Path of Peace: A Way of Nonviolence

We find all true doctrine in the Word of God, decide all doctrinal controversies by the Bible, and discover what it means to be a disciple of Christ by living the teachings of the Bible. We do not base our teachings on mere human tradition, nor do we base our faith on human wisdom. The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the rule for our faith and life (Kelly, Land, and Mohler, page 17).

Most Christians have adopted some form of Christian moral realism, a reluctant but honest recognition that armed conflict may sometimes be necessary and may even be morally superior to other options…. As defined through the centuries, the just-war theory holds that in order for a war or a use of arms to be justified, several criteria must be satisfied (Kelly, Land, and Mohler, page 157).

The Christian just war ethic referenced by Heimbach dates to the days of the fourth-century bishop Augustine of Hippo. Faced with barbarian invasions, Augustine developed criteria for the participation of Christians in warfare (Tomlin).

The Baptist Faith and Message reveals the difficulty Christians have when determining the way they should live in times of war and peace. First, Baptist trust that correct doctrine is measured by the Bible alone. However, we have had to seek answers in moral realism in questions relating to war and peace. This reveals that the Bible does provide clear guidance, and we must trust on the Holy Spirit to lead us. Unfortunately, like in the U.S. Civil War, the Holy Spirit led thousands of believers to kill fellow believers for a just cause.

The view by most Christians is the view of Just War. In this worldview, Christians take part in the governments of this world to influence people to follow God. This means becoming politicians, soldiers, and policemen.

In the view of nonviolence, it is not just about Christians not killing in war, but trying to bring about the Kingdom of God by using,,, It is not about obtaining power in government, military, or local police, but

Do not know about the below paragraph

Tough questions, because the early christians were not trying to vote the pagans out of office, or defending the Roman empire through participating in the military. But what happened when Constantine gave power to the church that it did not have.

America had a draft

Israel had a volunteer army

America uses advanced technology

Israel was commanded not to have horses, so they would be dependant on God for military victory

America makes alliances with ungodly nations

Israel was instructed not to make alliances

America has a census

Military Census without atonement price displeases God, brings about the wrath of God

America rebelled against a king

Bible teaches to honor a emperor

Leads to conclusion that America is not a Christian nation

One argument against just war is there was war in the Old Testament so war is justified for Christians today, but not a single nation on earth follows the principles laid out in the Old Testament so that their military victories will clearly point to God. Instead war is often waged with whatever might is available and pray that God blesses it.

Just war theorist also do not consider that a large number of men in Israel were not even to go to war because God had set them apart for a special purpose. Where are those men today? Does God no longer take a people for himself for his on special purpose. These were to be His priests for not just the nation of Israel, but to the world. When Christ established His kingdom on earth, He created a kingdom of priest (Bible References Here). Just like He took the priest instead of the firstborn, the church is also called the congregation of the firstborn.

The priest had influence in both war and politics, but they did not rule in either one. They marched with the soldiers, but did not kill. They gave council to the king, but they did not rule. It is possible to live as a priest in the modern world. This world has been around for nearly six thousand years, very few of those years have actually witnessed a nation following God.

1. God is sovereign over all nations.

2. God guides judgement on nations that are responsible for deaths of humans which are created in His image. This includes bringing nonbelievers to kill other nonbelievers. God used the nation of Israel to execute judgement in the promise land, and then used the surrounding nations to execute judgement on Israel.

3. God does not require or need His messengers to bring His judgement. Flood, plagues on Egypt, serpents, earthquakes, famine, non-believing nations, and many other ways are examples of how God can bring judgement.

4. Vengeance belongs to God in this life and the next. God hears the cry of those that are murdered. From the first murder of Able, to the last. God will settle all accounts.

5. God’s sovereign plan is to reach a remnant from every nation, tongue, tribe, and people.

6. God’s desire is to show His love through His messengers being sent in a similar manner as His Son, Jesus. Without sword and as sheep among wolves.

7. All nations are under the influence of Satan. God’s sovereignty restrains him. If not, all followers of God would be dead. God allows him to kill almost all of His children in the end times. This brings about the severe wrath of God on both humans and the fallen angels. Because of God’s great mercy, the murder of His children and numerous humans created in His image is the only thing would bring such severe wrath to end the world as we know it.

8. God’s message of peace through Jesus Christ is never accepted by the majority of a nation. It is not possible for a nation to bear the message of Christ. For by doing so it would have to die to self thereby ceasing to be a nation.

9. The gospel message can only be preached by the kingdom of God, which is separate from the kingdoms of this world.

10. As the remnant is persecuted, it moves to whoever will receive God’s message until all the earth has a remnant.

11. The church on earth is made up of both wheat and tares, sheep and wolves. The church of God is not one particular denomination or sect, not Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox but of everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins.

Discussion Questions

Summary

Exercises

References

Kelley C.S., Charles, Land R., Mohler R.A. The Baptist Faith and Message. Groups Ministry Publishing. 2017.

Tomlin, Gregory. SBC ethicists: Criteria for ‘just war’ not met. http://www.bpnews.net/41038/sbc-ethicists-criteria-for-just-war-not-met

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