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RE:QUEST

A space for resources to help RE teachers and their students explore the Christian faith

“A huge resource to treasure.”
Lat Blaylock, Editor, RE Today

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Pacifism

Is there an alternative to war?

black and white number 9A pacifist is somebody who is pro-peace and firmly anti-war. Christian pacifists believe that all war is wrong and refuse to participate in any action that promotes conflict. Many Christians have become pacifists in the last century. This is not only because of their interpretation of Jesus’ teaching, but through seeing the horrific consequences of modern warfare; the threat of mass destruction from nuclear bombs and chemical weapons.

Jesus clearly taught that the priority was to love and care for others: not to fight, but to pray about situations of violence and ask God to bring peace. Although his kingdom is not an earthly one, he taught his followers to do good and help the people around them.

For Christians who believe in pacifism, wars waste God-given resources, bring suffering, and open the door to hatred, violence, and murder. These are not Christian values.

In John’s gospel, Jesus talks about himself as the good shepherd. He says Satan is like a thief. "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10). Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus advocate war, but he encourages compassion.

To read more about the Bible's view on peace, click here.

Alternatives to war: War is rarely the first option in resolving a conflict. Organisations, such as the United Nations, opt for sanctions – non-military ways of damaging a country to bring resolution to a conflict - before declaring war. Some sanctions include:
  • Putting tariffs on imported goods to affect the economy of the offending country.
  • Ceasing to trade altogether, banning imports to and exports from that country.
  • Prohibiting loans and restricting aid.
  • Banning participation in major world events, for example, the Olympics.
  • Withdrawing your embassy.
  • Ceasing to sell arms to the offending country.
  • Banning new investment in that country.
  • Military strikes, in particular on important military targets such as a naval base.
War only becomes a viable option when these sanctions have proved to not work.