Pacifism?

The martyrs serve as inspiration in this regard; they fail to fight back in order to win the crown of sacrifice for Christ. Thus it ought be clear to us that pacifists have always existed within the Christian tradition, even if they have not often be predominant. The deaths of the martyrs do not invalidate or call into question those who have held a sword or a gun, but they do keep alive the radical call Day wishes us to hear.

For her and for those like her, pacifism is difficult, but better than turning to violence. We might say it’s a bit like celibacy being higher than marriage. This fact doesn’t make marriage wrong; it simply means there is a higher state attainable by Christians, a state made all the less appealing by the many temptations (and even duties) that require violence of us. The pacifist needs to be willing to, say, avoid becoming a judge in a state with capital punishment or to avoid becoming a police officer in an armed department. These things are not easy.

But how is all of this not a danger to other people? How can we justify not taking up arms to defend others? This seems like a massive objection, but it’s not. It assumes that life is the highest good, one higher than dying for Christ, which, by definition, must be higher. This doesn’t make those who fail to die in such a way horrible or wrong (see the Donatist Controversy on this question). I’m reminded of the death of Abba Moses the Black whenever anyone raises this objection:

One day, he went with some elders to St. Macarius the Great, who said to them, I see among you one to whom belong the crown of martyrdom. St. Moses answered him, Probably it is me, for it is written: ‘For all they that take with the sword, shall perish with the sword.’ (Matt. 26:25) After they returned to the monastery, it did not take long until the Barbarians attacked the monastery. He told the brethren, Whoever wants to escape, let him escape. They asked him, And you O father, why do you not also escape? He replied that he had waited for this day for long time. The Barbarians entered the monastery and killed him with seven other brothers. One of the brethren was hiding, and saw the angel of the Lord, with a crown in his hand standing by and waiting for him. He went out from his hiding place to the Barbarians and he was also martyred.

Beloved Ones, contemplate in the power of repentance, and what it did. It transformed an infidel slave who was a murderer, adulterer and robber into a great Father, teacher, comforter, and priest who wrote rules for the monks, and saint whose name is mentioned on the altar in our prayers. (CopticChurch.net)

Are we to deny his actions here? Should we begrudge him the fact that he convinced others to go with him to the glory of Christ?

I can’t expect to make everyone a pacifists (in fact, it’s something I struggle with myself), but I hope I have made the reasons behind the position a bit clearer. It’s a radical call not meant for all, a loving response to faith in God, not a statement of the inadequacy of one’s brothers and sisters.