Homework

School has prevented me from writing anything other than assignments. Herein I include an example of a Cornerstone Christian Academy assignment. As I turned it in, it is seven pages. The citations have been rather hastily redone internet format. Anyone that reads this all the way through can ask me for a pat on the back next time they see me.

This paper is an argument against Christian pacifists, specifically Mennonites. In it I take on one of the original Christian pacifists - Menno Simons.

Menno Simons is one of the greatest reformers of all time. As a staunch believer in the infallibility of the Scripture, he wrote many fiery arguments against the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, especially those teachings that were based on the New Testament. Interestingly, Simons developed quite different views on the topic of Pacifism than many other reformers who shared his love for Scripture.

Brief Biography:

In 1496, Menno Simons was born in Witmarsum, Netherlands. His father was a farmer. As a child, Simons attended school in a monastery. Because of his religious education, he became a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church at age 20. Later, he became a priest but fell away to the influences of the world. In 1531, Simons’ life was turned around. Sicke Freeriks Snijder, a man Simons respected greatly, was martyred for the crime of rebaptism. Rebaptism is the act of baptizing a person when they become a believer even though they were baptized as an infant. This event led Simons to begin an in depth study of Scriptures. He concluded that the official Church Doctrine was wrong when he only found believer’s baptism mentioned in the Bible. This realization began an internal struggle which lasted for another three years until January 20, 1536 when he resigned from the priesthood and joined the Anabaptist movement. He soon was rebaptized and became an ordained Anabaptist pastor. He spent the rest of his life on the run and in hiding. He moved frequently and often preached at night. He married a woman named Gertrude who bore him three children. As he aged, he spent increasing amounts of time defending his beliefs as well as those of other Anabaptists rather than furthering his theology. His writings are full of Scripture quotes and references, showing the fruit of his exhaustive studies. He died peacefully on January 31, 1561.[1]

Pacifism:

Menno Simmons’ belief in the authority of Scriptures over believers’ lives led him to believe that Christ demands pacifism from His followers. In his Testimony Against John van Leyden Simons is so sure of his position that he opens his passage about warfare with the statement, “Christians are not allowed to fight with the sword.”[2]

Simons’ confident, well researched writing created a widespread change in the Church. His influence helped to create a new breed of nonviolent Anabaptists. The Anabaptist church in the Netherlands took on the name “Mennonites” in his honor. As of 2001, 346,000 people in the United States alone described themselves as Mennonite and the movement is strong in Europe as well.[3] Modern Mennonites follow Simons’ pacifist beliefs to this day.[4]

Simons’ Argument:

Simons built his argument for pacifism on two foundational beliefs.

1. Menno Simons firmly believed that the New Testament supersedes the Old Testament. He said:

“Now we should understand that the figure of the Old Testament is so applied to the truth of the New Testament, that flesh is understood as referring to flesh; but the figure must answer to the truth; the image, the being, and the letter, the Spirit.”[5]

This statement is much more than saying that the New Testament Covenant replaces the Old Covenant. His phrase, “the figure (meaning the Old Testament) must answer to the truth (meaning the New Testament)” shows his belief that the Old Testament is replaced in truthfulness by the New Testament.

2. Menno Simons firmly believed that the believer must fully accept the words of Christ (and His New Testament Apostles) as the only source of truth. He said,

“Christ testifies of Himself that He is our only Master, therefore it is incontrovertible that we dare not accept any other doctrine but the doctrine of Christ.”[6]

Simons believed that because Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, has given us the Gospel of peace, Christians have no option but peace. Simons took his belief as far as stating that anything outside Jesus’ teaching is sinful, even if it does not contradict Jesus’ teaching.

Building the Argument:

From these foundational beliefs, Menno Simons developed his idea that “Christians are not allowed to fight with the sword”.[7] He states that Christians are to fight with the word of God instead. Simons acknowledges that Christ was promised to carry a “sword” in Psalm 45:3-5. But, Simons asks, “What sword now shall Christ have (p. 435)?” Christ carries the “sword of [His] mouth.” (Revelation 2:16) Thus, Simons concludes:

“If Christ fights his enemies with the sword of His mouth…, and if we are to be conformed unto his image, how can we, then, fight our enemies with any other sword?”[8]

Again, Simons’ second foundational belief, that believers may not do anything Christ left unmentioned, is astoundingly clear.

All of Menno Simons’ writing is thoroughly researched from the Scripture, and his pacifism argument is no exception. He cites passages such as Matthew 5:39-47, the famous passage about loving your enemy. He uses Paul’s listing of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” He also notes the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane where Christ would not allow Peter to defend Him with the sword. Because Christ is our Lord and Prince, Simons says, “It is forbidden us to take up arms.”[9]

Of course, Simons does not expect that believers will have to withstand persecution for all time. Because of James 5:7-11, he believes that the second coming of Christ will relieve His followers. We are “forbidden to fight inasmuch as the Lord has not come.” (p.437) To support this belief, Simons cites Matthew 16:27, which says, “For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father… and then shall reward every man according to his works,” as well as Matthew 24:27, Mark 13:26, and Luke 17:24.

Simons also gives an argument of perspective. Given that Christians are commanded to preach to others (2 Timothy 2:24-26), Simons asks, “If [one] is to instruct in meekness those that oppose, how can he destroy them?” According to Simons, making war shows a loss of focus on the more important command: the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Part of Simons’ argument is directed against those who believe that unbelievers must be punished by violence. Simons uses with Ecclesiastes 3:21-23, “Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth... For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?” proposing that God’s justice is beyond human understanding. In support, he cites other things that are beyond our understanding, such as the times and seasons (Acts 1:6). He argues that we cannot understand God’s timing in punishing sinners, so we must be patient for God’s timing.

Interaction with Simons’ Argument:

Although many of Simons’ arguments are completely valid, others are unfounded. As his views are examined, Simons’ own unequivocal words must be kept in mind: “Christians are not allowed to fight with the sword”.[10] Simons does not leave any “gray” area in the matter. In his eyes, Christians are not allowed to participate in physical combat of any kind.

Although Simons bases this unequivocal conclusion on Scripture, he never presents scriptural evidence that supports his explicit pacifist view. Instead, it refers specifically to personal matters. Matthew 5:39 says, “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Note that this verse, as well as the entire following passage, does not in any way mention what a Christian should do if someone else’s cheek is slapped. When Simons argues his point using the scene from the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:47-56), he shows a complete misunderstanding of the situation. Jesus did not reject Peter’s help because violence is wrong; Jesus rejected Peter’s help because Jesus had a greater goal than saving His life. In fact, as He was being taken away from the garden, Jesus said, “This has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets (Matthew 26:56).”

Of course, Christians must obey the words of Christ. He is not only our Savior, but He is also our God. However, Simons’ logic in claiming that it is sinful to take any action outside Christ’s teaching is atrocious. Arguing this point makes Simons himself a hypocrite because Simons was a confirmed Anabaptist preacher. Christ never made any mention of His followers breaking into separate denominations, so by his own logic, Simons was sinning. This argument could be applied to numerous other harmless things, such as playing basketball or using a word processor.

Now, imagine this situation: a pacifist Christian man is walking down the street at night. He hears a woman screaming as he passes an alley and sees that she is being attacked. If he truly adheres to Simons’ views, he is given the following option: he can stand by as the woman is brutalized. Maybe he can call 911 for help, but even that leaves the attacker with over eight minutes to finish his work.[11] Simons never mentions the possibility that violence can be used to help an innocent person who is being attacked. Rather, he makes a statement that would disallow such action.

Would this not become a major hindrance in evangelism? In society, those who help others in need are respected. Those who stand idly by are seen as cowards. To take such action shows a great loss of focus. Unbelievers will not listen to people whose basic morality is untrustworthy and illogical.

Beyond the bare logic for defending others, Christ Himself supports violence in defense of others. When He discovered that money changers were buying and selling in the temple for a profit, Jesus “made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables (John 2:15).” Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace Himself, made a weapon and drove scoundrels from the temple. But He was not defending Himself, He was defending His Father’s honor (Matthew 21:13).

Although Simons is right in saying there is no specific Scriptural support for Christians violently defending themselves, there is also no support for us standing by and willingly dying. When martyrs, such as Stephen died for their faith, their adversaries often needed to stir up a crowd in order to capture them (Acts 6:12). The early believers were so intent on saving Paul from martyrdom that they sneaked him out of Damascus in a basket (Acts 9:25).

Personal Application and Conclusion:

“I am an American soldier… I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.”

-The Soldier’s Creed of the United States of America

“I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner.”

-The second general order of all US Army Soldiers

I am a soldier of Christ. I am an American soldier. At the age of four I realized my need for a Savior and prayed for Christ to enter my life. On September 30, 2005, I took an oath before the flag of my nation to obey the orders of my commanding officers in the United States Army. The argument for Pacifism advocated by Menno Simons is a direct challenge to my way of life, my devotion to Christ, and even to my salvation. Naturally, pacifism is a very important issue to me.

In the end, this research has confirmed my view that there is no Biblical support for a pacifist view such as Menno Simons’. I am firmly convinced that in fighting against my country’s enemies, I will be fighting to protect the people of my country. My battles in the army are not my personal battles; they are for my family, friends, and neighbors. Thus, no pacifist can successfully construe my actions as sin against Christ’s words in the Sermon on the Mount. Beyond that, I am following Christ’s example by defending another’s honor.

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[1] John D. Roth, “What Christians could learn from Menno Simons and how he rescued the Anabaptist movement.”

[2] p. 434. Menno Simons. The Complete Writings of Menno Simons. Scottdale: Herald Press, 1956)

[3] p.55 “U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005.”

[4] Affirmation of Faith from Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, article 22.

[5] p. 434. Menno Simons. The Complete Writings of Menno Simons. Scottdale: Herald Press, 1956)

[6] p. 434. ibid

[7] p. 434. ibid

[8] p. 435 ibid

[9] p. 436 ibid

[10] p. 434. ibid

[11] Matthew Cella. “Police Response to 911’s Slowing.”