"Open your eyes. Don't let your mind tell the story here." Tonic, 1996
Matthew 5:39
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on
the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you.
Luke 6:27
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you.
Romans 12:19-21
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is
written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is
thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning
coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Colossians 3:11
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian,
Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing,
because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
James 4:12
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is
able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?
Nor an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, for him who counts no man his enemy, but all his neighbors, and therefore can never stretch out his hand for vengeance.
Justin Martyr, First Apology
CHAP. XXXIX.--DIRECT PREDICTIONS BY THE SPIRIT.
And when the Spirit of prophecy speaks as predicting things that are to come to pass, He speaks in this way: "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."(12) And that it did so come to pass, we can convince you. For from Jerusalem there went out into the world, men, twelve in number, and these illiterate, of no ability in speaking: but by the power of God they proclaimed to every race of men that they were sent by Christ to teach to all the word of God; and we who formerly used to murder one another do not only now refrain from making war upon our enemies, but also, that we may not lie nor deceive our examiners, willingly die confessing Christ. For that saying, "The tongue has sworn but the mind is unsworn,"(1) might be imitated by us in this matter. But if the soldiers enrolled by you, and who have taken the military oath, prefer their allegiance to their own life, and parents, and country, and all kindred, though you can offer them nothing incorruptible, it were verily ridiculous if we, who earnestly long for incorruption, should not endure all things, in order to obtain what we desire from Him who is able to grant it.
Ambrose, On the Duties of Clergy 1.35.175,177
175. WE have discussed fully enough the nature and force of what is virtuous from the standpoint of justice.(2) Now let us discuss fortitude, which (being a loftier virtue than the rest) is divided into two parts, as it concerns matters of war and matters at home. But the thought of warlike matters seems to be foreign to the duty of our office, for we have our thoughts fixed more on the duty of the soul than on that of the body; nor is it our business to look to arms, but rather to the affairs of peace. Our fathers, however, as Joshua, the son of Nun, Jerubbaal, Samson, and David, gained great glory also in war. 177. David never waged war unless he was driven to it. Thus prudence was combined in him with fortitude in the battle. For even when about to fight single-handed against Goliath, the enormous giant, he rejected the armour with which he was laden.(4) His strength depended more on his own arm than on the weapons of others. Then, at a distance, to get a stronger throw, with one cast of a stone, he slew his enemy. After that he never entered on a war without seeking counsel of the Lord.(5) Thus he was victorious in all wars, and even to his last years was ready to fight. And when war arose with the Philistines, he joined battle with their fierce troops, being desirous of winning renown, whilst careless of his own safety.(1)
Ambrose, On the Duties of Clergy 3.4.27
27. Some ask(4) whether a wise man ought in case of a shipwreck to take away a plank from an ignorant sailor? Although it seems better for the common good that a wise man rather than a fool should escape from shipwreck, yet I do not think that a Christian, a just and a wise man, ought to save his own life by the death of another; just as when he meets with an armed robber he cannot return his blows, lest in defending his life he should stain his love toward his neighbour. The verdict on this is plain and clear in the books of the Gospel. "Put up thy sword, for every one that taketh the sword shall perish with the sword. "(5) What robber is more hateful than the persecutor who came to kill Christ? But Christ would not be defended from the wounds of the persecutor, for He willed to heal all by His wounds.
1st Council of Nicea Canon 12 CANON XII.
As many as were called by grace, and displayed the first zeal, having cast aside their military girdles, but afterwards returned, like dogs, to their own vomit, (so that some spent money and by means of gifts regained their military stations); let these, after they have passed the space of three years as hearers, be for ten years prostrators. But in all these cases it is necessary to examine well into their purpose and what their repentance appears to be like. For as many as give evidence of their conversions by deeds, and not pretence, with fear, and tears, and perseverance, and good works, when they have fulfilled their appointed time as hearers, may properly communicate in prayers; and after that the bishop may determine yet more favourably concerning them. But those who take [the matter] with indifference, and who think the form of [not] entering the Church is sufficient for their conversion, must fulfil the whole time.
Life of Saint Martin (Bishop of Tours) 4
CHAPTER IV. Martin retires from Military Service.
IN the meantime, as the barbarians were rushing within the two divisions of Gaul, Julian Cfsar,[12] bringing an army together at the city[13] of the Vaugiones, began to distribute a donative to the soldiers. As was the custom in such a case, they were called forward, one by one, until it came to the turn of Martin. Then, indeed, judging it a suitable opportunity for seeking his discharge--for he did not think it would be proper for him, if he were not to continue in the service, to receive a donative--he said to Cfsar, "Hitherto I have served you as a soldier: allow me now to become a soldier to God: let the man who is to serve thee receive thy donative: I am the soldier of Christ: it is not lawful for me to fight." Then truly the tyrant stormed on hearing such words, declaring that, from fear of the battle, which was to take place on the morrow, and not from any religious feeling, Martin withdrew from the service. But Martin, full of courage, yea all the more resolute from the danger that had been set before him, exclaims, "If this conduct of mine is ascribed to cowardice, and not to faith, I will take my stand unarmed before the line of battle tomorrow, and in the name of the Lord Jesus, protected by the sign of the cross, and not by shield or helmet, I will safely penetrate the ranks of the enemy." He is ordered, therefore, to be thrust back into prison, determined on proving his words true by exposing himself unarmed to the barbarians. But, on the following day, the enemy sent ambassadors to treat about peace and surrendered both themselves and all their possessions. In these circumstances who can doubt that this victory was due to the saintly man? It was granted him that he should not be sent unarmed to the fight. And although the good Lord could have preserved his own soldier, even amid the swords and darts of the enemy, yet that his blessed eyes might not be pained by witnessing the death of others, he removed all necessity for fighting. For Christ did not require to secure any other victory in behalf of his own soldier, than that, the enemy being subdued without bloodshed, no one should suffer death.
Arnobius, Against the Pagans
Book 1.6
6. Although you allege that those wars which you speak of were excited through hatred of our religion, it would not be difficult to prove, that after the name of Christ was heard in the world, not only were they not increased, but they were even in great measure diminished by the restraining of furious passions. For since we, a numerous band of men as we are, have learned from His teaching and His laws that evil ought not to be requited with evil, that it is better to suffer wrong than to inflict it, that we should rather shed our own blood than stain our hands and our conscience with that of another, an ungrateful world is now for a long period enjoying a benefit from Christ, inasmuch as by His means the rage of savage ferocity has been softened, and has begun to withhold hostile hands from the blood of a fellow-creature. But if all without exception, who feel that they are men not in form of body but in power of reason, would lend an ear for a little to His salutary and peaceful rules, and would not, in the pride and arrogance of enlightenment, trust to their own senses rather than to His admonitions, the whole world, having turned the use of steel into more peaceful occupations, would now be living in the most placid tranquillity, and would unite in blessed harmony, maintaining inviolate the sanctity of treaties.
Lactantius, Divine Institutes
Book 5.6.selected verses
For if justice was on the earth in the age which they call "golden," it is plain that she was driven away by Jupiter, who changed the golden age. But the change of the age and the expulsion of justice is to be deemed nothing else, as I have said, than the laying aside of divine religion, which alone effects that man should esteem man dear, and should know that he is bound to him by the tie of brotherhood, since God is alike a Father to all, so as to share the bounties of the common God and Father with those who do not possess them; to injure no one, to oppress no one, not to close his door against a stranger, nor his ear against a suppliant, but to be bountiful, beneficent, and liberal, which Tullius thought to be praises suitable to a king. This truly is justice, and this is, the golden age, which was first corrupted when Jupiter reigned, and shortly afterwards, when he himself and all his offspring were consecrated as gods, and the worship of many deities undertaken, had been altogether taken away.
Lactantius, Book 6.10.selected verses
CHAPTER 10 -- OF FALSE PIETY, AND OF FALSE AND TRUE RELIGION.
It is worth while to investigate their piety, that from their merciful and
pious actions it may be understood what is the character
of those things which are done by them contrary to the laws of piety. And
that I may not seem to attack any one with
harshness, I will take a character from the poets, and one which is the
greatest example of piety. In Maro, that king
" Than who
The breath of being none e'er drew,
More brave, more pious, or more true, "
what proofs of justice did he bring forward to us?
" There walk with hands fast bound behind
The victim prisoners, designed
For slaughter o'er the flames. "
What can be more merciful than this piety? what more merciful than to
immolate human victims to the dead, and to feed the fire
with the blood of men as with oil? But perhaps this may not have been the
fault of the hero himself, but of the poet, who
polluted with distinguished wickedness "a man distinguished by his piety."
Where then, O poet, is that piety which you so
frequently praise? Behold the pious Aeneas:
" Four hapless youths of Sulmo's breed,
And four who Ufens call their sire,
He takes alive, condemned to bleed
To Pallas' shade on Pallas' pyre. "
Why, therefore, at the very same time when he was sending the men in
chains to slaughter, did he say,
" Fain would I grant the living peace, "
when he ordered that those whom he had in his power alive should be slain
in the place of cattle? But this, as I have said, was
not his fault -- for he perhaps had not received a liberal education --
but yours; for, though you were learned, yet you were
ignorant of the nature of piety, and you believed that that wicked and
detestable action of his was the befitting exercise of
piety. He is plainly called pious on this account only, because he loved
his father. Why should I say that
" The good Aeneas owned their plea, "
and yet slew them? For, though adjured by the same father, and
" By young Lulus' dawning day, "
he did not spare them,
" Live fury kindling every vein "
What! can any one imagine that there was any virtue in him who was fired
with madness as stubble, and, forgetful of the shade
of his father. by whom he was entreated, was unable to curb his wrath? He
was therefore by no means pious who not only
slew the unresisting, but even suppliants. Here some one will say: What
then, or where, or of what character is piety? Truly it is
among those who are ignorant of wars, who maintain concord with all, who
are friendly even to their enemies, who love all
men as brethren, who know how to restrain their anger, and to soothe every
passion of the mind with calm government.
Canons of Hippolytus 14 (Ethiopian)
14. That it is not right for Christians to bear arms.
Tertullian, On the Crown (De Corona) 11 Chapter XI.
To begin with the real ground of the military crown, I think we must first inquire whether warfare is proper at all for Christians. What sense is there in discussing the merely accidental, when that on which it rests is to be condemned? Do we believe it lawful for a human oath38 to be superadded to one divine, for a man to come under promise to another master after Christ, and to abjure father, mother, and all nearest kinsfolk, whom even the law has commanded us to honour and love next to God Himself, to whom the gospel, too, holding them only of less account than Christ, has in like manner rendered honour? Shall it be held lawful to make an occupation of the sword, when the Lord proclaims that he who uses the sword shall perish by the sword? And shall the son of peace take part in the battle when it does not become him even to sue at law? And shall he apply the chain, and the prison, and the torture, and the punishment, who is not the avenger even of his own wrongs? Shall he, forsooth, either keep watch-service for others more than for Christ, or shall he do it on the Lord's day, when he does not even do it for Christ Himself? And shall he keep guard before the temples which he has renounced? And shall he take a meal where the apostle has forbidden him?39 And shall he diligently protect by night those whom in the day-time he has put to flight by his exorcisms, leaning and resting on the spear the while with which Christ's side was pierced? Shall he carry a flag,40 too, hostile to Christ? And shall he ask a watchword from the emperor who has already received one from God? Shall he be disturbed in death by the trumpet of the trumpeter, who expects to be aroused by the angel's trump? And shall the Christian be burned according to camp rule, when he was not permitted to burn incense to an idol, when to him Christ remitted the punishment of fire? Then how many other offences there are involved in the performances of camp offices, which we must hold to involve a transgression of God's law, you may see by a slight survey. The very carrying of the name over from the camp of light to the camp of darkness is a violation of it. Of course, if faith comes later, and finds any preoccupied with military service, their case is different, as in the instance of those whom John used to receive for baptism, and of those most faithful centurions, I mean the centurion whom Christ approves, and the centurion whom Peter instructs; yet, at the same time, when a man has become a believer, and faith has been sealed, there must be either an immediate abandonment of it, which has been the course with many; or all sorts of quibbling will have to be resorted to in order to avoid offending God, and that is not allowed even outside of military service;41 or, last of all, for God the fate must be endured which a citizen-faith has been no less ready to accept. Neither does military service hold out escape from punishment of sins, or exemption from martyrdom. Nowhere does the Christian change his character. There is one gospel, and the same Jesus, who will one day deny every one who denies, and acknowledge every one who acknowledges God,-who will save, too, the life which has been lost for His sake; but, on the other hand, destroy that which for gain has been saved to His dishonour. With Him the faithful citizen is a soldier, just as the faithful soldier is a citizen.42 A state of faith admits no plea of necessity; they are under no necessity to sin, whose one necessity is, that they do not sin. For if one is pressed to the offering of sacrifice and the sheer denial of Christ by the necessity of torture or of punishment, yet discipline does not connive even at that necessity; because there is a higher necessity to dread denying and to undergo martyrdom, than to escape from suffering, and to render the homage required. In fact, an excuse of this sort overturns the entire essence of our sacrament, removing even the obstacle to voluntary sins; for it will be possible also to maintain that inclination is a necessity, as involving in it, forsooth, a sort of compulsion. I have, in fact, disposed of this very allegation of necessity with reference to the pleas by which crowns connected with official position are vindicated, in support of which it is in common use, since for this very reason offices must be either refused, that we may not fall into acts of sin, or martyrdoms endured that we may get quit of offices. Touching this primary aspect of the question, as to the unlawfulness even of a military life itself, I shall not add more, that the secondary question may be restored to its place. Indeed, if, putting my strength to the question, I banish from us the military life, I should now to no purpose issue a challenge on the matter of the military crown.
Tertullian, First Apology 14
CHAPTER XIV -- THE DEMONS MISREPRESENT CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.
And thus do we also, since our persuasion by the Word, stand aloof from [the demons], and follow the only unbegotten God through His Son--we who formerly delighted in fornication, but now embrace chastity alone; we who formerly used magical arts, dedicate ourselves to the good and unbegotten God; we who valued above all things the acquisition of wealth and possessions, now bring what we have into a common stock, and communicate to every one in need; we who hated and killed one another, and on account of their different cultures would not live with men of a different country, now, since the coming of Christ, live familiarly with them, and pray for our enemies, and endeavour to persuade those who hate us unjustly to live comformably to the good precepts of Christ, to the end that they may become par-takers with us of the same joyful hope of a reward from God the ruler of all.
Cyprian, To Donatus 6
Chapter 6
But in order that the characteristics of the divine munificence may shine
forth when the truth has been revealed, I shall give you light to
recognize it, by wiping away the cloud of evil I shall reveal the darkness
of a hidden world. For a little consider that you are being transported to
the loftiest peak of a high mountain, that from this you are viewing the
appearance of things that lie below you and with your eyes directed in
different directions you yourself free from earthly contacts gaze upon the
turmoils of the world. Presently you also will have pity on the world, and
taking account of yourself and with more gratitude to God you will rejoice
with greater joy that you have escaped from it. Observe the roads blocked
by robbers, the seas beset by pirates, wars spread everywhere with the
bloody horrors of camps. The world is soaked with mutual blood, and when
individuals commit homicide, it is a crime; it is called a virtue when it
is done in the name of the state. Impunity is acquired for crimes not by
reason of innocence but by the magnitude of the cruelty.
St. Paulinas of Nola, Letter 25 (To Crispanus)
There is nothing, my blessed son, which can or ought to be preferred to
Him who is the true Lord, the true Father, the eternal Commander. To whom
is it right to devote our lives more than to Him from whom we received
them, and for whom we must preserve them to the end, because we live by
His kindness? If we have been a soldier for Him in this world, we shall
then deserve to pass over to Him. But if we love this world more, and
prefer to be a soldier for Caesar than for Christ, we shall later be
transported not to Christ but to hell, where the cause of the princes of
this world rests. So we ought not put loyalties or fatherland or
distinctions or riches before God, for Scripture says
"The fashion of this world passeth away"
...
Therefore do not any longer love this world or its military service, for
Scripture's authority attests that whoever is a friend of this world is
an enemy of God. He who is a soldier with the sword is the servant of
death, and when he sheds his own blood or that of another, this is the
reward for his service. He will be regarded as guilty of death either
because of his own death or because of his sin because a soldier in a war,
fighting not so much for himself as for another, is either conquered and
killed, or conquers and wins a pretext for death--for he cannot be a
victor unless he first sheds blood. So the Lord says: You cannot serve
two masters, the one God and the one mammon, that is, Christ and
Caesar, even though Caesar himself is now keen to be Christ's servant so
that he may deserve kingship over a few peoples.
Every man, in refusing to take part in military service or to pay taxes to a government which uses them for military purposes, is, by this refusal, rendering a great service to God and man, for he is thereby making use of the most efficacious means of furthering the progressive movement of mankind toward that better social order which it is striving after and must eventually attain.
Violence produces only something resembling justice, but it distances people from the possibility of living justly, without violence.
This difficulty lies in the impossibility of making the Christian faith (which those who form the governments profess with particular emphasis) accord with armies composed of Christians trained to slay. However much you may pervert the Christian teaching, however much you may hide its main principles, its fundamental teaching is the love of God and one's neighbor; of God - that is the highest perfection of virtue, and of one's neighbor - that is all men without distinction. And therefore it would seem inevitable that we must repudiate one of the two, either Christianity is love of God and one's neighbor, or the State with its armies and wars.
I know how the ancient Christians who refused military service were executed by the Romans for doing so (these refusals are described in the lives -of the saints). I know how the Paulicians were, every one of them, destroyed for the same conduct. I know how the Bogomili were persecuted, and how the Quakers and Mennonites suffered for this same cause. I know also how, at the present time, in Austria, the Nazarenes are languishing in prisons; and how people have been martyred in Russia. But the fact that all these martyrdoms have not abolished war in no way proves that they have been useless. To say that this means is not efficacious because it has already been applied for a long time and yet war still exists, is the same as to say that in spring the sun's warmth is not efficacious because the ground has not yet become bare of snow, and flowers have not yet sprung up.
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hateReturning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that.
We must meet hate with creative love.
Love is the most durable power in the world. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.
Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.
Feel free to e-mail me at webmail@jeramyt.org
"Open your eyes. Don't let your mind tell the story here." Tonic, 1996