Was Christ A Pacifist?

Introduction.

    I am writing this Article because of some interactions I have had with people within casual talk when speaking about our Lord Jesus Christ. I have even debated some people on this argument. I ended up just leaving the debates midway when I realized I would be able to convince a stone about the truth then these people that wanted to debate. I have heard Christians online speak about whether or not Christ our Lord was a Pacifist. If anyone with any of common sense who reads the Scriptures, especially the Gospels of our Lord, that our Lord was not a Pacifist. He was very peaceful at times when it was needed, yet He was also not peaceful when it was needed. As I have linked to the definition of what a Pacifist is, I will have to acknowledge the commonly added attributes to the definition that is not given. Many Christians who argue this topic in favor for our Lord being a Pacifist add attributes like Christ did not cause commotion or disturbed the peace, or did not cause problems, and did not create scenes. And funny enough, most of these people happen to be ones who will profess Sola Scriptura. Which ironically, every Article I have had to mention this Sola, the situation I am arguing contradicts this man-made teaching and invention called Sola Scriptura. Within this Article I will be going over the Biblical basis for why this teaching and idea that Christ being a Pacifist is not Biblically true. My harshness is not directed to those of you who believe such a teaching but do not know how to back it up and have never heard of it being refuted, my harshness is directed towards those who deny over and over the facts that Christ was not a Pacifist and it is quite clear from Scripture. 

Section 1. Does the Bible make Christ our Lord out to be a Pacifist?

• Matthew 5:18-20 

    18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

    Christ here is giving a speech in public making a scene. Now not necessarily a negative seen that someone would call anti-passive, however throughout the speech He gives, He becomes less of a Pacifist. Here we see Christ saying that man must obey the commandments and according to how we obey the commandments is how we will be called in the Kingdom of Heaven. And in verse 20 He says to those listening that their righteousness must exceed the scribes and Pharisees to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He not only singled out a group at that time, but He judged them and told it to the crowds that they must not be like them. What is peaceful about what He had just did? If one of these Pacifist Christ professing believers saw someone doing similar things as Christ did, they would condemn that person. I personally tend to believe these people would have condemned Christ for His actions.

• Matthew 5:21-48 Part I

    Concerning Anger 21 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny. Concerning Adultery 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Concerning Divorce 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Concerning Oaths 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. Concerning Retaliation 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. Love for Enemies 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

• Matthew 6 Part II

      Concerning Almsgiving “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Concerning Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; 13 And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Concerning Fasting 16 “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Concerning Treasures 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The Sound Eye 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Serving Two Masters   24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Do Not Worry 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.

• Matthew 18:5-9 (Mark 9:43-50) Part III

     Temptations to Sin 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

• Matthew 18:15-22 Part IV

    Reproving Another Who Sins 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Forgiveness 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

• Matthew 19:1-12 ( Mark 10:1-12; Luke 16:14-18) Part VI

    Teaching about Divorce. Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; 2 and large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’? 6 So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to them, “For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman, commits adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this precept, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.”

    Many people will read these parts of the Gospel and just look at it as just the Sermon of Christ on the Temple Mount. Which is true in every aspect, however the event and what is being said is not only a teaching but a callout. The television series that is quite popular as of the past few years, The Chosen, has dubbed this event in scripture as a Manifesto of Christ. I will agree that is a very well-made description and labeling of these passages. I will testify that this section of the Gospels completely denies this idea that Christ was a Pacifist. The groups of people will vehemently argue that Christ was a Pacifist will simply look at this Sermon of Christ as Christ simply revising and adding to His Law that was given to Moses at Mount Sinai. Christ was not simply adding more requirements on the Laws, He was calling out the entire generation for sinning. He was calling all those present sinners in the sense of, if they have done any of the things He was speaking about in addition to the Law, they have sinned. He was judging, which would go against the arguments I hear often in favor for Christ being a Pacifist. However, He was not being the Judge in the same sense as how He will carry Himself at the End of the Age, because the final Judgement has not happened and therefore He is warning the people to stop sinning by breaking the Laws in ways they never thought was actually breaking the Law. He was giving mercy. Christ was becoming increasingly popular throughout His ministry, I would argue that it is safe to assume that Scribes and or Pharisees were indeed present at this Sermon. If not, there was definitely pious and arrogant men and women. When these Words of Christ were spoken it would have offended their image in the sense of they would have felt incredibly insulted. 

• Matthew 18:5-9 (Mark 9:43-50) Part VII

    Temptations to Sin 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

    Maybe I am slow to thinking here, but I believe I just read Christ saying that if someone causes a child to sin, it would be better to tie a heavy stone around the neck of the person and lodge them into the sea so they drown. Truly you cannot twist this verse to mean Christ was being a Pacifist? Drowning is a very violent death, and Christ is saying that it would be a fair and acceptable way of death for someone who encourages sin. I do not see anyway this could be used in favor to say Christ was a Pacifist in context with these section of Scripture. 

• Matthew 9:1-8 (Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)

    Jesus Heals a Paralytic. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, take up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

    Notice this miracle of Christ, scribes were present watching the actions of Jesus Christ. Christ knew the thoughts of evil within their hearts before He did the miracle. And is undoubtedly understood and true the Christ knows the thoughts and hearts of all men at all time. So when Christ proclaimed the paralytic's sins to be forgiven in verse two, He knew what the response of the scribes would look like. Willing causing a scene and disturbing the peace of his teaching by performing such a miracle and exclaiming such words. Then, Christ our Lord performs the miracle which further more expounds on his words within verse 2 and verse 4 through 6. Again there is nothing violent here, yet it still breaks this ideology that Christ was a Pacifist based on the added definitions to the term by these groups that profess our Lord was a Pacifist.

• John 2:13-20 (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48)

    Jesus Cleanses the Temple 13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for thy house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign have you to show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 

    As you see I have quoted from the Gospel according to Saint John the beloved Apostle of Christ. Now clearly by just reading these section of the Gospel, that Christ is not being a Pacifist. Yet, these groups that profess Christ to be a Pacifist, will argue that I am simply selecting verses that "could be interpreted in favor 'taken out of context' to represent my point." Which is just completely false and ignorant to even say or think. Some of these people are quite liberal in their thinking and outward look(politics) and impose such upon the Scriptures and will also claim such event to be falsely written by either Saint John the beloved Apostle or some early Christian who had access to the scrolls of the early Gospels. Again which I will claim to be false and ignorant to say. First remember, Saint John the beloved Apostle is one of the earliest Disciples called to aid in Christ's ministry. He would have known extremely intricate details such as Christ making the whip of cords. The Gospel of Saint John is the only Gospel to record and place the event of the Clearing of the Temple at the beginning of Christ's ministry. Everything that happens here in the Cleansing of the Temple, is far from peaceful and undoubtedly appeared violent and chaotic. This verse is always brought up in the arguments against these people who call our Lord a Pacifist. I had even pointed it out to one of these people, yet in their ignorance they acted like I had said nothing by saying, "that does not disprove anything I believe He was a Pacifist." 

• Matthew 21:43-46

    43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it. 44 And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on any one, it will crush him.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet.

    This section of Gospel is after a Parable of Christ. We see Christ speaking about a group of people and immediately the pious and arrogant chief priests and Pharisees heard the parables and what Christ said in verse 43-44 and got angry with Him why? Because He was creating a commotion by calling out and that He singled out a group of people and the chief priests and Pharisees identified themselves with that group and became upset and tried to arrest Christ at this very moment. Why? Not only because they felt insulted but they perceived Christ as a threat and to be dangerous. They interpreted these words to be defying against peace, to them such words spoken denied someone being a Pacifist. 

• Matthew 23:1-36

    Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees  Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries road and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. 14-15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If any one swears by the temple, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If any one swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it; 22 and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. 26 You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation.

    Again, not to the pure Dictionary definition, rather the additional descriptions onto the definition. Jesus here is creating a commotion and calling out and publicly rebuking and shamming the Pharisees. Not only rebuking and calling out and shamming, but creating a massive scene. This incident is far from being peaceful. 

Section 2. My Final Thoughts

    I have gone over a short amount of passages within this Article that I truly believe show that Biblically was not a Pacifist and anything but. Some will definitely call such arguments I have written within this Article as 'weak' however I think it is quite the contrary. In some occasions as this one, common sense very much needed. I most likely have overlooked some passages or forgotten other ones that have strong standing in favor of the Biblical basis which I am arguing for here, if you know of any please comment them below and I will revise the Article and include them. 

"The LORD bless you

and keep you;

the LORD make His face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn His face toward you 

and give you peace." ☦