Key
principles of Menonite / Anabaptist thought.
Pacifism
The
followers of Jesus must live in the world, but
how should they relate to the evil that is in
the world? From the start there had been Anabaptists
who were sure that following in Jesus' footsteps
provided clear guidance: Disciples suffer with
Christ, they do not inflict suffering on others
through violence.
Apocalyptic Challenge
But from the start there were also Anabaptists
who were sure that they were living in the end
times, and that Jesus would return in a matter
of months or years. Among these were people
who prophesied that the time for turning the
other cheek had passed. A new dispensation,
a new revelation, had arrived. In these last
days, "The elect" were to take the sword to
prepare for the coming of the New Jerusalem.
These prophecies proved to be tragically false,
but not before many Anabaptists had died by
the sword, thinking that they were preparing
for the return of Jesus. The most spectacular
and terrible occurrence happened in Münster,
Germany, which was taken by armed Anabaptists
and defended for almost a year and a half (1534-1535).
Münster was a tragedy, but it finally settled
the question of violence for the Anabaptists.
After Münster the Anabaptists came to agreement
that in questions of discipleship, the words
and the example of Jesus were final, and could
not be set aside until Jesus himself set them
aside.
Once this principle of discernment was accepted,
it was clear to the Anabaptists that disciples
of Jesus Christ must put away the sword, unconditionally,
for three reasons:
The example of Christ himself, who prayed "not
my will, but yours be done," and who allowed
himself to be crucified. Disciples of Jesus,
if faced with a similar choice of resisting
Caesar, will not do so but accept death instead.
Jesus' clear command forbidding violence and
even hatred of enemies; Jesus commanded love.
Participating in violence contradicted the principles
of spiritual integrity, that believers who live
by the Spirit of Christ will show forth the
love of God in their daily lives. Christians
wield spiritual weapons, not weapons of iron
and steel.
By 1540 the Anabaptists had achieved wide consensus
that reborn, baptized Christians will refuse
to participate in violence. But there remained
some questions that have persisted to this day:
How should pacifist Christians relate to the
world of evil and violence?
They who are baptized inwardly with Spirit and
fire, and externally with water, according to
the Word of the Lord, have no weapons except
patience, hope, silence, and God's Word." Menno
Simons
"Governmental authority has its place outside
Christ, but not in Christ." Peter Riedemann
Nonresistance
The majority of Anabaptists came to be guided
by the words of Jesus: "Resist not evil." They
understood these words to mean: Separate from
the world, and don't become involved in its
governance.
These "nonresistant" Anabaptists were not anarchists;
they were separatists. They believed that God
had ordained governments to keep order in the
world (Romans 13), but they believed that Christians
would live according to the "perfection of Christ."
Governments were necessary and were to be obeyed,
insofar as they did not command things contrary
to God's word.
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good." Romans 12:21
"Christ forbade such violence and resistance,
and commanded the children who possessed the
Spirit of the New Testament to love, to bless
their enemies, persecutors, and opponents, and
to overcome them with patience." Pilgram Marpeck
Nonviolence
A small minority of Anabaptists thought that
the separation of the church from the world
should not be so absolute. Pilgram Marpeck was
committed to nonviolence, but he thought of
the church more as an outpost of God's love
whose mission was to radiate that love out into
the world. It was a subtle but important shift
in emphasis.
In the end, the difficult issue of violence
was settled according to the principle of discipleship.
Reborn disciples will follow Jesus. They will
speak the truth and live the truth.
They have renounced claims to earthly possessions.
They will not return evil for evil, but will
respond to evil with good
