Justin Martyr: Inverting The Order (part 5)

Some weeks ago, I quoted The Epistle to Diognetus as saying: "Christians are not distinguished from other people by country or language or custom. Nowhere do they live in cities of their own.... They live on earth but their citizenship is in heaven."

Next, consider the Normandy Landing, or the Civil War, or the Revolutionary War.  In them we observe Christians' hearts roused to fight for "State," against one another.  An American Baptist's musket blows out the brains of a British Anglican.  A southern Methodist's bayonet splits the heart of a northern Congregationalist.  A PCA member grenades a Lutheran. We have generally accepted these things as acts of normal, patriotic, God-is-on-our-side godliness, because of handed-down traditions drenched in self-empowerment.  It is so natural to pray that our own congregation's fighting men win the State's war and return home, but do you think about the prayers of "enemy" congregations that their fighting men win their State's war against us and return home?  If war breaks out between America and Russia, would you display a bumper sticker that says "Support Russian Christian troops" with a pretty red ribbon on it?  I don't think so.  The self-empowerment gene within Christendom has long placed Christians into the difficulty of killing one another for the sake of the State, when we are actually supposed to be "not of this world."  It places us in an awkward position of hoping "our" Christians defeat "their" Christians for the sake of the State's territory and material benefit and international status.

I'm not writing these things as a pacifist peacenik listening to "Imagine."  I'm writing it as a Christian trying to challenge the multiple ways that we have been corrupted by self-empowerment.  I think the willingness of Christians to kill brothers and enemies alike, for the sake of countries, is a very sensitive nerve to touch.  And it needs to be touched.  This doesn't mean that Christians in the military aren't Christians; it means that we need to reconsider what the heck we have adopted as "normal."  It means that accepted wisdom usually reigns unchallenged.

Let us therefore add to the case the thoughts of Justin Martyr (around 150 AD):

We who hated and slaughtered one another, we who would not welcome to our homes people of a different race because of their customs -- now, since the coming of Christ we live and eat with them, and we pray for our enemies, and we try to persuade those who hate us unjustly to live according to the good counsel of Christ.  1 Apology 1.14.3

And concerning our being long-suffering and ready to serve all, and free from anger, this is what Christ said: "To the one who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also; and to the one who takes your shirt do not forbid your coat also; whoever shall be angry is in danger of the fire. And everyone who compels you to go with him one mile, follow him two. Let your good works shine before all people so that, by seeing them, they may glorify your Father who is in heaven."  For we ought not to rebel; nor does Christ want us to imitate the wicked. But He has exhorted us to guide all people out from shame and desire for evil by our patience and kindness.  And we have proof of this in the many examples of those who used to be on your side but who have been turned away from the way of violence and tyranny, who were overcome by observing their [Christian] neighbor's way of life, or by observing the strange patience of their [Christian] fellow travellers when they were taken advantage of.  1 Apology 1.16.1-4

When the Spirit of prophecy speaks of things to come, He says: "For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, and He shall judge between the nations and arbitrate among many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, and nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn to war anymore."  We can show you that this really happened. For twelve men went forth from Jerusalem -- common men, not trained in speaking. But by the power of God they testified to every race of people, just as they were sent by Christ to teach all the word of God. And now, we who used to kill each other, not only do we not fight our enemies, but in order that we might not even lie or deceive our inquisitors, we gladly die bearing witness to Christ.  1 Apology 1.39.1-3

And we who were full of war, and the slaughter of one another, and every kind of iniquity, have in every part of the world converted our weapons of war: "our swords into plowshares, our spears into farming hooks." And we cultivate piety, justice, love of humanity, faith, and hope, the kind that comes from the Father through the crucified One...;  Now it is obvious that no one can frighten or subdue us who believe in Jesus worldwide. For it is evident that, though we are beheaded and crucified, thrown to the wild beasts, the chains, the fire, and all the other forms of torture, we will not renounce our confession. The more such things happen [to us], the more that others in great numbers come to faith and become worshipers of God through the name of Jesus. Just as when one cuts off the fruit bearing branches of a vine, other branches shoot afresh and blossom again and bear fruit, so it is with us.  Dialogue with Trypho 110:3-4a 

We have seen more than once since January that our credibility with outsiders is best linked to our love of enemy even at the sacrifice of ourselves.  Refraining from the State's wars in Christlikeness is a modest beginning toward removing the Christian self-empowerment gene that has pushed us to hate those who love us as much as we hate those who hate us.  I think this is a helpfully obvious first step toward the more difficult work of martyr cross racing.