Information about http://www.thesimpleway.org/practical/mil_PDF/PeaceBrochure.pdf
Didn't Jesus use force to throw the moneychangers out of the temple? …
Tags: 1500s, belief that, center of commerce, democratic freedoms, europe, god, jesus, loyalty, mennonite church, new testament, peace church, ple, protestant reformation, reformers, religious freedom, small group, ulti mate,Pages: 2
Language: english
Created: Tue Jan 29 09:41:01 2002
Display cached document
Page 1
Page 2
Didn't Jesus use force to throw the
moneychangers out of the temple?
How can I enjoy religious freedom and
other freedoms for which others fought if
A Historic Peace Church
The Mennonite Church is a historic peace church that grew out MAKING
Jesus was calling the people to restore the temple to its right-
ful place--not a center of commerce but a place where peo-
ple of all nations could come to pray peacefully. Jesus' actions
I am not willing to fight?
It is easy to fall into the common belief that democratic freedoms
can only be attained or preserved through war. But history proves
of the Protestant Reformation in Europe in the early 1500s. A
small group of reformers felt the New Testament taught that
church should be separate from state. They believed their ulti-
mate loyalty was to God, and that Jesus' disciples should fol-
PEACE
WITH
hurt no one and killed no one. Neither did he take control of that democracy and freedom have also been preserved by brave
low his example and put away the sword. They also believed
the temple, politically or religiously. people who stood up for justice. In fact, ideas about separation people should voluntarily follow Christ through adult baptism,
Isaiah 56:7; cf. 65:25; Jeremiah 7:1-15; Mark 11:15-16; John 2:14-16 of church and state and freedom of religion and conscience-- rather than being baptized into the state church as infants.
essential to modern democracies--came from the pacifist Thousands of these Anabaptists ("rebaptizers") were persecut-
Aren't Christians supposed to obey the Anabaptists of the 16th century, not from the American or French ed and martyred during the next two generations.
earthly authorities that God has set over revolutions.
Menno Simons converted to Anabaptism in 1536, in the TEN TRUTHS
us?
Actually, Paul writes that we are to be subject to the governing Why shouldn't I be proud to be an Netherlands. He traveled throughout northwestern Europe, CHRISTIANS
authorities, not obey them. This means we shouldn't rebel American, fly the flag, and say the pledge
of allegiance?
preaching and writing. Eventually, many Anabaptists came to
be called Mennonites. NEED TO
against the authorities or try to overthrow them. However, gov-
ernments sometimes ask Christians for an allegiance that Christians should be grateful for our homeland, with its free-
The Prince of Peace is Jesus Christ.
KNOW
belongs only to God, which is idolatrous. Or they ask people to doms and opportunities. We should work for the good of all in We who were formerly no people at all,
take actions, like going to war, that violate Christian principles our country, be respectful of our fellow citizens, and pray for Who knew of no peace,
and conscience. In such cases, Christians are to "obey God our rulers. However, as Christians, we belong to a body with- Are now called to be a church of peace.
rather than human authority." out borders--the church of Jesus Christ. This body transcends Their hearts overflow with peace.
nationality, ethnic background, and other human divisions. Their mouths speak peace,
Acts 5:29b
Our ultimate citizenship is in the kingdom of God. Some And they walk in the way of peace.
Christians choose to stand to show respect during the playing --Menno Simons, 1552
What would Christian pacifists do if some-
of the national anthem or pledge of allegiance, but they do
one tried to attack their spouse or child? Additional Information on Peace Teachings
not sing or recite because it compromises their ultimate alle- For more information on Mennonite beliefs, history, and peace teach-
Christians committed to Jesus' way of peace might try to
giance to Christ. ings, and for a place to ask questions, go to Third Way Café
deter violent action by stepping between the assailant and
Jeremiah 29:7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (www.thirdway.com). Also check out the Confession of Faith in a
the family member. Or they might appeal to the assailant's Mennonite Perspective at www.mph.org/confess/.
conscience and humanity, or try to restrain or distract a vio-
lent person. In the end, though, the Christian must entrust the Is it okay for a Christian to join the A video about Mennonites, Many Grains, and copies of this pamphlet
final outcome to God. We need to trust that God will be with military? and other resources about peacemaking, are available through:
us and our loved ones, no matter what. In the early days of Christianity, when believers saw them-
selves as a prophetic minority, they steered clear of military Faith & Life Resources Mennonite Media
1 800 245-7894 1 800 999-3534
Shouldn't we stop murderers and force and killing. However, as Christianity became more of an
terrorists so they don't do more harm? established part of culture, this conviction began to break
Don't we need to meet violence with an down. Christian pacifists will not want to judge Christians
equal or greater force in order to who choose to join the army, while at the same time they dis-
neutralize it? cern that this is inconsistent with Christ's way of peace.
Murderers and terrorists should be held accountable for their Matthew 7:1; 1 John 4:1
horrendous deeds. However, Christians committed to Christ's
way of peace do not seek revenge, but seek to restore peace
where there is hate and hostility. This means taking the long
view, asking, What policies and practices will promote peace
with justice? Christ's way of peace may not always be the
most effective way to stop violence in the short run. But
Christ's disciples want to be faithful to the way of Christ, even
if it means the way of the cross--one's own death.
© 2002 by Faith & Life Resources,
Scottdale, Pennsylvania. Written by
Richard A. Kauffman. Consultants: Ed
Bontrager, Anne Meyer Byler, J. Ron
Mennonite Byler, Susan Mark Landis, Keith
Church Graber Miller, J. Denny Weaver.
4. God loves them. 8. Enemies can hurt us.
Jesus taught us that God loves enemies and "Disarming" actions do not guarantee that
treats them justly: God "makes his sun rise on Christian disciples will win over enemies. In fact,
the evil and on the good, and sends rain on Christians are still persecuted and even killed by
the righteous and on the unrighteous." God their enemies. It is not an accident that Jesus
"is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." linked the Beatitude about peacemakers with
Therefore, we too should "be merciful, just as the one about persecution. But Jesus' disciples
your Father is merciful." believe there are worse things than dying. We
Matthew 5:45b; Luke 6:35-36 would rather die than take another's life, since
we have hope for eternal life.
5. Jesus makes peace possible. Matthew 5:9-12; Matthew 10:28;
Jesus didn't just teach his disciples the way of 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 1:21
peace. Jesus is our peace. The apostle Paul
said that while we were warring against God, 9. We "arm" ourselves against
1. Everyone has enemies. Christ died to make peace with us. Although the real enemy. Didn't God command the people in the
The Bible takes enemies seriously. King David we sinful human beings were at odds with Christians are not fighting against flesh and Old Testament to fight wars?
and Jesus had enemies. If having enemies God, God took initiative to make peace with blood. We are not struggling with Adolf Hitler The children of Israel did fight wars, relying on God for victo-
weren't a part of life, Jesus wouldn't have had us--through the life, death, and resurrection or the latest terrorist, but with principalities ry. But prophets envisioned a different kind of world, in which
to tell his disciples to love their enemies. of his Son. Jesus has reconciled us to God in and powers, dark and evil spiritual forces. Our peace between nations would prevail. In the New Testament,
order to stop our warring madness with God weapons are not worldly ones but spiritual Jesus showed us "the more excellent way" of love. This
Matthew 5:43-44
and with each other. ones: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, gospel of peace overturned the Old Testament way of war,
faith, salvation, the Spirit, and the word of God. just as the gospel of grace overturned Old Testament dietary
2. We either fight or Romans. 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21;
and ritual laws. The way of war was supplanted by Jesus' way
run from them. Ephesians 2:14, 17-18; Colossians 1:20 Ephesians 6:10-17
of loving our enemies.
Humans often respond to enemies in two
ways: we either fight back or flee. Both are 6. God's family makes peace. 10. We can learn from Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:6-9; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 5:38-42; 1 Corinthians 13;
If God makes peace with enemies, then so do our enemies. 2 Corinthians 2:15
natural responses--our instinct is self-preser-
vation. However, when we flee from our ene- God's children. As Jesus said in the Beatitudes: Sometimes our enemies do us a service.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be Friends tend to accept or overlook our weak- Didn't Jesus predict there would be wars
mies, we can still carry them inside us. When
called children of God." Peacemaking is a fam- nesses, but enemies reflect back to us aspects and rumors of wars?
we fight back, we take on the character of our
ily trait in God's family. When God's children of our personalities we don't like. So we ought This statement about the end time is descriptive, not prescriptive;
enemies. If we strike back at our enemies, we
work for peace, they are demonstrating a fami- to listen to our enemies. What are they saying it tells what is, not what should be. Jesus was calling the church
might set off a downward spiral of attack and
ly likeness, just as children in human families to us about who we are? What can we learn to faithful discipleship in times of violence and warfare. He was
counterattack that quickly gets out of control.
show traits of their parents. from them about ourselves? Can they make us not calling the church to arms or justifying participation in war.
3. We want to curse our enemies. Matthew 5:9 better people? We cannot be reconciled with Matthew 24:6
Many psalms that deal with enemies make our enemies unless we're able to see the situ-
Christians uncomfortable. The psalmist didn't 7. We disarm our enemies. ation from their perspective. Doesn't the peace of Christ make us right
just pray for them or for his own protection. Jesus taught his disciples to respond to ene- with God and bring about inner peace,
He often cursed his enemies, seeking blood- mies in unexpected ways--ways that some- rather than world peace?
thirsty revenge. Instead of dismissing these times "disarm" them. "If anyone strikes you The gospel of peace results in right relationship between indi-
psalms, we can use them as God-given words on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if viduals and God. But "peace" is not just personal peace with
for dealing with our own feelings of fear and anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, God or an inner calm. The peace of Christ is a divine power that
anger toward enemies. If we pray these give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces transforms relationships. Jesus Christ preached and embodied a
words, we release our hate and hostility to you to go one mile, go also the second mile." peace that broke down walls of hostility between peoples.
God. Then we don't need to act on our feel- Jesus' disciples respond in concrete ways to Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:11-22; Colossians 1:20
ings of vulnerability and hostility. Then we can their enemies. They do not retaliate or seek
trust God to protect us from our enemies. revenge. They pray for their enemies. They do
Psalms 55-59; 137:7-9 good to those who want to harm them.
Matthew 5:39-41; Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27;
Romans 12:17-21