Original Entry: April 23, 2007
Pascagoula, Mississippi
JOS 10:25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." 26 Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening. Joshua 10:25
I do not fight and have not been I a fight since high school, but if pushed to defend the weak or those I love would enter into a physical conflict. I have not fought in a war but realize that as gruesome as war may be it is a biblical and historical reality of life, and I am proud to say that as an American and a follower of Jesus I support our troops at all times and in all situations.
Working with youth for more than twenty years has placed me inside of a youth culture bubble and I have never really researched other denominations or movements in church history until lately. In recent days I have come across several pacifist or non-conformist groups within the Christian Community which I did not know existed until now. From my extremely limited knowledge, these (unnamed) movements are anti-war and anti-government refusing to pledge allegiance to the flag or fight for their country in order maintaining a devout faith in Christ.
They are pacifists.
Although I do not agree with these premises I respect their opinions, which create a tension within my soul. I know I may seem harsh or judgmental but please realize that these movements have piqued my curiosity to no end. I am strangely drawn to learning more about this new (to me) form of Christianity that I had been oblivious to prior to the last couple of years.
These movements seem to attract, or create, men that tend to be more effeminate than I am used to. From my limited perspective their unwillingness to fight has rendered them with the inability to fight even when times demand it. I have had these same men respond that they would simply pray when questioned as to what they would do if a man broke in to their home and began raping their wife. Pray? If someone breaks into my home it is them that need to pray. I assure you.
They are pacifists.
As I study the Bible in its entirety I have a difficult time with being a pacifist. When I read Joshua 10:16-26 I see Joshua and his men conquering the five Amorite kings, placing their feet upon their necks, and striking them down. However, Joshua quotes God’s first words to him in Joshua 1:8-9 by saying, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies we are going to fight (25).”
The unwillingness and inability to fight (physically or spiritually) for the core values in a man’s life does not produce greater faith but greater cowardice. Every man needs something to live for. More than this however; every man needs something to die for. To have nothing to die for is to have nothing to live for. To have nothing to live for is to have nothing to stand for. Men that cannot stand for anything, cower at everything, and fall for anything.
Can you feel my tension?
Men are born fighters. Look at our physical make up. We are made for war. We are created to attack the enemy of our soul and destroy his schemes; Satan himself (1 John 4:4).
No I am not a pacifist.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
