Continued from last week...
Last week I began an exploration of a concept called "Christian Realism." If you're not sure what that is please take a few minutes to read last week's post. This discussion of Christian realism came out of my experience watching the movie Captain Phillips. Throughout that film I wondered what I would do if I was in that situation. Is there ever a time when a Christian can or even should engage in violence against another human being, who is, of course, created in the image of God? The answer that is given by Christian realism (and by what is called "just war theory," which was formulated originally by St. Augustine) is that sometimes, reluctantly, sadly, and with reliance upon God's mercy, a Christian not only can but perhaps should do so. Christian pacifists, of course, do not agree with either Christian realism or just war theory; they feel it compromises the message of Jesus.
Over the past few days I've also been thinking about nonviolence as practiced by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Henry David Thoreau. Hopefully we all recognize the enormous debt that we as Americans owe to Dr. King and the hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children who worked nonviolently for the civil rights that all people deserve. Dr. King--against the insistence of Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, and even some within King's own group--held to active nonviolence with steadfast devotion. Thank God that he did that because had his movement been violent it likely would have never succeeded. It was, in fact, the images of nonviolent marchers being attacked by police dogs, pummeled by police batons, and sprayed with fire hoses that finally turned the tide in favor of civil rights. Yet, although we are indebted to the role played by active nonviolence I personally believe that we are confused and naive if we think it is possible and desirable in every situation. Although I'm venturing away from Captain Phillips again, I think it might be of interest to explore this.
First of all, we have to recognize that pacifism and active nonviolence are not the same thing. Pacifism means opting out. Active nonviolence means putting yourself in harm's way to make a difference but refusing to use violence in the effort to make that difference. It seems to me that Jesus was not teaching pacifism as much as he was teaching active nonviolence. It also seems to me, however, that there are times when active nonviolence is no longer an option.
Although I am not an expert in these things (so take what I write as opinion not as fact), active nonviolence--i.e. Dr. King's brand of civil rights protest, Gandhi's leadership toward Indian independence, and Thoreau's protest against the Mexican-American War--only works when it is used against a legitimate authority that has limits imposed on it by law and public sentiment. As a result of Thoreau's refusal to pay a tax as a protest against the Mexican-American War (which seems to have been orchestrated as a land grab), Thoreau merely spent some time in jail and wrote Civil Disobedience. He wasn't beheaded by masked terrorists. The British Imperial government Gandhi faced off against was terribly unjust and ruthless at times but it did, at least, have limits. Many police departments and politicians in the South were also terribly unjust and ruthless, but they did, ultimately have to answer to the federal courts, which were finally beginning to interpret the constitution as applying equally to all races. They also had to answer to the federal administration, which was responding to increased public outcry. Many nonviolent protesters were attacked and some died, but ultimately active nonviolence worked because legitimate authorities were hemmed in by their own limits and these legitimate authorities were either forced or convinced to do the right thing. Active nonviolence only works against legitimate and civilized (at least in theory and principle) governments or organizations.
I have trouble with Christians who are complete pacifists because I feel that they enjoy the benefits and safety provided by non-pacifists while refusing to participate in making those sacrifices if called upon to do so. This is America, however, so although I disagree with them I am adamantly opposed to them being forced to do so or punished for being conscientious objectors. I, of course, don't have trouble with Christians who engage in active non-violence in the fight for justice. I'd hope that I would have been brave enough to march with Dr. King had I lived in that time and place. I do have trouble, however, with my brothers and sisters in Christ who believe that there is always a nonviolent solution to every problem. To me this is Christian idealism rather than Christian realism. I am a realist.
Hitler had no limits. He did not respect German law, international law, common decency, or the moral teachings of any religion. What would have happened if French, British, Canadians, and Americans held hands and marched through the streets of Europe singing "We Will Overcome" and "Peace Like a River"? Hitler would have mowed them down with machine guns. What would ISIS do if we sent in negotiators to come to a peaceful agreement? They would decapitate the negotiators and publish the video on the Internet. ISIS has no limits, no legitimate authority, no concern for public opinion. So what is left? To choose to do nothing (pacifism) is to choose to save the lives of violent ethnic cleansing terrorists over saving the lives of innocent victims. To choose nonviolent means when dealing with an aggressor without limits or laws is to choose to sacrifice the lives of every single protester, while still not making a difference because the aggressors don't care about what is right or moral, only about what feeds their lust for power and violence. Sometimes, regretfully, there is only one way to protect the innocent from those without limits, law, and consequences.
So what would I, a Christian, do if I was in Captain Phillips's situation, held captive by Somali pirates without limits, law, or consequences? We'll have to get to that next week...
Last week I began an exploration of a concept called "Christian Realism." If you're not sure what that is please take a few minutes to read last week's post. This discussion of Christian realism came out of my experience watching the movie Captain Phillips. Throughout that film I wondered what I would do if I was in that situation. Is there ever a time when a Christian can or even should engage in violence against another human being, who is, of course, created in the image of God? The answer that is given by Christian realism (and by what is called "just war theory," which was formulated originally by St. Augustine) is that sometimes, reluctantly, sadly, and with reliance upon God's mercy, a Christian not only can but perhaps should do so. Christian pacifists, of course, do not agree with either Christian realism or just war theory; they feel it compromises the message of Jesus.
Over the past few days I've also been thinking about nonviolence as practiced by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Henry David Thoreau. Hopefully we all recognize the enormous debt that we as Americans owe to Dr. King and the hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children who worked nonviolently for the civil rights that all people deserve. Dr. King--against the insistence of Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, and even some within King's own group--held to active nonviolence with steadfast devotion. Thank God that he did that because had his movement been violent it likely would have never succeeded. It was, in fact, the images of nonviolent marchers being attacked by police dogs, pummeled by police batons, and sprayed with fire hoses that finally turned the tide in favor of civil rights. Yet, although we are indebted to the role played by active nonviolence I personally believe that we are confused and naive if we think it is possible and desirable in every situation. Although I'm venturing away from Captain Phillips again, I think it might be of interest to explore this.
First of all, we have to recognize that pacifism and active nonviolence are not the same thing. Pacifism means opting out. Active nonviolence means putting yourself in harm's way to make a difference but refusing to use violence in the effort to make that difference. It seems to me that Jesus was not teaching pacifism as much as he was teaching active nonviolence. It also seems to me, however, that there are times when active nonviolence is no longer an option.
Although I am not an expert in these things (so take what I write as opinion not as fact), active nonviolence--i.e. Dr. King's brand of civil rights protest, Gandhi's leadership toward Indian independence, and Thoreau's protest against the Mexican-American War--only works when it is used against a legitimate authority that has limits imposed on it by law and public sentiment. As a result of Thoreau's refusal to pay a tax as a protest against the Mexican-American War (which seems to have been orchestrated as a land grab), Thoreau merely spent some time in jail and wrote Civil Disobedience. He wasn't beheaded by masked terrorists. The British Imperial government Gandhi faced off against was terribly unjust and ruthless at times but it did, at least, have limits. Many police departments and politicians in the South were also terribly unjust and ruthless, but they did, ultimately have to answer to the federal courts, which were finally beginning to interpret the constitution as applying equally to all races. They also had to answer to the federal administration, which was responding to increased public outcry. Many nonviolent protesters were attacked and some died, but ultimately active nonviolence worked because legitimate authorities were hemmed in by their own limits and these legitimate authorities were either forced or convinced to do the right thing. Active nonviolence only works against legitimate and civilized (at least in theory and principle) governments or organizations.
I have trouble with Christians who are complete pacifists because I feel that they enjoy the benefits and safety provided by non-pacifists while refusing to participate in making those sacrifices if called upon to do so. This is America, however, so although I disagree with them I am adamantly opposed to them being forced to do so or punished for being conscientious objectors. I, of course, don't have trouble with Christians who engage in active non-violence in the fight for justice. I'd hope that I would have been brave enough to march with Dr. King had I lived in that time and place. I do have trouble, however, with my brothers and sisters in Christ who believe that there is always a nonviolent solution to every problem. To me this is Christian idealism rather than Christian realism. I am a realist.
Hitler had no limits. He did not respect German law, international law, common decency, or the moral teachings of any religion. What would have happened if French, British, Canadians, and Americans held hands and marched through the streets of Europe singing "We Will Overcome" and "Peace Like a River"? Hitler would have mowed them down with machine guns. What would ISIS do if we sent in negotiators to come to a peaceful agreement? They would decapitate the negotiators and publish the video on the Internet. ISIS has no limits, no legitimate authority, no concern for public opinion. So what is left? To choose to do nothing (pacifism) is to choose to save the lives of violent ethnic cleansing terrorists over saving the lives of innocent victims. To choose nonviolent means when dealing with an aggressor without limits or laws is to choose to sacrifice the lives of every single protester, while still not making a difference because the aggressors don't care about what is right or moral, only about what feeds their lust for power and violence. Sometimes, regretfully, there is only one way to protect the innocent from those without limits, law, and consequences.
So what would I, a Christian, do if I was in Captain Phillips's situation, held captive by Somali pirates without limits, law, or consequences? We'll have to get to that next week...
