It's amazing to me how quickly Anabaptists will appeal to the state to enforce their version of good. In our history during the Reformation, we certainly felt the effect when Catholic and Protestant leaders chose to burn, drown and torture those who didn't share their beliefs. I would think that might have taught us something.
In 1997, I was a delegate at the Mennonite Convention in Orlando. If I remember correctly, one of the resolutions was about supporting gun control. I was confused about this as a young pastor. Now, I've actually never owned a gun in my life, nor have a I ever been a member of the NRA. But why would a group that rejects the use of the sword pass a resolution that asks the government to use its swords to take away other people's swords? I thought a more consistent perspective would be to lay down our swords and invite others to voluntarily lay theirs down also. Regardless of whether a gun was used for hunting, self-protection, or to commit a felony, asking the government to increase the use of it's guns was not the Christian solution to a problem. Apparently I was one of the few with that perspective, as I was one of only a handful that voted against the resolution.
We are at our worst as Christians when we try to force others to take on our point of view. And that is true of Christians on both the left and the right. A book that has had a significant influence on my understanding of government was by Vernard Eller, Christian Anarchy: Jesus' Primacy Over the Powers. You can read the entire book online. You will be a better person for it.
True anarchy is the rejection of coercive power, and the popularized understanding of the angry anarchist who protests and blows up buildings is not really what anarchy means. The path for the Christian is service and sacrifice, laying down our lives for others just as Jesus did.
In 1997, I was a delegate at the Mennonite Convention in Orlando. If I remember correctly, one of the resolutions was about supporting gun control. I was confused about this as a young pastor. Now, I've actually never owned a gun in my life, nor have a I ever been a member of the NRA. But why would a group that rejects the use of the sword pass a resolution that asks the government to use its swords to take away other people's swords? I thought a more consistent perspective would be to lay down our swords and invite others to voluntarily lay theirs down also. Regardless of whether a gun was used for hunting, self-protection, or to commit a felony, asking the government to increase the use of it's guns was not the Christian solution to a problem. Apparently I was one of the few with that perspective, as I was one of only a handful that voted against the resolution.
We are at our worst as Christians when we try to force others to take on our point of view. And that is true of Christians on both the left and the right. A book that has had a significant influence on my understanding of government was by Vernard Eller, Christian Anarchy: Jesus' Primacy Over the Powers. You can read the entire book online. You will be a better person for it.
True anarchy is the rejection of coercive power, and the popularized understanding of the angry anarchist who protests and blows up buildings is not really what anarchy means. The path for the Christian is service and sacrifice, laying down our lives for others just as Jesus did.
RSS Feed