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The following is an excerpt from the book A Theology of Peace by Matthew Elton, copyright 2009 Matthew Elton.

A Theology of Peace

by Matthew Elton

copyright 2009 Matthew Elton

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Introduction

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.  “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.  God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.  God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.  God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.  God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.  God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

--Matthew 5:1-11

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.  If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.  If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.  Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.  “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

--Matthew 5:38-48

Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount” (recorded in the fifth through seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew) is widely regarded by theologians of all different backgrounds as one of the greatest moral teachings in all of Scripture. Even among those who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and even among those who deny that Jesus existed, almost all agree that the teachings on non-violence found in the Sermon on the Mount were and continue to be important messages that a world plagued by seemingly endless wars could do well to learn from.

Even so, very few people actually put these teachings into practice, yet doing so is exactly what the Lord Jesus requires of all those who seek to be his disciples. Jesus taught that “no one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:3). Being a Christian means putting oneself in submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ, which requires pulling oneself out of submission to any master whose instructions contradict those of Christ. As the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus is above all. A true follower of Jesus will make every effort to follow the teachings and commands of Jesus not only in church but in every aspect of life, and in every circumstance.

Yet the message of the Sermon on the Mount is so revolutionary – so radical – that it is sometimes difficult to apply to everyday life. Revenge is natural, and loving one’s enemies is not natural. Yet Jesus teaches his disciples to be supernatural beings who have risen above the natural state of man and its sinful nature. Everyone loves those who love them in return, yet very, very few people will love those who hate them. The few people who will are the followers of Jesus who are called to be set apart from the rest of the world and to live in accordance to standards much higher than those set by secular society – standards worthy of righteousness.

Although most people would agree that it is good to show love to all and to resist the temptation to seek revenge, actually applying these concepts in real life presents difficult challenges, and difficult questions. Is it right for a disciple of Jesus to serve in the military? Is it right for a disciple of Jesus to fight in order to defend his nation? What if he must fight in order to defend his family? What if he must defend himself?

There is a great deal of confusion in the Christian Church today regarding the answers to these questions, and much of an attempt to justify violence on the basis that God commanded His people Israel to go to war in the Old Testament. This is true, but such an argument ignores the fact that Jesus (to whom God has given “all authority in heaven and on earth” according to Matthew 28:18) has commanded us to the do the opposite. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:8, there is “a time for war and a time for peace.” There was indeed a time for war when God commanded Israel to go to war. But now Christ has commanded us to live peacefully, showing love to all people. Unless this command changes, the time for peace has come.

Continued in: A Theology of Peace Part Two: The Kingdom of God