The Path of Pacifism and Nonresistance
President Ronald Reagan Presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom at a White House Ceremony in the Rose Garden, 6/20/1985, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:38-39 NIV) [see full text in button/link below]
We Venerate Pacifist Icons
We hold in honor people such as Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and Francis of Assisi. But our heroes are powerful, even violent people. Whether cartoon superheroes, assassins, powerful gangsters, or vaunted military heroes.
We admire the character and ideals of those who promote nonviolent resistance, but default to people of power and influence regardless of their character. This dichotomy, where we try to hold on to mutually exclusive ideals and values, is one reason we find it difficult to grasp or understand what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount.
We admire what Jesus says and “posterize” His sayings on plaques hung on our walls, but we often live and relate to others in an opposite way. These few verses in chapter 5 of Matthew lay out the path of pacifism and nonviolent resistance.
If we’re honest with ourselves, these responses are hard to accept. They require a strength of character and conviction that most of us don’t have on our own. Of course, Jesus personally illustrates this strength of character and conviction, but we are likely to say, “Well, of course, He’s the Son of God!”
A military hero named Desmond Doss portrayed these same qualities. He was a conscientious objector who enlisted to serve in WWII. The movie (Hacksaw Ridge) gave a brutal but realistic view of this man’s character and conviction. Fellow soldiers and military leaders ridiculed him until they saw him in action. 1
These verses amplify and exemplify the beatitude, Blessed are the peacemakers. They describe the path of pacifism and nonresistance.
Insights
A tour of the land of Israel to view the biblical and historical sites in person is a wonderful experience. I recommend it to anyone who can do it. But culturally, you’ll find Israel to be a very secular nation. A good tour guide will mitigate this to some degree.
When God gave the Law through Moses, the Middle East was a mishmash of warring tribal groups. Reading through the biblical accounts of the first third of the Old Testament makes this abundantly clear. Yes, a few powerful empires existed throughout this history, but tribalism was the norm.
A common characteristic of tribalism was retribution. It still is.
The Hatfield and McCoys were families in rural America who continued to feud for three decades over mostly petty differences. They are an example of retribution gone wrong, with senseless killings and hatred.
Generational tribal warfare continues to this day in many areas of the world. Retribution and revenge fuel this generational feuding. In the Western world, this plays out similarly with gang territorialism and violence. Large-scale immigration also contributes to this tribalist attitude, where immigrants don’t assimilate into their new home culture.
Many missionaries have served and now serve in regions where generational tribal rivalries continue. When the people in these tribes receive the gospel, it impacts their lives and dramatically disrupts generational cycles of violence. The Peace Child, a book written by former missionary and author Don Richardson, is a riveting story of this dramatic turnaround. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. 2
Several years ago, I heard veteran missionaries Frank and Marie Drown share their testimony of the dramatic reversal in tribal rivalries in the jungles of Ecuador, where they served. I heard them in person and read their book, Mission to the Headhunters. Even in their 80s, they spoke with such dynamic enthusiasm, and their book was a genuine page-turner for me. They personified true peacemakers. 3
Redefining the Nature of God’s Kingdom
The portion of the Law Jesus quotes here was to limit retribution or revenge, not commend it. When people want retribution or revenge, they’re charged with emotion. God gave this law to limit retribution to an equal consequence and prevent the escalation of further action. 4
Jesus not only redefines this law, but redirects it. His intent was to de-escalate potential problems. Instead of reacting in the heat of the moment, Jesus says to deflect personal insults. We are not to pay back evil with more evil.
It’s an example of what a peacemaker does. Rather than insist on some form of payback, a person who pursues peace deflects insults, overcomes evil with good, and is compassionate and generous. 5
This is an attitude of mercy and grace, not retribution.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not naturally inclined to do this. I need God’s help to be a peacemaker rather than a reactor. Just as the Law of Moses was impossible to keep in a perfect sense, so we need the Lord’s grace and help to live according to this new way of life in God’s Kingdom. 6
Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law. When we are in a genuine relationship with Him by faith, He will enable us to be like Him and follow His example. 7
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23 NIV84)
When we surrender our lives to Jesus, trusting in Him with our whole being, He will change and empower us in our innermost being, our inner nature. Jesus is the one who instills this character and conviction in us, so we reflect the Kingdom of Heaven to those around us.
I need God’s help to be a peacemaker rather than a reactor.
How about you?
Reflection
Jesus calls us to a new way of handling insults and personal injury. It’s not passive but requires strong character and conviction. As we entrust our lives to Him, Jesus will develop a nature and character like His in us.
Prayer Focus
When you are insulted or confronted with wrongdoing, ask the Lord for the grace to not react or retaliate. Ask Him to fill you with His mercy, grace, and compassion.
Footnotes–
Desmond Doss - Wikiwand. (n.d.). https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Desmond_Doss
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, March 6). Hacksaw Ridge. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacksaw_Ridge
Hacksaw Ridge (2016) ⭐ 8.1 | Biography, drama, History. (2016, November 4). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119532/
Richardson, D. (2005). Peace Child: an unforgettable story of primitive jungle treachery in the 20th century (4th ed.). Regal.
I knew Don personally, and recommend his other books also– Eternity in Their Hearts, Lords of the Earth, and Secrets of the Koran.
Frank Drown, the veteran American missionary who made history back in 1956, has passed on to his eternal reward at 95. (2018, February 3). Calloftheandes Weblog. https://calloftheandes.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/4420/
Mission to the Headhunters: How God’s Forgiveness Transformed Tribal Enemies (Biography): Drown, Frank, Drown, Marie: Mission to the Headhunters: How God’s Forgiveness Transformed Tribal Enemies (Biography): Drown, Frank, Drown, Marie: https://amzn.to/3KtpVju
See– Exodus 21:24. You can also refer to this commentary for further insight—Enduring Word. (2022, January 14). Enduring Word Bible Commentary Exodus 21:22-27 – The Law and Restitution. https://enduringword.com/exodus-conversations-21-22-27/
See– Romans 12:17-21
See– Galatians 3:21-25
See– 1 Peter 2:21-23
This is an excerpt from a soon-to-be-published book called The Heart and Soul of God’s Kingdom. Look for it on Amazon with my other books— Trip Kimball on Amazon
