One of the problems that arises in the debate about the biblical foundation for non-violence is a result of flawed theology.

–If you believe that there is going to be a literal, physical war when Jesus returns at the end of some seven year rapture, then you are less likely to see the validity of beating a sword into a plowshare.
–If you believe that God chooses who He will for salvation and the rest of people are just out of luck, then life becomes an us/them proposition.
–If you believe that the world must go to hell in a handbasket before Christ returns, then the prospect of social justice becomes less attractive.

Another barrier to our understanding of non-violence and its implications is our own sinful hearts. Anger, fear, worry and the lionization of the self are stumbling blocks on our way to having peaceable spirits.
I want us to begin to look at these heart issues and how they might preclude us from being non-violent. Let’s look first at the issue of the self.

Self-aggrandizement has plagued us since the fall. The desire to be like God is ever before us. It would be part of the downfall of the Israelite nation. They were known for chasing after their own desires over above those of their God.

In more modern times, men such as Adler, Rogers and Maslow have perpetuated the idea of the self and its fulfillment as being the ultimate end of man. The impact that these men have had in our society in general, and the church in particular has, unfortunately, been monumental.

There has been a shift in our time, within the church, to a gospel, borne not out of discipleship and self-sacrifice, but, instead, of self-love and self-aggrandizement.
The unbiblical doctrine of the self and its actualization and glory is rarely, if ever, questioned. Instead it is embraced as being the foundation for a meaningful life.

Today, it seems that there is little difference between the church and the world when it comes to the view of the individual. Many Christian writers either tout self-esteem and self-actualization or assume it in their writing.

I’m not saying that feeling good about yourself is a bad thing. But the example we see from Jesus is not self-fulfillment but instead self-denial.

Jesus was never self-oriented. Instead He was others-oriented.

He was never concerned with esteeming Himself. Instead He humbled Himself to the point of the cross.

But much of the talk about non-violence today centers upon the notion of protecting ourselves, defending ourselves, standing up for our own rights.

But Jesus did not protect Himself, He surrendered to others. He did not stand up for Himself but knelt to serve them.

If Christ did not esteem Himself, how can we, of mere flesh and blood, presume to do anything more? How arrogant are we if we profess that we should esteem ourselves when Christ continually lessened Himself?

To be truly non-violent then we have to understand the example of Christ. His example was about that of self-abnegation not exalting Himself or His rights.
It was about considering others better than Himself. And He was God!

If we begin to truly view people as Jesus views them, then our propensity to lash out in violent words or deeds dissipates.

The words of A.W. Tozer will serve us well: “So keenly do we men enjoy dominion that we like to think that we hold in our own hands the power of life and death. We love to think that hell will be easier to bear from the fact of our having gone there in defiance of some power that sought to rule us.”