This article is for Christians. I pray that you will take a moment to pray to the Lord for patience and understanding before reading this article. In fact, I would rather you not read it at all if you don’t. Recently, I have received criticism on my position concerning war. I have long maintained that Jesus, the Apostles, and the early Christians refused to kill – even choosing to die praying for their enemies instead of taking the lives of their attackers. I have always believed this is the same position that dominated Christianity during the Church’s first 300 years, until Constantine rose to power and made Christianity the official state religion of Rome. While I had some knowledge of the early history of Christians – I never really got as in depth as I have in this last round of studies. What I found was truly surprising to me… I believe that if we ever truly going to understand the Way of Christ we have to undo the knot of information that has become Christian history…
I have already covered why I believe we should not participate in wars and violence in my previous videos, and I will restate the Biblical arguments again in the near future to clarify and answer objections – but in this article – I want to share with you what I have found concerning war and violence through the writings of the early church fathers who wrote before Constantine came on the scene. These are quotes from early Christian leaders demonstrating how they understood Jesus and the Christian way…
Therefore, men of Ephesus, turn yourselves, also knowing this, that kings, rulers, tyrants, boasters, and they that have conquered in wars are stripped of all things when they depart and do suffer pain, lodged in eternal misery.
the Acts of John 2nd Century AD
answering the ridiculous charges that Christians killed and ate other humans – a misunderstanding born from the partaking in the Lord’s Supper… For when they know that we cannot endure even to see a man put to death, though justly; who of them can accuse us of murder or cannibalism? Who does not reckon among the things of greatest interest the contests of gladiators and wild beasts, especially those which are given by you? But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles. How, then, when we do not even look on, lest we should contract guilt and pollution, can we put people to death?
—Athenagoras of Athens’ A Plea for the Christians – 2nd Century AD
Above all, Christians are not allowed to correct with violence the delinquencies of sins. For it is not those that abstain from wickedness from compulsion, but those that abstain from choice, that God crowns. It is impossible for a man to be steadily good except by his own choice. For he that is made good by compulsion of another is not good; for he is not what he is by his own choice. For it is the freedom of each one that makes true goodness and reveals real wickedness. Whence through these dispositions God contrived to make His own disposition manifest.—Clement of Alexandria Sermon 55 – 2nd Century AD
“He who holds the sword must cast it away and that if one of the faithful becomes a soldier, he must be rejected by the Church, for he has scorned God.” Clement of Alexandria from the 2nd century writing – Apostolic Tradition
As simple and quiet sisters, peace and love require no arms. For it is not in war, but in peace, that we are trained.
—Clement of Alexandria Chapter 12 of Book 1 – 2nd Century AD
We who formerly used to murder one another now refrain from even making war upon our enemies. —The First Apology of Justin Martyr 2nd Century AD
I do not wish to be a king; I am not anxious to be rich; I decline military command… Die to the world, repudiating the madness that is in it. —Tatian’s Address to the Greeks 2nd Century AD
A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. If someone is a military governor, or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God.
The Treatise on the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus chapter 16 verses 9-11 3rd Century AD
But now inquiry is made about this point, whether a believer may turn himself unto military service, and whether the military may be admitted unto the faith, even the rank and file, or each inferior grade… There is no agreement between the divine and the human sacrament, the standard of Christ and the standard of the devil, the camp of light and the camp of darkness. One soul cannot be due to two masters–God and Caesar… But how will a Christian man war, nay, how will he serve even in peace, without a sword, which the Lord has taken away? For albeit soldiers had come unto John, and had received the formula of their rule; albeit, likewise, a centurion had believed; still the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, disarmed every soldier.
Tertullian – Treatise on Idolatry 19 – 3rd century AD
Christians could never slay their enemies. For the more that kings, rulers, and peoples have persecuted them everywhere, the more Christians have increased in number and grown in strength. – Origen Contra Celsius Book 7 – 3rd Century AD
We would rather shed our own blood than stain our hands and our conscience with that of another. As a result, an ungrateful world is now enjoying–and for a long period has enjoyed–a benefit from Christ. For by his means, the rage of savage ferocity has been softened and has begun to withhold hostile hands from the blood of a fellow creature. In fact, if all men without exception…would lend an ear for a while to his salutary and peaceful rules,…the whole world would be living in the most peaceful tranquility. The world would have turned the use of steel into more peaceful uses and would unite together in blessed harmony.
—Arnobius Against the Heathen book 1 – 4th century AD
So if we were SO against war and even violence as a faith – what happened to change it?
In short? Constantine happened – and he made Christianity the state religion – realizing that pacifism wouldn’t work with the Roman military – the church – through – Augustine of Hippo – brought the Just War Doctrine into the church – and nothing has been the same since.
There have been those who realized the truth of the matter – but they are rarely heard. —Paulinus of Nola , Francis of Assisi —Menno Simons – Martin Luther King, Jr.
I have to be honest with you all at this point and tell you that since I became a Christian the Holy Spirit has always led me to denounce violence and war… My understanding of the New Covenant has always been that it is a path of self denial – a hard path to walk if we do not die to our sinful natures – but the rewards are immeasurable. The peace within is undeniable. Jesus told us in John 12:25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. and that has always made perfect sense to me.
But in today’s world – we imagine that we must fight for justice – as if God has fallen asleep and abandoned the wheel – we must secure our lives in this world – despite what Jesus said – they say that freedom isn’t free – and I agree – and if we are to believe the testimony of these early church fathers whom I have quoted in this video who were disciples of the Apostles and disciples of their disciples – it is costing us our very souls.
I have never one whose been comfortable in condemning anyone to Hell – even with a non-believer I have struggled at times to tell them – hey buddy – your lack of belief and refusal to repent is going to cost you your salvation – and I am not willing to go so far as to say Christians who believe in self-defense and war are going to Hell – but I will say that I believe that Christians who do not turn away from violence and war are as mistaken as a Christian caught in greed, lust, or any of the other sins that keep us from achieving our maturity in Christ.
I am sure this article will bring protest from many – and I ask you to kindly post your comments and your Biblical references against this position keeping in mind that I am treating you with love and respect and I hope you will do the same with me. If I am wrong – I pray you will seek to correct me with the gentleness and patience that I am showing you. My intent here is not to create outrage and upset – but it is to try to start to undo the 1400 years of brainwashing our faith has been under since Constantine. It is my prayer that if I am wrong the Lord will correct me through your responses.
Exposing the True Conspiracy
The following is a rough script from a new video I have made:
There seems to be great interest in conspiracy theories. Many Christians are dedicating much of their time trying to discover and expose master plots of evil leaders that threaten our way of life… but I believe as a whole, we have missed one of the biggest conspiracies ever propagated against the Christian faith. After much prayer and deliberation, it has become apparent to me that the Lord is calling me to speak out boldly about this grand deception which has infiltrated the body of Christ. It seems clear to me through my understanding of the New Testament, the history of the original Christians, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that Satan has convinced us to ignore one of the fundamental teachings of Christ. We have become convinced that we, as followers of Christ, are justified and have a duty to take up arms and kill those we know to be wicked and evil. Yet, we know that no where in the Gospels or the Epistles did Jesus, the Apostles, or their disciples ever act in this manner.
For the first 300 years or so after Christ ascended to heaven, Christians did not kill for any reason. They faced persecution, oppression, and even martyrdom with nothing but prayers for their enemies. Once Christianity was made the state religion of Rome, things stated to change… Suddenly, the church developed a Just War doctrine – and from that point on Christianity has forgotten that Jesus turned us away from the old eye for an eye doctrine… Discussing this with most modern day Christians is difficult at best. Many are soldiers, police men, or just good old fashioned Patriots. If some one hits us – we hit back – twice as hard – and we justify it by claiming we need to defend our lives… but these are the very lives that Jesus told us plainly about in John 12:25 when He said – The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. We are told we have to defend our freedoms – but these very so-called freedoms have made our churches fat and weak and have allowed wickedness to surround our religion from all sides. We need to remember that He who lives by the sword will die by the sword. Many seek to turn this into a metaphor – and I suppose it can be interpreted in such a way – but it is equally true in the literal sense. Violence begets violence. As the early church father’s have shown in their writings – Christians did not kill. Not in defense and not for justice. They could not even bear to watch a killing – even if it was justified by their own judgment! Can you imagine that? Most of us watch movies, or television shows or play video games where killing is common place and celebrated – yet our earliest brothers could not bear to watch men that deserved death be killed.
Think about this problem my friends. Recognize how we have been brainwashed into a doctrine of the world – seduced into the arms of violence for 1600 years… theologians and scholars have formulated great arguments to defend the lie that came to us through the Roman Empire… be honest with yourselves… it is the flesh that seeks to fight and it is our lack of faith that God will dispense His wrath and justice in His time in His way. There is a phrase often heard but rarely listened to – let God be God… when we take it upon ourselves to kill another – regardless of how detestable we believe them to be – we are telling God that we know better than He does. We are assuming the role of judge, jury, and executioner… when in truth Jesus told us that He has sent us out as sheep among wolves – and we are to be as wise as serpents yet harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).
This isn’t a simple thing to accept. It is hard to believe that we have been deceived for 1,600 years. It is even harder for us to believe that we are simply to allow ourselves to let our wealth and security be exposed to the dangerous world which will surely take it from us. Harder still is it for us to believe that we should allow ourselves or anyone else to suffer and even die – yet this is exactly what the Lord has called us to do.
John 6:53-66
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
If we are to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ we must be as He was on this earth. We can clearly see His Way in His life on earth, in the lives of the Apostles, and even in the lives of the early Christians right up till the time of Constantine. No matter how hard we try to change these facts – no matter how many scriptures we twist, no matter how desperately we want to believe otherwise – this is one of the fundamental distinctions of Christianity that we have lost over the centuries. If we deny this then we are refusing His Way! I don’t believe it’s mistake that John 6:66 reads – From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
In the coming days and weeks I will be releasing videos exposing the false interpretations of scripture that people have developed to defend their desire to kill for what they have. I will be sharing the insight that God is giving me on the historical facts that been ignored. I will be answering your questions and responding to your challenges as they come forth – and I will be praying that God will shower us all with patience and understanding. If you are angered by this video, ask yourself why. If I am just a fool who doesn’t know what he is talking about – then why does it prick your heart as it does? The followers of Christ will not follow a stranger… so if what I am saying is not true – then no one of Christ will accept it. Surely you aren’t swayed by fools! Seek the heart of Christ and you’ll come to understand – the greatest conspiracy of all has been perpetrated against the children of Christ – and it has been so complete and thorough that at this moment – you can barely stand to hear it.