Violence and Christianity

Violence and Christianity ‘If a Christian loved his neighbour he would not fight.’

There are many arguments agreeing and disagreeing with this statement.

The bible teaches Christians that they should not fight. An example of

this is “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This

is telling Christians that they should love everyone and not fight

them. Another biblical teaching is “If someone strikes you on he right

cheek, turn to him with the other also.” This is saying not to fight

even in self defence. Although this is in the bible another teaching

is “If you don’t have a sword sell your cloak and buy one.” This means

that if you do not have a sword, or a weapon, get one. But this

teaching contradicts and is contradicted most of all buy this teaching

“All who draw the sword will die by the sword.” This is saying that

all who fights will die fighting.

Another reason that Christians disagree with the above statement is

that some are pacifists. This means that they will not fight.

Pacifists are those who believe that violence leads to more violence

and rarely achieves the results intended. They also believe that war

brings out the worst in mankind and ‘lays bare the dark side of human

nature.’

Quakers are a branch of Christianity that are also pacifists. They

do not fight at all with any weapons for any aim whatsoever. They say

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not, but are those used by the Catholic Church.

A final reason that some Christians may give for disagreeing with the

statement is that they believe in Liberation Theology. This is a

movement believe that the gospels demand that the people stand up and

fight against injustice. This does not necessarily involve violence

but for some it does. There is a lot of Liberation Theology movements

in Latin America where there is a lot of poverty and suffering. They

do not believe that God has left them, they believe that it is up to

themselves to stand up for what they believe in.

There are many viewpoints that a Christian can have and none of them

are right. Personally I most agree with Liberation theology but not

through violence. I think that it is good to stand up for your rights

and what you believe in.