THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND THE PACIFIST TEMPTATION

In: The world today, Band 40, Heft 8, S. 327-332

Abstract

ARE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES SLIDING INTO PACIFISM? PACIFISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MINORITY VIEW WITHIN THE CHURCH. NOW, HOWEVER, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT OFFICIAL CHURCH BODIES ARE SLIPPING ALMOST UNWITTINGLY INTO A CRYPTO-PACIFISM. ONE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE UP A MORE CRITICAL ATTITUDE TO THE STATE. IN PART THIS IS A GUILT-RIDDEN REACTION AGAINST A TOO CLOSE IDENTIFICATION WITH IT IN THE PAST. IT IS OFTEN SAID NOW THAT THE CHURCH HAS MOVED INTO A NEW PHASE OF ITS EXISTENCE.1 THERE WAS A PRE-CONSTANTINIAN PERIOD WHEN THE CHURCH WAS A SMALL, PERSECUTED SECT WITHIN THE ROMAN EMPIRE, DIVORCED FROM PUBLIC LIFE. THEN THERE WAS THE CONSTANTINIAN PHASE, WHICH LASTED FROM THE FOURTH CENTURY UNTIL THE FIRST WORLD WAR WHEN THE CHURCHES AND THE SECULAR POWER WALKED IRON HAND IN WHITE GLOVE. NOW, IT IS ALLEGED, THE CHURCHES ARE ONCE AGAIN IN A MINORITY GROUP, STRIPPED OF POWER AND DEVOID OF MUCH OF THEIR TRADITIONAL INFLUENCE IN HIGH PLACES. THEY ARE, THEREFORE, FREE TO POINT TO A DISTINCTIVELY CHRISTIAN LIFE, WITHDRAWN FROM THE FALLEN WORLD OF POWER POLITICS.