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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.