A RADICAL PACIFIST

The term ‘Radical Pacifist’ is self-contradictory in its essence. One cannot be radical, if one is a pacifist. However, what the LORD Jesus speaks in His Sermon on the Mount, and subsequently carried forward, explained and expanded by the apostles and the writers of the New Testament, is an evidence for the Christian faith being both radical and pacifist at the same time, in its nature, practice and essence. I think, there should not be any two thoughts on it. It is very plain and clear…at least to me.

Professor Noam Chomsky, an American thinker, philosopher, linguist, cognitive scientist and social critic, has this say about Christian faith – “The gospels are radical pacifist material. When the emperor Constantine adopted Christianity he shifted it. He shifted Christianity from a radical pacifist religion to the religion of the Roman empire. So the cross, which was symbol of the suffering of the poor, was put on the shield of Roman soldiers. Since that time, the Church has been pretty much the Church of the rich and the powerful.”

Simply put, we have lost our way in the melee of world politics, and the bloodlust for power, control and total domination. The lust for power is so strong, that in its pursuit, no value, principle and ethic has any worth anymore…get it at any cost…no matter what. In many instances, with utter disregard for the One who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Sad, but true.

The Church has become a pawn…an active and willing pawn. Philip Yancy, citing C. S. Lewis, who I am sure needs no introduction at all, has a word for us – “C. S. Lewis observed that almost all crimes of Christian history have come about when religion is confused with politics. Politics, which always runs by the rules of ungrace, allures us to trade away grace for power, a temptation the church has often been unable to resist.”

How sad and pathetic. What we are seeing today, both in the world and in the Church, and the Church’s willing and active participation, is an indication ofthe deterioration of the position stated above. C. S. Lewis is spot on in his observations about the Church, and our lust for power politics, in utter disregard of the Scripture, which we so proudly claim to be our foundation, and the bedrock of our lives and our lifestyle.

The walls are cracked, and they are crumbling. Have we not noticed it? We have deviated from the path, and the person of Christ. Have we not observed it? We have become something which we are not supposed to be…salt contaminated, and the light, influenced and engulfed by the darkness. Does it not bother us? Instead, we are blissfully ignorant, and a happy participant. What a tragedy!!!