Rector’s Reflections
Tuesday 15th October 2024
Christians and the Ethics of War
In yesterday’s reflections, I wrote about the belief that warfare is forbidden by Gospel in all circumstances. This belief is sometimes known as the doctrine of Absolute Pacifism, and it has been held by some Christians down the centuries. However, not every Christian has embraced this viewpoint.
The doctrine of Absolute Pacifism is an expression of the belief that Christians are followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and that Jesus himself pronounced a blessing on those who make peace. In the Beatitudes, Jesus told his followers: ” Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew , chapter 5 verse 9). But Absolute Pacifism is not the only way in which Christians have lived out their calling to be men and women of peace.
It is perfectly possible for Christians to be committed to living in peace with their neighbours, without this involving a doctrine of Absolute Pacifism. How might this approach work out in practice?
It means that where possible, we should seek the peaceful resolution of disputes. The use of force or violence should be the last resort, not the first. We need to provide as many opportunities as possible for conflicting parties to discuss their differences and come to a peaceful resolution. Each side needs to feel that they are being listened to, and that their point of view is being respected. I think in most disputes, there is something to be said on both sides.
I am not saying that it is always the case that a ”win-win” solution can or perhaps ought to be found, but I am saying that I think it is good to start with the hope that a “win-win” solution might well be worth exploring. I think it is also good to start with the assumption that the person on the other side might not actually be our enemy – it might be they are our friends in disguise. Many disputes come out of misunderstandings, and I think much conflict would be avoided if we better at communicating with our fellow human beings. I would also add that it can be difficult when issues of power politics come into play. For example, some dominant individuals can claim that they are speaking on behalf of others, when this is not actually the case at all. Politicians can have their own agendas, and they do not necessarily represent the views of the majority of their fellow countrymen and women.
I am also not saying that is always easy being a peacemaker, in whatever context we are playing this role. Keeping the peace within families or communities is rarely for the faint-hearted. It is the same in Church life. One of my duties as a parish priest is to be a peace maker in the congregations and communities under my care. This is probably one of the hardest aspects of my role.
Some individuals like a fight, and they can feel threatened by the prospect of a peaceful resolution of the issue in question. They can be used to dividing the world into “winners” and “losers”, and feel that any move towards compromise will automatically move them into the camp of the “losers”. People can also be profoundly hurt or afraid, and their hurt or fear can cause them to lash out against others. And it would be fair to add that individuals can differ significantly over whether or not a particular dispute relates to a “matter of principle”, which cannot be compromised under any circumstances. Many disputes can be fought over “matters of principle”.
However, Jesus did not promise that peace-makers would have an easy life. He promised that they would be “Blessed”. I think most Christians have felt that God does indeed pronounce a blessing on the peacemaker, and that as Christians, we should seek to be bringers of peace. What this means in practice will depend on the circumstances. For example, some Christians would say that this means that we should indeed defend ourselves if we are attacked by our enemies. Furthermore, we should seek the defeat of our enemies, not in order to punish them, but in order to bring about a restoration of peace. We fight our enemies not in order that they remain our enemies, but in order that they may become our friends. But is this noble aim actually possible? And if it is possible, might it be better achieved through non-violent means? What do you think?