Pacifism: Suffering

[I need to bring this series to a close. To hasten the process, I’ll be posting two posts a day for a while.]

In a series of posts, Tim Archer has pointed out the many passages that teach Christians are called to follow Jesus in his suffering and even to the point of death. And it’s true. Does that fact argue for pacifism?

(I’m not suggesting that this is Tim’s argument. He is still writing his series.)

Let me just run through a sampling of scriptures dealing with suffering.

(John 15:20-21)  Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

(Acts 5:41)  The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

(Acts 9:16)  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

(Phil 1:27-30)  Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

(1 Th 2:2)  We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.

(2 Th 1:5)  All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

(2 Tim 1:8)  So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

(2 Tim 1:11-12)  And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

(2 Tim 2:8-9)  Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.

(Heb 10:32-34)  Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

(Heb 12:2-14)  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

(James 5:10)  Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

(1 Pet 3:13-17)  Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

(1 Pet 4:16)  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

I would like to suggest a theory. Each of these passages speaks to suffering because of being a Christian. They aren’t speaking of yielding to a bandit, a rapist, or a murderer. The suffering is all about persecution on account of our place in the Kingdom. And I think the suffering we are called to is suffering on account of our faith.

Consider Jesus. He suffering on the cross, but it was because of his claim to be the Messiah. Our suffering is like Jesus’ suffering when it is also due to Jesus’  claim that he is the Messiah. Otherwise, our suffering is the same suffering that all mankind is subject to. Our faith — and God through his Spirit and providential care — give us a comfort in this ordinary form of suffering that non-Christians do not participate in.

Thus, Christians are strengthened in suffering as others aren’t, but Christians often suffer as others do not have to.

Now, some will argue that suffering due to our pacifism is suffering for our faith. But the logic begs the question: If we assume that pacifism is commanded, then the suffering passages command pacifism.

Rather, I think the underlying principle is found precisely where the passages point us — in the submission of Jesus to crucifixion. He willingly suffered an agonizing death, but not because of a principled non-violence. He submitted to crucifixion as an act of love for us, so that we might be included in the promises God gave Abraham and so God would give us his Spirit (Gal 3:14). To suffer as Jesus suffered is to suffer as an act of love for others — a principled, gospel-encircled, biblically informed love.

Now, if a gunman enters my house and threatens to kill me and my family, I have to choose between two possible acts of love. I can offer no resistance, and so rescue the gunman from the consequences of his crime, or I can fight to save my family, rescuing them from the gunman’s evil. Which is the higher love?

Some would argue that the less-natural non-resistance to the gunman is higher because it’s harder and goes against all natural instincts. I don’t see it. Non-resistance only enables sin and perhaps allows the man to commit further crimes against other innocents. This is not love.

Rather, love is protecing the innocent from evil. (Using lethal force when non-lethal force would work, is not love either.)

The next post on Jeremiah will explain.