A useful discussion on the subject of our relation to violence can be started by a brief consideration of historical comments on this subject. Most of the writers cited are from the first through fourth centuries. These men were not inspired but many are commonly called the “early church fathers.”
c.A.D. 110 – Ignatius, writing to the Ephesians:
“Do not seek to avenge yourselves on those that injure you…And let us imitate the Lord, ‘who when he was reviled, reviled not again;’ when he was crucified, he answered not; ‘when he suffered, he threatened not;’ but prayed for his enemies.”
c.A.D. 110 – Polycarp, writing to the Philippians
“… ‘Not rendering evil for evil, railing for railing,’ or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing.”
A.D. 110-115 Teaching of the Twelve Apostles
“Thou shalt not take evil counsel against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not hate any man.”
c.A.D. 150 – Apology of Justin Martyr
“We…pray for our enemies, and try to persuade those that hate us unjustly, so that they…may share our good hope…And we who formerly slew one another not only do not make war against our enemies, but, for the sake of not telling lies or deceiving those who examine us, gladly die confessing Christ.”
c.A.D. 174 – from The Early Christian Attitude to War, C.J. Cadoux, London, 1919.
The admission of a few soldier-converts to the church about A.D. 174 “proved to be the thin edge of the wedge” which slowly but surely, opened the church for the general admission of soldiers as members.
c.A.D. 177 – Athenagoras, writing to emperor Marcus Aurelius
“Who does not reckon among the things of greatest interest the contests of gladiators and wild beasts…? But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him have abjured such spectacles. How then, when we do not even look on, lest we should contract guilt and pollution, can we put people to death?”
[How would Athenagoras react to much that is viewable on television today?]
A.D. 180 – Athenagoras in Plea for the Christians
“We have learned not only not to return blow for blow, nor to go to law with those who plunder and rob us, but to those who smite us on one side of the face to offer the other side also, and to those who take away our coat to give likewise our cloak.”
c.A.D. 200 – Tertullian
“For although soldiers had come to John (the Baptist) and received the form of their rule, although even a centurion had believed, the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter (in Gethsemane), ungirded every soldier.
“And shall the son of peace, for whom it will be unfitting even to go to law, be engaged in a battle? And shall he, who is not the avenger even of his own wrongs, administer chains and imprisonments and torture and executions?
“Military service does not promise impunity (freedom from punishment) for sins or exemption from martyrdom. No plea of necessity or risk of death can justify wrongdoing. The case is similar with public offices; one must flee from them or endure martyrdom.”
A.D. 200+ – Clement of Alexandria
“Those in military service should be content with their wages. Remain a soldier, but do not become one.”
Mid-third century – Origen (A.D. 185-254)
“For he (Christ) did not deem it becoming to his own divine legislation to allow the killing of any man whatever.”
Mid-third century – Cyprian (c.A.D. 258) in Epistles of Cyprian
“The whole earth is drenched in adversaries’ blood, and if a murder is committed privately it is a crime, but if it happens with state authority, courage is the name of it. (But Christians) are not allowed to kill, but they must be ready to be put to death themselves, (and) it is not permitted the guileless to put even the guilty to death.”
A.D. 295 – Maximilian (A.D. 274-295) facing induction into the Roman army
“I cannot serve as a soldier; I cannot do evil; I am a Christian.” [Maximilian died for refusing induction.]
A.D. 313 – Constantine, the Roman Emperor, declared himself a Christian and recognized Christianity as a legal religion. The emperor became a “Christian soldier.” “The sign of the cross of Jesus (became) an imperial military emblem bringing good fortune and victory” (Cadoux, op. cit.).
A.D. 314 – The Council of Aries
“They who throw away their weapons in time of peace shall be excommunicated’ (cited G.J. Herring, The Fall of Christianity, London, 1930. [It is evident that the church fathers in Europe followed the lead of Constantine posthaste.]
c.A.D. 350 – Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, Egypt
“Murder is not permitted, but to kill one’s adversary in war is both lawful and praiseworthy.”
Late-fourth century – Ambrose, bishop of Milan, Italy
“That courage which either protects the homeland against barbarians, in war, or defends the weak at home, or saves one’s comrades from brigands, is full of righteousness.”
A.D. 1864 – Dr. John Thomas in certificates issued to brethren who faced a military draft into the American Civil War and in which the Christadelphian name was used for the first time.
“This is to certify that constitute a Religious Association denominated herein, for the sake of distinguishing them from all other ‘Names and Denominations,’ Brethren in Christ, or, in one word Christadelphians, and that said brethren are in fellowship with similar associations in England, Scotland, the British Provinces, New York and other cities of the North and South — New York being for the time present the Radiating Center of their testimony to the people of the current age and generation of the world.
“This is also to certify, that the Denomination constituted of the associations or ecclesias of this name conscientiously opposes, and earnestly protests against ‘Brethren in Christ’ having anything to do with politics in worldly strife, or armsbearing in the service of the Sin-powers of the world under any conceivable circumstances or conditions whatever; regarding it as a course of conduct disloyal to the Deity in Christ, their Lord and King, and perilous to their eternal welfare.”
Questions
- How would you reply to the person who claims that if everybody in this country became a conscientious objector, the nation would be overrun by its enemies in no time?
- Many men and women have fought in the army and died to protect the liberties and way of life that you enjoy. Don’t you appreciate what they have done for you?
- Followers of Christ are supposed to help other people. Why aren’t you willing to defend the freedoms you enjoy, so that others will be able to enjoy them too?
- Why are you opposed to serving on a jury? People of other Christian denominations do it willingly.
- If nobody voted in this country, the government would collapse and your way of life would be destroyed. How can you possibly refuse to vote?
- Are you ready to claim that your conscience is better than others who also call themselves Christians? Name one thing you have done in the past week that proves your conscience is any more “Christian” than anybody else’s!
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One