Three Pacifist Cheers for a Non-Pacifist God!
(With thanks to Derek Rishmawy for his inspiration of this post. Though he is not accountable for any errors, mistatements, and infelicities contained in this post) The Bible’s God cannot be pacifist! His people can be, must be, but only because he is not. This startling counterintuitive claim is true for at least the following reasons. 1. Unless God has forfeited his role as the Ruler of human history in a world rebelling against him (Psa.2) and using nations as agents of his judgments against one another (Isa.10), he must be continuing to employ violence. Though God “does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone” (Lam.3:33), he will do what is necessary for justice to prevail. 2. We, followers of Christ, can only be non-violent, unless God enacts the vengeance justice demands (Rom.12:19). Miroslav Volf is required reading here. “One could object that it is not worthy of God...