17 Apr
2009

Posted in: Nonviolence
By Eddie    4 Comments

Myths of Pacifism: One

We never own weapons

I wonder if anyone was confused about that one. Weapon is a subjective term. A baseball bat is a tool in a sport. In the hands of someone who wants to injure someone else, however, that bat is a weapon.

While my family would not own a gun, we’d be fine with practicing archery (and I have been taking a look at some recently) and owning a quality bow and arrow set. For what purpose? Hunting. Not humans but animals. Hunting allows for greater opportunity to provide food for your family, like fishing and farming.

You can be a hunter and a pacifist, believe it or not. Owning a gun doesn’t even negate someone from pacifism. Pacifism (or nonviolence, nonresistance) is a choice, a way of life; it’s a perspective on life based on the commands, teachings, life, death and resurrection of Christ. Any item can be a weapon. Even your hands and feet can be weapons. But for those who believe we do not resist evil by evil means (force, violence, retaliation, revenge) we find ways to utilize those tools for the betterment of our families and our communities. All in a way of obedience to Christ.

So the first myth I tackled was more on the fringe. Chalk it up to semantics. The next ones will be a bit more difficult for me to handle.

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