What is pacifism? Both Isaiah and Jesus talk of turning the other cheek. The implication of that is that you should not retaliate when someone attacks you. Jesus, when He knew His time was short, and He was about to be crucified, told His disciples to sell their cloaks and buy a sword. His disciples did not have the magistrate’s power of the sword, so the only application that could be adduced would be that the sword would be used for self defense. There’s no possible application other than that. Jesus warned that they would be attacked and persecuted.

Were the Christians who were killed by Nero and his thugs following the “revealed” will of Jesus Christ, or were they victims, or maybe they went willingly(i.e. pacifism)? Until we get to Heaven, we will never know for sure. Some will argue from the book of Ephesians that our weapons of warfare are not of this world, but are spiritual in nature.

Jesus said that the body (individual, collective or both?) is the “temple of the HOLY SPIRIT”! That would be a good arguement to protect the body – yes? So, let’s consider “turn the other cheek”. In Isaiah’s reference, he was talking about people who had plucked hairs out of his beard. Jesus said in Matthew 5:39 “slaps”. Now, a “slap” may sting, but it does not do any serious damage. What would Jesus say, if a person was swinging a baseball bat or tire iron at your face? Might He say “Duck!”, or “Run!”? The Man Who said “buy a sword” would likely not tell you to let that person kill you with a baseball bat or tire iron which is what would happen if you didn’t duck or run!

Currently the Canadian Amish, who are very pacifistic, have been compelled to seek legal assistance to protect their families and property from a state that is trying to eliminate their existence. Now, if you kill off enough pacifists, maybe GOD will be sympathetic and cause the perpetrators to repent – maybe!

Pensiamento Peligroso