by Matthew Hamilton
The Battle of Vienna by Frans Geffels (Photo credit: germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org)
Even though Muslim groups in Nigeria like Boko Haram have been murdering Christians in a campaign of religious cleansing for years, Nigerian Christians have demonstrated enormous restraint in their responses to the incessant attacks. The great lengths they have taken not to respond with similar atrocities against Muslims has largely been overlooked by the media who at every turn try to force the narrative that what transpires in Nigeria is “sectarian violence,” and use Christian attempts to defend themselves from their attackers as evidence to support their fallacious narrative that there is no aggressor but that both religious groups are at fault. Reality however is that Christian communities are under attack from a determined enemy that seeks an Islamic caliphate to replace the existing state of Nigeria.
Debate is raging in Nigeria between Christian pacifists and Christians who believe in Just War Theory, or at the very least, in the God given right to self-defense. Some church leaders are calling upon their congregations to offer no resistance to the attacks by Islamic Jihadists while other leaders are calling on Christians to defend themselves.
The Western church has also weighed in on the situation, with the vast majority of Western church leaders calling upon Nigerians not to use violence to defend themselves, but rather pray, find peace in the Lord, and stay calm while they get slaughtered; no doubt the pious and noble thing to do.
So which course should Nigerian Christians take? Should they defend themselves with force of arms or should they do nothing besides pray and run for their lives as their homes and livelihoods are destroyed?
On July 14th, 1683, the Ottoman Vizier Mustafa Pasha arrived at the gates of Vienna at the head of an army of nearly 140,000 men; the Viennese defenders numbered a mere 11,000 men at arms. One year earlier, the Islamic Ottoman Empire had declared war on the Christian Habsburgs saying:
“We order you to await us in your residence city of Vienna so that we can decapitate you… We will exterminate you and all your followers… Children and grown-ups will be exposed to the most atrocious tortures before put to an end in the most ignominious way imaginable…”
This was not empty rhetoric. On July 16th, 1683, the city of Perchtoldsdorf was ordered by the Islamic army at its gates to surrender; the defenders threw down their arms and opened their gates. The population was massacred, the city looted, the women raped, and many of its surviving inhabitants enslaved and taken to be sold in the markets of the Ottoman Empire.
Needless to say, the defenders of Vienna refused to surrender. For nearly a month, the immensely outnumbered Viennese valiantly held the city against the Muslim army despite several sections of their walls being destroyed by Ottoman sappers and untold hardship being endured from being deprived of provisions.
The Habsburgs had sent emissaries to Christian kingdoms across the continent pleading for aid, and on the 12th of September, with the defenders of Vienna near their breaking point, 80,000 men from Austria, Bavaria, The Holy Roman Empire, Poland, and Saxony converged and crushed the Ottoman army. Vienna was saved, and the battle marked a turning point in the centuries long Central European struggle to defend against Islam’s advance.
Imagine if Vienna’s allies had done what Christians today are doing… which is essentially nothing. Vienna would have been razed to the ground and its inhabitants would have suffered the same gruesome and terrible fate as those of Perchtoldsdorf. And God only knows how far into the heartland of Europe the armies of the Ottoman Empire could have marched, slaughtering and pillaging along the way.
Vienna wasn’t saved by weekly prayer meetings for the Christian defenders to not lose faith or for them to engage in “interfaith dialogues” with the Islamic army battering down their gates. Vienna was saved by the force of arms wielded by grim men strengthened by prayers for God to grant them victory over their enemies. If it wasn’t for the courage and ferocity of such men, the Christian pacifists of today may have never had the chance to condemn them for not “acting in the opposite spirit.”
The Christians in Nigeria face a situation not altogether dissimilar than that experienced by the Habsburgs in the 17th century. Whether they know it or not, pacifists advocating for Christians not to defend themselves are asking for the horrors of Perchtoldsdorf to be repeated. The noble piety of pacifism is easily diluted in a river of blood and human misery, and there will certainly be rivers of blood and misery if Nigerian Christian follow the example of Perchtoldsdorf.
Perhaps Nigerian Christians in the 21st century should remember what the Viennese did in the 17th century when they faced an Islamic invasion. Perhaps they should do whatever they can to defend themselves, their families, and their country. The media will vilify them, Western churches will disown them, but they will be doing what is right and just in the eyes of the Lord.
Perhaps Christians in the West should also remember how Vienna’s allies saved the city from destruction and massacre through strength of arms. Perhaps we should be coming to the aid of Nigerians rather than sitting idly by.
But if praying for God to comfort the Nigerian Christians and for them to hold onto their faith while they are being slaughtered helps you sleep better at night then by all means continue. At least one person is being comforted.
Comment by Sara Anderson on July 19, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Thank you for the excellent history lesson. It is easy to give persecuted Christians advice when you can sleep safely in your American home and worship without fear of being slaughtered on Sunday morning. This is a wake-up call.
Comment by Dan Trabue on July 19, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Finding oneself under physical attack from any group is a difficult situation. It’s easy for those of us not threatened to advocate “just pray…,” but less clear for those under attack.
The thing that Just Peacemaking advocates would tend to say is to recognize there are no easy answers. If we meet violence with violence, we are guaranteed at least one thing: Violence.
If we choose to adopt “win at all costs” methodology preferred by some, then we are guaranteed atrocities will happen. If “might makes right,” and we follow the example of these particular muslims (or perhaps the Israelis in the Bible, who believed God wanted them to destroy every man woman and child), atrocities WILL occur.
If we do nothing (or, if you prefer, nothing “but pray”), atrocity and violence will occur.
There are no easy answers.
But the NVDA advocates have a history of effecting peaceful change without having to stoop to deadly violence. Consider, for instance, the atrocities endured by the Nicaraguan people in the 1980s at the hands of the Contra terrorists. Witness for Peace and other peace-advocates sent human observers/shields to the scene and the violence abated.
Is it a perfect answer? No, of course not. But neither is meeting violence with violence.
“Redemptive violence” is a myth. Violence always spawns violence and hatred and bitterness. We need to act smarter, not stoop to the methods of the aggressors.
One man’s opinion.
Here is an article from Christianity Today, by Sunday Agang (whom I believe is a Nigerian Christian) that speaks of the Third Way of NVDA.
This is sort of pacisism is Active Peacemaking, not passivism, and should not be confused.
Comment by Gabe on July 19, 2012 at 4:59 pm
My prayer is that the Christian community in Nigeria would stick together encouraging one another, protecting each other and reaching out to their Muslim neighbors and being the vessels through which Jesus Christ can redeem the Muslim people there.
I also pray that the Christians there would step up and prevent the kind of atrocities that have plagued Nigeria for so long and not have to watch their community be taken to the slaughter and prevent the horror scenes that we have come to know all to well.
Sometimes, in the course of the shepherd’s protection of the sheep from the wolves, it doesn’t end up well for the wolves.
Comment by Dan Trabue on July 19, 2012 at 5:04 pm
I also pray that the Christians there would step up and prevent the kind of atrocities that have plagued Nigeria for so long and not have to watch their community be taken to the slaughter and prevent the horror scenes that we have come to know all to well.
I pray so, too, Gabe. My question is: What does “stepping up and preventing” look like? Do you mean killing in response? I’m just not convinced that will have the desired outcome of redeeming the Muslims.
Does it mean embracing NVDA as taught by Jesus, the early church and many peace churches throughout history? I think that will be most effective, if still flawed.
I think the example of Jesus and the early church (and the Mennonites, Hutterites and other oppressed Christians throughout history) is very instructive.
Comment by justice4jos on July 19, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Powerful piece. Yesterday I listened to the president of Nigeria’s Christian Association being pilloried on BBC for asking Christians to defend themselves. This is quite reaffirming!
Comment by Ata Ikiddeh on July 19, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Beautiful powerful piece. There is a God given right for self preservation. If I saw a man go after any of my sons with a knife, my first instinct would be to defend them and the amount of force I’d use will depend on the amount of deadly force being applied. English law which is primarily based on Judeo Christian values recognizes and encourages self defense. It is complicated in Northern Nigeria, even though there’s a large Christian community it is still a Moslem enclave. It’s like fighting man on his tuff. But I can tell you the case will be different if the jihadist were to invade Southern Nigeria, i can tell you straight up, the women and children will be in the churches praying while the men will be on every hill and in every valley defending their God and their homes with whatever weapon God puts at their disposal.
Comment by Raja Senanayake on May 7, 2019 at 5:58 am
Well said. Self defense is a human right. We cannot expect to surrender and survive. The right to self deference must be exercised. Turning the other cheek may be what Jesus taught but it will not help us to survive.
Comment by EBurkeDisciple on July 20, 2012 at 8:53 am
Prayer is the only thing that can guide them in finding God’s balance between non-violent action and direct acts of self defense. I will pray for great wisdom and for God’s glory to be manifest in their lives and in this situation. While they seek this wisdom I would like to help them buy guns and grenades. I don’t mean that sarcastically. I think, whatever they decide, they should decide from strength where they have a real choice while they listen to God’s admonition, not by strength nor by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord.
Comment by Chris on July 21, 2012 at 11:38 am
The Western Churches are more worried about offending Muslims than actually helping fledgling traditional Christian communities in the Middle East and Africa (which predate Islam by several centuries). The Western Churches want to appear to be tolerant and are more than willing to sacrifice Christians in these areas as “casualties of war.” Of course, the hierarchs in these western churches are safe and secure so it’s very easy for them to say “just pray and let God’s will be done.”
This belief in Christian pacifism is an innovation of the last century. Centuries upon centuries saw an unbroken call to arms to defend Christendom from invasion. But, to certain people, I imagine that wouldn’t count since those were Catholic and Orthodox armies supported by bishops of the same since we all know that Orthodox and Catholics were not enlightened enough to practice made up 20th century doctrines. I suppose that certain people here like Dan would also criticize the armies of the Eastern Roman Empire which repelled attacks from the Muslim attackers for centuries and were eventually defeated despite a last stand at Constantinople in 1453.
Comment by Dan Trabue on July 21, 2012 at 11:53 am
“People like Dan” simply believe that God wants us to trust in God for our defense, not big militaries (says so in the Bible…).
“People like Dan” simply believe that following Christ comes at some cost and we are to strive to follow Christ, follow his example, follow his teachings. For us, those teachings are pretty clear (clear enough that the church for the first 200-300 years was able to refuse to kill the enemy, even at some great cost).
“People like Dan” also recognize that it’s a difficult call to make and that we are hesitant to criticize people for simply defending themselves. But that lack of criticism is not the same as saying, “And this is a good, Christian thing to do.”
That is, we recognize that some times some of us when pushed in a corner, may choose to embrace deadly violence to protect our loved ones. But choosing to go that route does not make it a “Christian” (ie, “taught by Christ”) thing to do.
We simply think that the Bible teaches (and logic endorses) that a better, more effective, more Godly solution can be found in a more “just peacemaking” approach, rather than employing and embracing the tools embraced by “the enemy.”
I always find it interesting that those who believe in violence as a solution rarely quote Jesus or biblical reasoning when they do so. Rather, it’s more like “Well, surely God wouldn’t want us to just stand there and die…” even when that’s exactly what Christ and the early church did (with the caveat that I’m not speaking of passivism, but pacifism – NVDA).
Comment by Zachary Uram on October 7, 2012 at 1:04 am
You are living in a fairyland. If one reads the Bible and comes away with the view that “God wants pacifism” they are sorely deluded. Christians have an existential right to defend themselves. It’s odd that you credit the Muslims with the right to murder Nigerians. Why is defending oneself from murder somehow un-Christian? You have a very warped and dangerous view. Read Revelation, when Christ returns it isn’t to preach to the wicked to repent or to debate them. The evil ones will be totally annihilated, destroyed from even existing. Pacifists like you cherry pick Scriptures to support your view while ignoring the numerous texts in the Old and New Testaments which are clear odds with your agenda. If our ancestors behaved like you we’d be living in an Islamic hell on earth. Sit back and let our brothers and sisters be slaughtered so that you can rest easy at night? “Just peacemaking”? Are you serious? Peacemaking doesn’t work on the Islamists and Jihadists. They would rather die than have peace. It is a total anathema to their very DNA. Reasonable people can make peace, but the Islamists aren’t reasonable. This sort of thinking is so incredibly naive and unhelpful.
Comment by Dan Trabue on October 7, 2012 at 8:58 am
Zachary…
If one reads the Bible and comes away with the view that “God wants pacifism” they are sorely deluded.
And yet, I notice that you have not offered a biblical reason to support your war-as-solution for dealing with “the enemy.” Yes, we find places in the OT where God commanded Israel to slaughter the enemy, man woman and child. And if God ever commands you to do that (and you somehow KNOW that it’s God commanding you) then perhaps you ought to do that.
But God has not commanded us to slaughter the enemy. God has commanded us to love the enemy. Overcome evil NOT with more evil, but with good.
You offer some fear-based reasonings as to why we ought to kill our enemies, but not biblically-based ones.
Zachary…
Pacifists like you cherry pick Scriptures to support your view while ignoring the numerous texts in the Old and New Testaments which are clear odds with your agenda.
“Cherry pick…”? Love your enemies comes from the OT. It’s a command. Shed no innocent blood is a command from the OT. Jesus’ teachings are consistently peaceful without a hint of “kill your enemies.”
It’s interesting that you charge me with cherry-picking when you have not offered a single support for killing-the-enemy (much less war) as solution.
Zachary…
If our ancestors behaved like you we’d be living in an Islamic hell on earth.
Read up on church history. Our ancestors DID live like what I’m suggesting. In fact, JESUS lived like I’m suggesting.
“If my kingdom was of this world, my followers would take up swords…” Jesus told the oppressors as he was on his way to his death.
“Jesus came and suffered, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps,” the apostle tells us.
Jesus lived a life of peaceful non-violence, loving the enemy, overcoming evil with good. He left us this example and that’s the example we’re to follow in. It’s the way the church lived for the first ~300 years of its existence, and it’s still here. It’s the way my forbears, the anabaptists, have lived for hundreds of years and despite oppression, torture and death (sometimes at the hands of Catholics and Protestants, but rarely at the hands of the Muslims, incidentally), we’re still here.
Our faith is not in the ways of this world, but in God. When Israel started trusting in their military strength, God would always tell them, “That ain’t what’s going to save you, I am what’s going to save you. Trust in me.”
It’s a challenging call, to be sure. Not for the faint of heart. But so far, I see no biblical reason to think we’re called to anything else.
Do you have any biblical support for your hunches, or are they all fear-based (ie, “if we don’t find the ‘enemy,’ they will kill us all…”)?
Comment by gladdrial on July 10, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Jesus came to die and pay the price demanded for our Salvation. Christ will come back and he will destroy the unbeliever’s in him as Savior and the only way.
Comment by Raja Senanayake on May 7, 2019 at 9:27 am
I agree. We must defend ourselves rather than meekly surrender to these wicked men and be slaughtered. This is an age-old argument. The Catholic Church went into this matter and came out with the just war theory. True Jesus said to turn the other cheek but his teachings must be understood in the correct perspective which the Catholic Church has done. Follow the Church teaching on the matter.
Comment by Rosa on August 28, 2019 at 4:21 am
Dan….Our God is a God of War. If you don’t believe that then you haven’t read your Bible lately. When he returns, the hem of his robe will be drenched in the blood of his enemies, whether you like it or not.
You keep asking for proof from the New Testament, for verses that say we are allowed to defend ourselves. Here is what Jesus said on the matter: In Luke 22:36-38 in instructs his disciples to sell their cloaks in order to buy swords. Why? As a fashion statement? No. To defend themselves from bandits while out on their missionary travels.
On the night of his arrest he instructed Peter to put away his sword not because it was a violent action but because it was his time to face death.
And turning the other cheek means to not seek revenge, as was the habit of the culture in that part of the world and it still is today, in Arab countries. It certainly doesn’t mean you can’t defend yourself.
Loving your enemies means to wish them well, instead of harbouring hate in your heart. It means giving them a helping hand when they are in need, like lifting heavy furniture for them, stopping to help someone who is sick or injured like the Good Samaritan. It does not mean letting them kill you.
It is because of this Pacifist mentality that Islam has conquered so much of the West. And it will be the golden rope of tolerance that will eventually strangle us.
I believe that the Nigerian Christians and other Christians who are being attacked should take up arms to defend themselves.
If this is completely against your beliefs, if Pacifism is this important to you, then perhaps you had better follow Ghandi.
Comment by Dan Trabue on July 21, 2012 at 11:57 am
This belief in Christian pacifism is an innovation of the last century.
Read the bible and church history. Jesus pretty clearly taught a pacifism with a NVDA flavor. The early church for hundreds of years did not embrace militarism (you couldn’t be in the church and the military for hundreds of years).
Beyond that, Christian pacifism has been around strongly since the 1500s and the Anabaptists and others. The early church of the Nazarene, early methodists, early charismatics and other protestants all embraced pacifism at least tentatively.
If I’m not mistaken, there’s also a long tradition of just peacemaking in the Catholic church, too.
Christian pacifism is hardly an innovation of the last century. Would you like some reading material on church history on the topic?
Comment by Matt on July 21, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Dan Trabue, you are the one that needs to read your Bible.
Dan- “Jesus pretty clearly taught a pacifism with a NVDA flavor. The early church for hundreds of years did not embrace militarism (you couldn’t be in the church and the military for hundreds of years).”
All of those assertions are absolutely false and could not be farther removed from the truth. And you also said that Christians who don’t believe in pacifism never quote scripture, well pay attention because you about to hear from one.
Matthew 8:5-13
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
And thus dies your argument that in the Early Church one couldn’t be a soldier. In fact this soldier had more faith than anyone in Israel.
Luke 3:14
14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
If Jesus was a pacifist and taught pacifism he would have told them to disband or not to reenlist rather than tell them to be content with the pay they received for their military service.
And in the Old Testament, warriors like King David or Joshua, and Judges like Deborah and Ehud are praised for their military prowess not condemned for not engaging in NVDA.
Comment by Zachary Uram on October 7, 2012 at 1:07 am
Well said.
Comment by Mrs. T on July 21, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Try reading the koran. The instructions are clear; kill the infidel, steal his possessions. It is also permissible to lie. So, I don’t think they’re much interested in dialogue unless it’s for deceitful purposes.
Comment by Dan Trabue on July 22, 2012 at 12:46 am
Matt…
All of those assertions are absolutely false and could not be farther removed from the truth.
?
1. I asserted the fact that Christian pacifism was a real thing in the modern era since the 16th Century and the anabaptist movement, and pacifism was a presence in other protestant traditions hundreds of years ago.
Are you saying that this is false?
2. I asserted the opinion that Jesus taught a pacifistic message. This is an opinion, but not an unreasonable. Regardless, as an opinion, it isn’t false, it’s an opinion.
3. I asserted the fact that for the first 200-300 years, the church did not have soldiers in it and they practiced non-violence (ie, they didn’t fight back with deadly violence).
On which of these points is there any evidence of falsehood?
Mrs T, there are indeed probably some muslims who think it is okay to lie and kill (just as there are some Christians who probably think that), but that does not mean it’s normative for Muslims. Stating that as a fact is offensive and lacking in real world knowledge of real, actual Muslims. While I don’t know many myself, I have a friend who is a Christian minister in a Muslim nation and she can assure you that this is a false stereotype, not fitting of all Muslims.
Do you know any Muslims who can verify this for you?
Comment by Barbara on July 22, 2012 at 12:49 am
Mrs. T:
You are absolutely right and so is Matt. If Christians don’t begin to openly reject Islam in this country, Mohammad will be replacing Jesus Christ and God here in the United States.
Islam is evil, Satan, the devil. There is no way God wants us to be pacifists when dealing with the devil.
There are peaceful ways to deal with Islam. If we don’t do it now, it will be too late, tomorrow.
First, stop all Muslim immigration, but it won’t be stopped until many Christians insist by writing, emailing, calling your Senators and Representatives, frequently. They have short memories.
Second, the Federal government and or states must pass anti-Sharia laws.
Third, liberal judges must stop siding with Muslims rather than Christians in lawsuits, taking away our Freedom of Religion. Follow CAIR. They are constantly after Christians. So is ACLU and atheist organizations.
Fourth, CAIR must be formally charged with terrorism. It was proven by the FBI that CAIR has been involved. It’s mission is to change the U.S. into an Islamic state. The judge in the case decided that CAIR should be brought to justice, but it never was. You see there are corrupt officials in the government siding with them. One has to wonder what is going on. We know. The Muslim Brotherhood is now in the White House. CAIR is affiliated with it.
Fifth, Islam is a political, financial, legal, and cultural doctrine masquerading as a religion. Practice of it should be illegal. It violates our Constitution.
They find dogs and pigs repulsive. Dogs are stoned to death. Muslim taxi drivers in the U.S. have refused those with dogs and alcohol. They don’t believe in music or dancing. Wife beating is allowed. They throw acid in their wive’s faces causing them to be deformed. Hands are cut off of thieves. Men are allowed up to four wives. Beastiality is OK. If a woman is raped, she must find four witnesses. If she can’t, she will be accused of adultery. Adultery is punishable by death. Stoning to death is common. One half of the body is buried in the ground, then stoned. If a wife’s husband dies, she gets only one-third of his property.
Taking over sidewalks and streets with their prayers forces us into submission. That takes away our freedom to use those sidewalks and streets to get to work, meetings, doctor’s appointments on time, not to mention it blocks ambulances, police, and fire trucks. We must not offend them, though, but they don’t care that they offend us. They use our Freedom of Religion to take advantage over us.
They must wash their feet before every prayer. They do so in public toilets and sinks, leaving water on the seats and everywhere for you and I to clean up when we need to use those facilities. Again, we must not offend them, but they are permitted to offend us. This is our country. Our government gave them permission to come here; however, many of us did not give the government permission to allow them to come here. It’s “We the People,” not “We the president, Senate, House, lobbyists, and Muslims.”
Muslim women must pray in separate rooms in mosques. CAIR sees to it that footbaths and prayer rooms are added to universities and airports. Do any of those universities and airports receive public monies. Yes. Muslims will not swim with non-Muslims, so special times are set aside when you and I can’t swim. Muslim men and women can’t swim together. That’s not an inconvenience for the rest of us, I ask?
It goes on and on. Islam and the Muslim culture do not mix with ours. They say our culture doesn’t allow them to practice their religion. So, they have to have their own schools, community centers, their own Muslim countries within our country. They insist on wearing head gear, covering their faces, when that is a security threat. In fact, there was a bank robbery where dressing like that occurred. Muslims have been videotaped stealing, stuffing their booty in those long whatevers they wear. Why did they come here, if they knew our culture does not support their demands? Well, they expect us to change our culture so they can practice Islam. That’s one more step for all of us to becoming Muslims.
Those people (Christians and Jews) who will not submit to Islam will be killed. Muslims who converted to Christianity are killed. Islam is about dominance and control. It controls everything in Muslims’ lives. Islam’s main goal is to control the world. Right now, they are working on the United States, Europe, all White countries. It’s all about getting Christians to submit to Islam or they will kill all of them. They are doing a good job of it in Muslim controlled countries.
It’s suggested all Christians and Jews learn as much about Islam as possible. Learn how 80% of the mosques preach violence against the U.S. and/or Sharia. Most mosques are nothing more than terrorist factories.
Read the Koran.
Anyone think I’m going overboard, fanatical? Islam is a huge threat. Christians, get off of your loungers and fight. As a Christian, I am fighting for my God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Are you?
Comment by cjmartel on July 23, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Every human has the right to life, this right is guaranteed by no less than God himself. Nigerians need to fight back, there is such a thing as a just war, and this undoubtedly is a just war. What really astounds me is how many so called Christians mis interpret the turn the other cheek parable. In those days if a person of higher station slapped you in the face, you had to take it, however, if they slapped you twice, you now had the right to defend yourself. I know Jesus advocated peace, but he was nobodies fool, there comes a time when you have to fight back. Remember how Jesus cleared the temple, he used a whip! Being Christian does NOT mean being a pansy, Christianity takes a lot of courage, we in the west need to start acting accordingly.
Comment by Dan Trabue on July 24, 2012 at 9:40 am
CJ said…
1. if they slapped you twice, you now had the right to defend yourself.
2. I know Jesus advocated peace, but he was nobodies fool,
3. there comes a time when you have to fight back.
Do you have a biblical source for any of this, or is this all just your opinion? If it’s just your opinion, that’s fine, you’re welcome to it all day long.
But let’s not presume to speak for Jesus something he didn’t say, doesn’t that sound reasonable?
What DID Jesus teach?
Turn the other cheek.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who abuse you.
In everything, do to others as you’d have them do to you.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
And Peter expands on Jesus’ teaching, saying…
if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps, .
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
I see nothing in Jesus’ teachings to suggest “There is a time to fight back and kill our enemy…”
Now having said that, there are those peacemakers/pacifists who believe that Jesus’ teachings are not PASSIVISM, as some have treated them (“when someone comes to kill your kids, do nothing but pray meekly…”), but a smart just peacemaking model. Folk from Gandhi to King to many quakers and anabaptists and others throughout the years have clung to a Non-Violent Direct Action choice, instead. As the Mennonites (and others) say, Not Fight, Not Flight, but a THIRD Way – the way of just peacemaking.
If your image of pacifists is purely those who are passive, you might want to read up on the notion of Just Peacemaking Theory or NVDA.
It takes a great deal more courage to face down a deadly enemy with an open hand and a wisely turned cheek (per Jesus’ direct teaching) than it does with a gun and a grenade.
Comment by kirkion on July 26, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Dear Dan
First off I think that saying that Jesus taught “Just Peacemaking Theory” or “NVDA” or any other system which we have developed in the west is specious. It overlooks the profound difference between the organic, holistic discipleship practiced by Christ and the modern mechanistic instruction manual mindset which so hampers many in their walks today.
Also I think that we must distinguish between personal callings to pacifism (like personal callings to the pastorate, singleness, martyrdom, etc.) and general callings to be like Christ. While some individuals have a personal calling to singleness or martyrdom, getting married or dying of old age, does not mean that you have failed in your Christian walk.
We should always remember that the Old Testament shows us some things about government, about law, kingship, honor and yes war. Some of those things are good, and even glorious, but they will NOT, finally save you. The point of the New Testament is not that there is nothing of value in the Old (rather the reverse!) but that the glory of the Law and all that it implies is not the whole story.
I realize that I haven’t said much about the topic at hand, but I think that once upon a time God loved a man named David. Was he a ‘man of blood?’ Yes. But he was also a man after God’s own heart. Our God does not change, and there is still room in the body of Christ for such men.
Comment by gladdrial on July 10, 2014 at 11:45 pm
Amen Selah Brother
Comment by gladdrial on July 10, 2014 at 11:42 pm
Tell Muslims that and they will use you and then take your head. Why does Revelation tell us when
Christ comes again he will not come as a Savior but
a warrior to do battle with this evil world.
Comment by sylvester on October 3, 2012 at 3:14 pm
I’m troubled with all the religious violence in the world, so much so that many times I feel disillusioned. The strange thing about all these conflicts and senseless killings is that seemingly there will be no end. We are faced with two groups; one that believes in agression and one that believes in pacifism, with the latter playing into the hands of the former. I live in a country where religious violence is not even a thought, oddly in my country preachers say things like “I prayed to God about getting a new car and he answered me, look at my new benz”. This has made me almost faithless because I refuse to believe that you would prayer for a car and receive it, meanwhile someone is praying for their lives and their having their heads chopped off.It makes no sense.
A huge amount of us will say things like “we must prayer for those christians being persecuted” but are those prayers being answered? conversely, muslims are praying for their war torn areas; those prayers are not answered also. Have we been fed a solution that doesn’t work? You tell me?
The most compelling question here is: Has religious belief become a thing of only words, where we rest on promises, and hopes, or is this something where God is real, where he actually impacts these situations; Where a man about to be beheaded could preach to his persecutors and convert an army… or have we been fed a book of beautiful, poetic stories that have little bearing on real life? If we don’t answer these questions and get the evidence to back it… all this chaos won’t end.
I want to believe as much as anyone else but what a psycho world this is.
Comment by marcos juean on November 13, 2012 at 2:47 pm
los cristianos sirios mueren por miles, tambien en Afganistan,Irak Iran,Egipto etc, en manos de salafistas el brazo armado musulman, y nosotros discutiendo, si ellos tendrán piedad con nosotros.
Comment by Raja Senanayake on May 7, 2019 at 6:05 am
Pacifism is a noble creed but survival is also necessary and the Church debated these issues over a long period during the Middle Ages. Self defense right must be acknowledged
Comment by Raja Senanayake on May 7, 2019 at 6:09 am
I don,t think pacifism is required when one is peace-loving is under attack.The right of self defense is acceptable.