Society of Peace

Christian Pacifism: The Call to Follow the Way of Peace

Christian pacifism represents one of the oldest and most consistent interpretations of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Rooted in the command to “love your enemies” and “turn the other cheek,” it rejects violence and warfare as incompatible with the Gospel message. Christian pacifists believe that peace is not merely an aspiration but a central expression of discipleship. From the early Church to the present day, followers of this tradition have sought to live out a radical faithfulness to Christ’s non-violent way.

The Biblical Foundations of Christian Pacifism

The foundation of Christian non-violence lies in the teachings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ calls his followers to respond to evil not with retaliation but with love and forgiveness. The command to love one’s enemies (Matthew 5:44) and the blessing of the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) form the core of Christian pacifist belief. The life and death of Jesus — his refusal to resist arrest, his silence before Pilate, and his prayer for his executioners — reveal a divine pattern of self-giving love. For pacifists, these examples affirm that violence is contrary to the spirit and mission of Christ.

Early Christianity and the Rejection of Violence

In the early Church, many Christians refused to participate in military service, viewing killing as incompatible with the faith. Writers such as Tertullian and Origen argued that Christians were called to spiritual warfare, not physical combat. Until the fourth century, before Christianity became aligned with imperial power, non-violence was a defining mark of discipleship. Believers chose martyrdom over armed defence, embodying a faith that trusted in God’s justice rather than the sword. This early tradition of pacifism continued to influence later generations who sought to restore the original peace witness of the Gospel.

The Reformation and Renewed Witness to Peace

During the Reformation, groups such as the Anabaptists revived the peace teachings of the early Church. Rejecting both state violence and religious coercion, they advocated for freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state. The Mennonites, Hutterites, and later the Quakers developed distinct forms of Christian pacifism, emphasising simplicity, equality, and community. Their refusal to bear arms often led to persecution, yet their example helped shape broader movements for religious liberty and human rights. These traditions have continued to influence peace churches and faith-based activism to the present day.

Christian Pacifism in the Modern Era

In the modern world, Christian pacifism has found renewed expression in movements for social justice and non-violent resistance. Figures such as Leo Tolstoy, Dorothy Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. drew deeply from the teachings of Jesus to confront systems of oppression and inequality. Their lives demonstrate that pacifism is not passive withdrawal but active engagement in transforming society through love and moral courage. Christian pacifists work in fields such as conflict mediation, humanitarian aid, and peace education, embodying the Gospel in action.

The Continuing Relevance of Christian Pacifism

In an age of war, division, and environmental crisis, Christian pacifism offers a prophetic alternative grounded in love and justice. It challenges believers to renounce violence in all its forms — physical, structural, and spiritual — and to build communities rooted in compassion and reconciliation. The peace of Christ is not a distant ideal but a living reality that can reshape hearts and societies. By following the way of Jesus, Christian pacifists bear witness to the Kingdom of God, where swords are turned into ploughshares and peace flows like a river.

Christian pacifism remains a courageous and hopeful expression of faith, calling all who follow Christ to live as peacemakers in a world that longs for redemption.