Are you a pacifist?
Should a believer be a pacifist?
What does the bible of Elohim teach us
about “pacifism” and its movements?
First of all, what is the meaning of the word pacifist? Does a pacifist qualify an individual opposed to any form of war? Would not the propaganda of pacifism encourage the acceptance of any power whatsoever, provided war is avoided? Is this in agreement with Bible examples and teachings? To be pacifist and to love peace are they synonymous?
I propose to investigate this topic in greater depth in order to enlighten us and to know better which attitude to adopt towards pacifism.
The believer must in principle guide his conduct according to the good examples given by the Bible. At the end, the believer must be an imitator of our Father and Creator, an imitator also of His Son through whom everything has been created:
Paul writes to us in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 1:
" Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. "
In his Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 1, Paul completes by writing to us: " Therefore be imitators of Elohim as dear children."
So these are well-defined models that the Bible encourages us to follow and consequently, we should check how their position versus to the theories emanating from pacifist propaganda.
In Exodus 14:14, we read, "Yehoah (translated by the Lord) will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." Similarly in Deuteronomy 1: 30 and 20: 4 is written,
" Yehoah your Elohim, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes."
This makes us discover that our Father example is in some circumstances a fighter who makes war!
To put an end to all the insinuations of those who claim that Yehoah, the Lord of the Old Testament has nothing to do with Yeshuah and the Lord of the New Testament, I invite you to read how the book of Revelation is describing our Lord Yeshuah, at the time of His coming, in Revelation 19: 11-20:
" 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of Elohim. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty Elohim. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great Elohim, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone."
In the same way, the book of Revelation reveals also that the Archangel Michael is also a fighter! Let's read chapter 12, verse 7:
" And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, "
What fight?
This does not mean that a believer has to fight anyone, anything and anytime. The Children of Israel have learned it cruelly as we can see in Deuteronomy 1: 42-44:
“42 “And Yehoah said to me, ‘Tell them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies.” ’ 43 So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of Yehoah, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. 44 And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah."
There are indeed rules to fight as Paul reminds us in his second epistle to Timothy, in chapter 2, verses 4 to 5:
" 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. "
One of the essential rules is that our Father should be with us and not apart. Yeshuah acts quite the opposite of the Children of Israel in the following example given in John 18: 33-36:
" 33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Yeshuah , and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Yeshuah answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 Yeshuah answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
Yeshuah demonstrates that he must follow the rules of his Father and do some fighting only when it is the right time and not at any time. He will fight at the time revealed by the book of Revelation and not before.
But this does not mean that Yeshuah and his people acting as ambassadors of the Kingdom of his Father, the so-called believers are not fighting today! It is just the opposite, as Yeshuah did, the believer must fight, must wage war (Romans 15: 30-33):
" 30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Yeshuah Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to Elohim for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of Elohim, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now Elohim of peace be with you all. Amen."
Paul writes that this kind of fight is a very hard fight and that you have to prepare for it all the time (I Corinthians 9: 26-27):
" 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
Paul knows what he is talking about since he was forced to fight beasts in Ephesus (I Corinthians 15: 30-32):
" 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Yeshuah our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
Paul was not the only one to fight beasts, David, three thousand years ago, also fought the lion to protect the flocks of his father as he was a shepherd! Yeshuah Christ will do the same but the lion will be replaced by the beast, the false prophet, and their armies supported by the large majority of people on earth: the pacifists will certainly be on their side if they do not convert before !
An essential part of this conversion, of this radical change that is asked from every man who wants to become a true believer, is precisely a fight to even to bloodshed (Hebrews 12: 3-4):
"3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."
Who is the enemy to fight?
The believer does not fight any enemy. He must indeed fight the one who is really his enemy, the one who endangers his eternal life in case of failure!
We have just read that one of our enemies who must be fought to bloodshed is sin. Fighting sin means fighting our flesh, our carnal nature that usually are dictating the actions of our body and few people understand it as they are blinded by the materialism of this world especially in these last times before the end (Romans 8: 12-17):
" 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of Elohim and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
It is indeed the Spirit who must take power in our carnal bodies to put an end and to kill all that is bad in us (Galatians 5: 17 and 24):
" 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish....
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
By fighting in this way, we indirectly close the door to the essentially destructive action of Satan and his demons who roam in search of the prey we can become
(I Peter 5: 8-9):
"8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. "
With which weapons should we go to war?
Every fighter, every warrior must be armed and must also know how to use his weapons before going into battle.
The weapons of the believer are not the ones you usually hear about, they are not tanks, cannons, fighter planes, bombers, intercontinental rockets, nuclear weapons! No, because all these weapons will be destroyed at the end (Ezekiel 39: 9-10):
" 9 “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. 10 They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says Yehoah Elohim."
Already in the psalms, it was clearly explained that there is no value to put his trust in this type of weapons (Psalms 20: 7-9):
" 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of Yehoah our Elohim. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9 Save, Yehoah! May the King answer us when we call."
The believer's weapons are indeed quite different in their concept. Let us read in Isaiah what are the weapons that Yehoah has putting at the disposal of his people when the situation is desperate (Isaiah 59: 15-20):
" 15 So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Redeemer of Zion Then Yehoah saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay. 19 So shall they fear the name of Yehoah from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of Yehoah will lift up a standard against him. 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says Yehoah."
These are the same kinds of weapons that are available to the believer (Ephesians 6: 13-17):
" 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of Elohim, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Elohim; "
Conclusions
As you have read, the Bible answers our question from the beginning:
THE BELIEVER, IF HE SEEKS PEACE, MUST KNOW HOW TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF PEACE!
THE BELIEVER IS FAR FROM WHAT IS A PACIFISTE TODAY, HE IS A WARRIOR THAT MUST BE VIRTUOUS AND COURAGEOUS TO COMBAT!
LOVING PEACE DOES NOT MEAN TO BE A PACIFIST!
WHEN OUR LORD CHRIST-YESHUAH WILL COME, TO TAKE POWER ON EARTH, THE JEWS OF JERUSALEM WILL NOT BE PACIFISTS, BUT THEY WILL FIGHT WITH HIM LIKE THE SAINTS (Zechariah 10: 3-7):
" 3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goatherds.
For Yehoah of hosts will visit His flock, The house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle. 4 From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.
5 They shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because Yehoah is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame. 6 “I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them.
They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am Yehoah their Elohim, and I will hear them. 7 Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in Yehoah."
And let us read also the following (Zechariah 14: 3-14):
" 3 Then Yehoah will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.
5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah.
Thus Yehoah my Elohim will come, and all the saints with You.
6 It shall come to pass in that day that there will be no light; the lights will diminish. 7 It shall be one day which is known to Yehoah— Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen that it will be light. 8 And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur. 9 And Yehoah shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— “Yehoah is one,” and His name one. 10 All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.
11 The people shall dwell in it; and no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague with which Yehoah will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. 13 It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the Lord will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, and raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand; 14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be gathered together: gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance."