The Irony of Pacifism

As I was bringing my son home today form Alma College, I saw a bumper stick that said -- "Stop the War". I see many people that support one notion of pacifism or another and i wander if they understand the irony of their position. They live in a nation where they have such peace an prosperity they can both afford and have the ability to speak out freely for their cause. They can do this because we have a strong defense force to protect both.

I am a Christian and I believe that God does not preclude war. Christ will go to war someday and is at war with spiritual darkness so warfare in and of itself is not evil and sinful. In the law is both a commandment not to murder but also laws regarding division of spoils in war. For all you New Testament people -- remember John the Baptist's address to the soldiers -- he never tells them to give up their job.

History now shows that many soldiers in the Roman army were Christians. Seems like the issue is one of personal conscience but no one is going to say god told you to be a pacifist and have true Biblical support.

That said, the pacifist assumes all violence is evil but he or she is wrong. What needs to be considered is why the violent action is performed -- to defend hearth and home to remove oppression to protect yourself from death -- all good in my book.

Pacifism cannot exist in a country that is involved directly in war where the country itself is overrun with violence -- why? Because the pacifist, will probably find himself dead. If not, he will be accused of being 'good' but not doing anything to stop evil. In short, pacifism either disappears or becomes discredited in a land of violence. Only in a country such as the USA where there is peace over a long period of time and people do not have to struggle to survive can pacifism live. This is only possible where a national defense is strong.

You can be a pacifist, but remember the irony.