Putting away the sword?
Those of you who continue to check in on this blog will not find the writings of a person who has everything figured out. I am a young student and am constantly learning what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
If I had started writing earlier this year, for instance, you would probably find posts in which I struggle about whether or not Christians may kill in a “just war.” I’ve been reading the book Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp, with some good friends. While Camp’s book is not without its problems, it has seriously challenged my belief that Christians are permitted to kill under certain circumstances.
A significant portion of Jesus’ contemporaries were expecting the Messiah to lead a violent revolution against the oppressive Roman government, re-establishing God’s kingdom and the dynasty of David. Instead of being given a king who leads us to war, however, we are given a king who freely lays down his life. By the standards of most just war theory, overthrowing the Romans would have been morally acceptable. They were ruthless tyrants and murderers of the innocent. Yet Jesus responds, “love your enemies” and “do not resist an evil person.”
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
Peter knew very well that Jesus was an innocent man. Jesus was arrested by people who clearly meant to do him harm. By the standards of just-war theory, Peter was perfectly justified in drawing his sword and attacking Jesus’ captors. Yet Jesus rebukes Peter publicly:
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. (Matt 26:50)
There are so many practical objections to living in this way. Yet it doesn’t seem that any of the apostles were very practical. As they were martyred one by one, Christians had to wonder whether the Church would be snuffed out altogether. Christianity must have seemed “not to work.” Jesus promised it wouldn’t. He told his disciples that the world would hate them because of him. He promised them the cross. But for the Christian, this life is not the end all and be all. We can face death, persecution and shame without fear because Jesus rose from the dead.
Paul was right when he said the resurrection of Jesus is crucial. Because Jesus conquered death, we do not fear violent men. Because we do not fear violent men, the world has no power over us. We belong to a different kingdom, in which there is no violence and no “ends justifies the means.”
I could write much more on this subject and probably will soon. All of this came to a head this Friday when I watched the movie The Mission, which was recommended to me by Kevin Burt. It presents the two different responses to evil and leaves the viewer to decide which is best. It presents the dilemma beautifully and powerfully, and I really recommend it.
I found it interesting how this article seems to go hand-in-hand with one I just posted, “Become Fully Converted.” I even used the same example of Peter cutting off the guard’s ear. Albeit, and as my title reveals, my article is about becoming fully converted. The vast majority of professing Christians are walking around this world only partially converted and, in some ways, don’t even realize it. Neither do they realize that, if they remain partially converted, they will not enter through heaven’s gates; rather, they will perish in the end.
With respect to your subject, I am reminded that, as Christ’s followers, we are to live peaceably with mankind as well as give good for evil. I agree that national wars are a dilemma for the Christian; and, as long as this old earth is here, there will be wars: peace is not to be had in this last church age, the wars being one of the signs of Christ’s quick return.
Nevertheless, we all are given the power of choice; therefore, we each must make our choices based on our beliefs. Personally, I would allow the enemy to kill me rather than to fight him. After all, this life is nothing more than temporary; and, it is the permanent I seek.
Love in Christ,
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