Principal Teachings About Peace In Christianity
Principal teachings about peace in Christianity
Heart of Jesus' ministry
The teaching of the New Testament affirms the centrality of peace to the Christian message. It was at the heart of the life and ministry of Jesus and accordingly is sought after and taken up by the communities that seek to follow Jesus.
Peace is understood as more than merely an absence of violence and conflict. It refers more fully to an overall sense of wellbeing. Ultimately peace is found in union with God. Christians are taught to live at peace with others, both within their own communities and in the wider human family.
Christian pacifism
Throughout the first three centuries of the common era Christians adopted a pacifist position and refused to engage in military service or warfare. This was a position that contributed to them being marginalised in the wider community and persecuted by the Roman authorities. Yet despite the hardships, Christians as a whole refused to engage in warfare, believing that to do so would be contrary to their faith.
The conversion of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century introduced Christians to a new situation where they were now part of the establishment and the empire was their ally rather than a threat to their existence. This new situation led to a rethinking of the position of the Christian Church in relation to its involvement in warfare.
Philosophical challenges
This new situation created a number of philosophical challenges to the pacifist stance held by the Christians. They now had to consider how they could maintain and guarantee the freedom of people in the society, in particular their religious freedom. They also had to consider how to protect their property from theft or destruction. Another problem related to the protection of innocent people in the light of acts of aggression by others. These and other similar concerns forced the Christian Church to compromise its hard line stance against military involvement and the use of warfare.
The
Heart of Jesus' ministry
The teaching of the New Testament affirms the centrality of peace to the Christian message. It was at the heart of the life and ministry of Jesus and accordingly is sought after and taken up by the communities that seek to follow Jesus.
Peace is understood as more than merely an absence of violence and conflict. It refers more fully to an overall sense of wellbeing. Ultimately peace is found in union with God. Christians are taught to live at peace with others, both within their own communities and in the wider human family.
Christian pacifism
Throughout the first three centuries of the common era Christians adopted a pacifist position and refused to engage in military service or warfare. This was a position that contributed to them being marginalised in the wider community and persecuted by the Roman authorities. Yet despite the hardships, Christians as a whole refused to engage in warfare, believing that to do so would be contrary to their faith.
The conversion of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century introduced Christians to a new situation where they were now part of the establishment and the empire was their ally rather than a threat to their existence. This new situation led to a rethinking of the position of the Christian Church in relation to its involvement in warfare.
Philosophical challenges
This new situation created a number of philosophical challenges to the pacifist stance held by the Christians. They now had to consider how they could maintain and guarantee the freedom of people in the society, in particular their religious freedom. They also had to consider how to protect their property from theft or destruction. Another problem related to the protection of innocent people in the light of acts of aggression by others. These and other similar concerns forced the Christian Church to compromise its hard line stance against military involvement and the use of warfare.
The