I haven't talked much about nonresistance and political activism on this blog, mostly because it's been such a hot button for me in the past. However, a good friend recently reopened the subject, and in thinking about it again I'm realizing that as I move into a new area of life and contemplate protecting a wife and family, my perspective is changing.Most who know me know that for a long time I have leaned hard-core nonresistant. I was raised on stories of martyrdom and nonviolence and identified strongly with Anabaptism and "The Remnant." In many ways, I still identify there, but it's becoming clear to me that the issues and questions are more complicated than I had originally thought.
One of those issues is family defense. I deeply regret addressing this question before I had any idea of what is at stake and what it feels like to have a wife and children that you are responsible for. It's just arrogant. In one conversation that I remember distinctly, after I had been
There was no argument, just a calm statement with the ring of wisdom and experience, standing quietly on its own two feet. Here was something that required reflection, not refutation. I was off balance, and I didn't know what to do.
From that moment, I suspected that all might not be as it seemed. It would be much longer before I really began to soften my heart and question the motivation and purity of my over-simplified idealism, but the seed had been sown.
Another issue where I've talked beyond my experience is military service. I've realized it's a very easy thing to criticize and a very hard thing to do, and while I won't be enlisting anytime soon, I won't be condemning those who choose otherwise. Every pacifist needs to read C. S. Lewis' pointed essay Why I Am Not A Pacifist to get the straight explanation on why their beliefs sometimes look a little pallid next to soldiers giving up everything and going to war.
Today is Martin Luther King Day, in honour of a man who worked hard for peaceful change. I have a lot of respect for men like that. They may not have been exactly right, but they did something.
On all sides, I want to learn to ask more questions and throw fewer rocks. Toward this end I'll be hoping to accomplish some reading on this subject over the next several months, eventually expanding the study beyond personal matters into Church & State issues. If there are books you've found helpful, please let me know in the comments.
Peace!
Image courtesy of perspectivesphotogallery.com
5 comments:
Thank you for your example of openly yielding to God's direction in your life. Yielding and walking in the light are much easier to talk about than to walk out. Especially when it means having to lay down what we think defines us. It almost looks like true pacifism! :-)
Hello Aaron,
I have a great book to recommend to you.
Meeting God Behind Enemy Lines by Steve Watkins
He is a Navy SEAL and his book tells the story of his conversion to Christ while in military service. He also addresses The Biblical ethics of war.
He is a graduate of The Master's Seminary and is currently serving as a pastor in Kentucky.
For information about the book you can look at GBIbooks.com
If you can't find it I would be glad to send you a copy.
I really appreciate your blog and many of your topics.
God bless you,
Anita Atwell
Thank you Anita.
That looks like an interesting book. I've added it to my wishlist.
Always a challenging subject.
Many scriptures and books to consider. On the book side, many touch the topic as part of a
broader subject matter. This one is somewhat dedicated to the subject.
When Is It Right To Fight?
By Robert A. Morey
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 The Law and the Prophets
Chapter 2 Jesus and the Gospels
Chapter 3 The Apostles and the Epistles
Chapter 4 The Early Church and War
Chapter 5 The Fathers and the Reformers
Chapter 6 The Creeds and the Confessions
Chapter 7 Francis Schaeffer and Other Modern Leaders
Chapter 8 Questions and Answers
Conclusion
Recommended Reading
As with any topic, don’t be emotionally swayed to “someone’s side”. Rather, after much prayer and study, be fully convinced in your own mind. This always
honors the Lord.
Thanks for sharing that, Aaron. I,too, have appreciated Lewis' "Why I'm Not a Pacifist" essay (in with "The Weight of Glory."). My family on my dad's side has been Mennonite for centuries - Lancaster, PA on back to Switzerland. I find that the essay is really good for thinking through just about ANY matter -- dealing with the broader question "How do we decide what is good or evil?" -- and thinking about reason and conscience. And now that I've been sitting here pulling the book out again to have a look, I find myself getting drawn back in: Ah, reading Lewis again. I haven't been in one of his books for awhile (tho we've been reading Piper, who has filled up on him!). So, thanks for the reminder of a good read -- and for your humility, too.
Lori McC
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