Pacifism vs. just-war
Whether Christians may participate in war / state violence at all (pacifist tradition: Anabaptists, Quakers, some Mennonites) or whether Christians may serve in armed forces under just-war criteria (Augustine, Aquinas, mainstream Catholic + Protestant). "Affirms" = the just-war / mainstream historic position; "denies" = the pacifist / nonresistance position. Look for "peace church", "nonresistance", "conscientious objection" for pacifism, vs. "just war", "military chaplaincy" for the mainstream position.
This doctrine distinguishes traditions but is not a boundary of orthodoxy.
Who binds this
Every affiliated congregation inherits its denomination's position. Follow a chip to see the confession's language.
Key scriptures
- 1Pet 2:13 — Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
- 1Tim 5:8 — But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
- Eccl 3:3 — A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
- Exod 20:13 — Thou shalt not kill.
- Isa 2:4 — And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
- John 18:36 — Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
- Luke 22:36 — Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
- Luke 6:27 — But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
- Matt 26:52 — Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
- Matt 5:9 — Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- Mic 4:3 — And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
- Ps 34:14 — Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
- Rom 12:18 — If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
- Rom 13:1 — Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
- Rom 13:4 — For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
What the confessions say
Articles of the historic confessions that address this doctrine.
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 20.4 — Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 23.2 — Of the Civil Magistrate
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 24.2 — Of the Civil Magistrate
- Lutheran Augsburg Confession Article 16 — Of Civil Affairs
- Roman Catholic Council of Trent (Canons) On Justification · Canon 22 — On Justification
- Roman Catholic Council of Trent (Canons) On Justification · Canon 10 — On Justification
The Church Fathers
The earliest Fathers who commented on the Scriptures above.
There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, thou shalt love God who made thee; second, thy neighbour as thyself; and all things whatsoever thou wouldst should not occur to thee, thou also to another do not do. And of these sayings the teaching is…
For, whenever they hear from us that God says, "No thank have ye, if you love them which love you, but you have thank, if you love your enemies and them which hate you" — whenever they hear these words, they marvel at the surpassing measure of their goodness; but when they see, that not only do we not love those who hate, but that we…
But Polycarp said, "To thee I have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of God. But as for these, I do not deem them worthy of receiving any account from me."
For since man, by departing from God, reached such a pitch of fury as even to look upon his brother as his enemy, and engaged without fear in every kind of restless conduct, and murder, and avarice; God imposed upon mankind the fear of man, as they did not acknowledge the fear of God, in order that, being subjected to the authority of…
Wisdom pronounces anger a wretched thing, because "it will destroy the wise." And now He bids us "love our enemies, bless them that curse us, and pray for them that despitefully use us." And He says: "If any one strike thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one take away thy coat, hinder him not from taking thy…
Who would not prefer the justice of the world, which, as the apostle himself testifies, "beareth not the sword in vain," and which is an institute of religion when it severely avenges in defence of human life? When we contemplate, too, the penalties awarded to other crimes-gibbets, and holocausts, and sacks, and harpoons, and…