Is Pacifism Tenable

 Interesting that the early Christians were mostly pacifists.  They took scripture descriptions of warfare as warfare of Christians fighting demons.  Good fighting bad.  However, it seemed that once Constantine made Christianity legal, and many people became Christians, governing Christians became a problem.  How do you repel Barbarian attacks?  This was a serious problem.

Hence, the crusades came to be.  Could Christians allow Infidels to take over the Holy Land?  I wonder how pacifists would handle that?  Nowadays, the media would show the world that people were being killed and negotiations for peace probably would result.  But then there was no instantaneous news.

What would Jesus do?  

Jesus Doesn't Fight

 Jason Porterfield's takeaway of Holy Week, in Fight Like Jesus, is very interesting.  His view challenged me.  I'm not a pacifist.  I think that's too naive.  Although I'm glad we have people like that, but it just seems too gullible.  

Porterfield made me think.  I can see what he's saying, but I don't agree 100%.

This book is to be read during Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday.  The people are celebrating the arrival of their Messiah.  They're shouting "Hosanna."  The Greek translation tends to imply that "hosannah" is for a savior, a rescurer.  This is what Jesus is, but not a conquering, violent, insurrection.  That's what the people were excited about.

Holy Monday, Jesus goes to the temple and throws the money changers out.  Porterfield claims that this was not a violent act.  No people were hurt.  He couldn't have used whips because there weren't any around.  He must have used wicker and something within his grasp.  The temple needed to be cleared of the people cheating and He did it.

Holy Tuesday, Jesus goes back to the temple and has verbal confrontational encounters with the temple authorities, which convinces them to get rid of Jesus.  He has the crowd following Him, who think He's going to attack the Roman soldiers, like he cleared the temple.

Holy Wednesday, He gets annointed by the woman.  Judas is disgusted by the waste of money and makes a deal with the temple authorities.

Holy Thursday is the Last Supper.  Judas leaves early to make arrangements.  Jesus is arrested without resisting.

Good Friday is the crucifixion.  Porterfield explains why the crowd chose to release Barabbas.  Remember that everybody was expecting Jesus to overthrow the Romans.  Well, He didn't. But Barabbas tried and it resulted in his being arrested for insurrection.  Also, Barabbas' name is Bar-Abba, IOW, Son of Abba (God).  

Now, you are expecting Jesus to overthrow the Romans.  Who would you choose to be released, the one arrested for insurrection, or the one preaching love your enemies?  

Who would you choose: Jesus Bar Abba, or Jesus Bar Joseph of Nazareth.  Barabbas' first name was Jesus (common name)?

On Holy Saturday, Jesus worked.  He went down to release the dead.

Sunday, Jesus proves He's the messiah.  He raises Himself from the dead.

Who can do that?  Only the messiah can do that, Jesus the Christ.

Patriotism is an Invincible Religion

 "As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me. They do not feel any enmity against me as an individual, nor I against them. They are ‘only doing their duty’, as the saying goes. Most of them, I have no doubt, are kind-hearted law-abiding men who would never dream of committing murder in private life. On the other hand, if one of them succeeds in blowing me to pieces with a well-placed bomb, he will never sleep any the worse for it. He is serving his country, which has the power to absolve him from evil." ― George Orwell, England Your England

The same man, George Orwell also wrote: People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

George Orwell

Think about it.  They don’t necessarily contradict each other.  They are words from two different people with different eyes because of the positions they currently occupy.  One view is from the bomb’s recipient.  The other view is from the person benefiting from the bombs.

Orwell wrote the second quote in his essay "The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius."    These two seemingly different opinions aren't Orwell's.  He is describing people.  I think Orwell recognizes that patriotism is a religion.  It even takes precedence over Christianity or any other religion, because a Christian or other, doesn't recognize patriotism as a religion. He can be both.  God and country aren't the same, so loyalty to each wouldn't be the same.  But they get confused and patriotism comes ahead.  Hitler and Mussolini  knew this and rose to power on it.  Putin tells his people that the noble Russians are freeing the Ukrainians.  The Russians are the good guys liberating Ukraine.

People are fickle.  How they sleep depends on what country they are in.

Passivity is Immoral

I struggle with pacifism.  It sounds nice.  I wish everyone were a pacifist.  But they're not.  Get real. 

Currently, Russia has invaded Ukraine.  If the Ukrainians did not defend themselves, they would be worse off than they were.  The world would be worse off.  Actually, it isn't "war" here; it's Putin.  He is not conducting a military operation--that's a lie.  It is an unjust act of aggression.  How do you define war?  

Ukrainians are forced to take up weapons.  What would happen if they didn't?  Innocents would be harmed.  Defending your family and other innocents is not unacceptable, in fact, people have a moral duty to stop the violence being perpetrated upon innocents. Yes, that is an acceptable force; it is not an immoral force.  One has the responsibility to protect, doing nothing is immoral. This is Veritas!

Deterrence has become one of the necessary instruments of peace. 

In this case, Putin has invaded Ukraine, which posed no immediate danger to Russia.  And with the location of nuclear facilities, Putin is threatening catastrophe.  He must be stopped.

Evil is and has always been in the world. I pray that Ukrainian defense measures will limit the evil that is spreading. 

Peacemakers Are Not Pacifists

Peacemakers are not pacifists, at least in the beatitudes, they're not.  When Jesus gave us the beatitudes, there wasn't a war going on, not in Pax Romana.  And no threat of war, either.  So, pacifism wasn't intended, at all.

The interpretation is a blessing on the people who work towards harmony in the community.  Now, this is something to chew on in today's times, where division is rife in our politics and religion.

Peace to you means "God's peace" means keep harmonious relations with one another.

Peace.