Engage almost anyone in a discussion on pacifism, and you'll inevitably be cornered with some form of this same question (sometimes disguised as a hypothetical):"Oh, so you would just let the bad guys do bad things and not use **insert favorite weapon** to kill them?"
While this question might have merit, it's really overlooking the ultimate goal: to be a peacemaker (not stop a singular attack). Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 that children of God are peacemakers. But what really is peace?
Peace is defined as “free from disturbance”. To be peacemakers we have to seek solutions in order to calm disturbances. Ever wondered why most states call even defensible homicides before a Grand Jury? Ever wonder why legal retainers for gun owners are strongly suggested? It's quite simple: returning violence isn't considered to be peacemaking. Jesus would tell his apostles that he who lives by a sword would die by a sword. Or, more generally, he who uses violence will have violence returned to him.
When Stephen was being stoned in the earlier part of Acts, would he have been considered "harmless as doves" had he got up and sliced everyone's head off? Absolutely not. When violence was done to Stephen, like Jesus, they both endured and prayed.
Pacifism is the true path to peace, not defensible violence, and we know this! We use it all day, every day to be peacemakers. Why do you pay taxes? So that the state won't rush into your home at gunpoint. Why do you do what your boss wants you to do when you may disagree? Why is it easier to do what your spouse wants than to force your desires in the situation? Simply because pacifying someone is a phenomenal way to bring about peace and be peacemakers.
Now, I'm sure you still have, or have at least heard of, some nearly impossible to answer hypothetical questions that you or someone think pacifism would be unable to resolve.
But, let's consider a few things here.
1. Violence is not just about you.
It isn't always about stopping a single instance of violence against someone, but peacemaking has lasting implications in solving violence now and in the future. When you make peace with a person, instead of doing harm, especially when that harm includes death, the effects are generational. We are not islands, every person has a family, whether it is parents, siblings, kids, or a spouse- all are affected by what happens in that individual’s life.
Responding with violence only begets more violence. You cannot overcome evil with evil,it must be overcome with good. Your actions can help turn a violent spouse or father into a loving one. They can help turn a child disobedient to parents into an obedient child. And even further, if you are still harmed, how will those around you now see you as someone searching for peace? Would the stoning of Stephen, in Acts, have as big of an impact if he whipped out a sword and started stabbing his attackers? Certainly not. The actions of Stephen are powerful because he prayed for his enemies’ forgiveness. They’re the same actions of his Lord, Jesus, on the cross. So should our actions imitate.
What happens if you shoot at an attacker, miss, enrage them further, and are, yourself, killed? Who, then, is going to defend the others around you, who are more likely to face heightened rage themselves?.
There are others around you. Think about when you watched a hostage situation in either a movie or a real life situation. What does the negotiator try to do? Pacify the attacker to save the lives of the group.
“We will give you a million dollars, pizza, a helicopter...just think about what you're threatening to do!”
The Christian rapper, NF, has a song with some power lyrics talking about how our actions against violence can affect others:
This girl at the show looked me in the face
And told me her life's full of drama
Said that her dad is abusive
Apparently he likes to beat on her mama
I got so angry inside
I wanted to tell her to give me his number
But what you gon' do with it right?
You gon' hit him up then he'll start hitting her harder
That's real
Our actions of aggression can most certainly harm others.
2. If you're not peacemaking, you're forcing others to seek violence
They don't call it an "arms race" for just any reason. They call it such because the first to come up with the deadliest weapon is considered the winner. Ever wonder why tons of countries are always trying to develop nuclear weapons? Because they're trying to defend against someone with a nuclear weapon.
Back to our hostage negotiation scenario again, what often happens? They talk but show they are unarmed. Why? Arms are a threat. Someone unarmed isn't a threat. If we are to be as harmless as doves then as Christians we are to not be perceived as a threat.
If we show up with a knife, evil people will grab guns. Show up with guns, and they'll come up with bombs. Why are we participating in arms races? Let's just call them the winner and quit making things worse for others.
In conclusion, pacifism is the only solution for peace. We must quit thinking about just ourselves in a single moment and truly think about all others both now and in the future. Provoking enemies and participating in arms races will only make the enemies more powerful and more capable of harm.
Rather, we should be harmless. To love our enemy, we must seek ways to end disturbances, not provoke them.
[Photo Credit: The Flower Power photograph by Bernie Boston, taken during "March on The Pentagon", 21 October 1967.]