Are Jesus' teachings pacifistic? For example...turn the other cheek, love your enemies and pray for your persecutors... Should all people who claim to be followers of Jesus be pacifists?
2007-09-06 15:46:10 · 14 answers · asked by Link 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The early church certainly thought so. Tertullian (I hope I'm remembering correctly :-) )wrote an apology in which he told the Roman Emperor that Christians would not serve in the military because of the teachings of Jesus. He went on to say that there are no more loyal citizens than Christians who pray everyday for the emperor.
I remember being very impressed when reading this. He is an early church father and one of my favorites.
Pastor John
2007-09-06 16:05:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, it is, and that's one of many reasons that I'm a Christian pacifist. However, I don't want to suggest that just because I'm a pacifist, everyone else has to be one, as well. Becoming a pacifist is a matter of individual conscience. I would believe in promoting peace even if the concept weren't tied in with my religion (but I personally feel that it is).
2007-09-06 15:53:26 · answer #2 · answered by solarius 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some ways yes... the goal is to love the lord your god and love your neighboor as yourself..Hard to justify having personal enemies then is it not...
butr pacifism is not either or it is and both sometiems yes sometimes no
Also many times faiths of all types are hijacked for selfish reason chrisitianty has been inqusition , crusades, al Sharpton etc
But all problems are not personal some are social and national and the scripture has always indicated that these are handled differently. From Isreal to Rome gov't rise and fall at God's over arching wishes.
But this personal goal does not translate into "our gov't should be passive". Romans is quite clear that God oversees who is in autoruty and who rises and falls as far as govenrment. Paul says that the gov't bearst he sword to punish the wicked. In my opinion that means that gov't with
God's blessing duke it out at times and that we are subject to them.
I know it is sore topic - but the only way crazy folks like hitler or saddam( no matter which contry here there or where)ever get stopped is if someone like america, britian , france and otheres stops it.
So pacifist as a christian - in some ways yes - but remeber the law is provided to rpotect you by god so use it when needed-butin war if the gov't calls you to serve to defeat evil you have an obligation to cooperate.
Romans 13
2007-09-06 15:57:28 · answer #3 · answered by allamericanred2 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't know much about "christianity" do you ? Saying one thing is not necessarily the "actions" you see come from the followers of the christian faith, and just in the last 17 centuries, over 100 million innocent victums of their slaughters could tell you christians are not "pacifists..."
2007-09-06 15:52:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christianity a "pacifistic" religion? Certainly not in practice!
2007-09-06 15:55:38 · answer #5 · answered by 222 Sexy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Only if you follow the religion. They are to only be nice to those who have the same dogma as their own. Think back to the Inquisition, Crusades, and various bombings of temples and other buildings, that do not follow the christian faith
2007-09-06 15:56:48 · answer #6 · answered by Trickster 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus Himself said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law---a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’” (Matthew 10:34-36). “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” (Matthew 11:12).
2007-09-06 15:51:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
What did Jesus say to Peter when he drew his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane?
"Put away your sword - he who lives by the sword will die by the sword"
Doesn't that sound pacifistic?
2007-09-06 15:53:49 · answer #8 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Jesus' teachings also contained stuff like ....I am the sword.....Hate your mother and father if you want to be my disciple.
2007-09-06 15:55:40 · answer #9 · answered by CC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no read the book of Luke, Revelation and Romans
2007-09-06 15:53:30 · answer #10 · answered by sinmin1326 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋