He may have been a pacificst or a warmonger. He might have been tolerant or racist.

The only descriptions we have, at all, about him were written decades after his death by people who wanted to portray him in a good light. And what was written about him borrowed heavily from other religions of the time and were heavily edited.

Answer 7

Really, since all Christians seem to think they they are going to heaven as soon as they die, wouldn't they want to die in a war? Wouldn't they be unafraid of rushing into a collapsing building to save children, just to increase the chances of them dying? Really, I don't understand why they don't go around trying to get shot.

Answer 8

Jesus was a pacifist. (don't forget, though, he did throw quite a tantrum in that temple) and Jesus was perfect and sinless. I am not Jesus and I am certainly not perfect.

Answer 9

Jesus works in a chip shop so there

Answer 10

the problem here is that the modern american christians are for the most part hypocrites, and decendents of some of the most hated peoples, the puritans from europe. do as i say, not as, i do.