Greetings -- much has been said in recent posts re: pacifism. I am taking a new look at the subject, mainly because our ministry is working closely with the Church of the Brethren here in PA. Some of their paperwork and handouts mention pacifism, but I have been hard pressed to get a solid definition of the word in it's application.

Within the Church of the Brethren, only since the 1970's have members been allowed to serve in the military, wihtout being removed from the Brethren roles. It is now left up to the individual as to serving or not. Until the 1970's if someone joined the armed forces, they would be removed from the role.

I have some trouble defining pacifist. Are those of you claiming pacifism going all the way with it? Total "turn the other cheek?" In other words, if you were walking down the street, and saw a young child being physically beaten up by a person, would you step in and resort to the physical to stop what is taking place? If not, then what would you do in such a situation? If a family member were being beaten, how far would you go to stop the situation? Not trying to be picky here, but trying to get a handle on the pacifism thing.

Thanks!

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2001

Answers

Hi, Darrell,

Your question reminds me of a friend from my days as a new believer.

She and her husband were of the 'Plymouth Brethren'. They believed in both complete silence for women in the churches (more than Paul was, I aver) and pacifism. She taught her children to not fight back, and that if someone attacked them, they should encircle the attacker with their arms and hold on tightly until the attacker stopped. Her children were big for their ages, and mine were not, so I don't know that that would work for everyone.

I also taught my children to not fight back, and brought them in and separated them from their playmates if they did.

[They later became the neighborhood protectors of children being bullied, but without hitting or fighting themselves.]

Her husband (a lawyer) is also the one who discouraged us from getting a gun (in the early 60s when there was a lot of violence, especially racial) because he showed us proof that far more family members are harmed by the guns bought for protection than any robber or burglar ever is.

We were formulating our beliefs on different matters at the time, and soon after became people who would not allow a gun in the house.

i was being mentored by that friend and by Mrs. Cole, the mother of Don Cole, a missionary, and later 'Radio Pastor of Moody Bible Institute'. {He still is, I believe).

We also had as Superintendent of our Christian School (not RM ~ non- denominational)a person who had been in the Government's 'V-2' program which would be on a par with the space program of the '60s, 70s, etc.

He resigned his Navy Commission because, while he didn't have to kill anyone (he was an instructor), he had to teach young men to kill. He became a conscientious objector.

I personally would never kill anyone, even to protect a loved one or myself. But I would do everything in my power, short of killing, to prevent their harming another.

I had Quaker ancestors on my dad's side. He became a pacifist after serving with two re-ups and earning the Silver Star with two Oak Leaf clusters, plus other medals.

Respectfully,

Connie

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001