Pacifism

[Br. Xavier]

Yes? No? Excluding the just war clause this be. When in everyday life should "defense" be taken? I refer to words here.

EX:
Someone claims to do twice as much work as somebody else at our church, even though they don't (barely any at all, actually), and that they want more recognition. Should they be put in their place (effectively driving them away from the church)? Or should they be given more to do and somewhat recognized for that (avoiding said claims)?

There seems to be a lot of animosity at our church, and I find it hard to see Christ in people when they act harshly, whether first or as a reaction.

 

[Eucharisted]

I believe in peace, not pacificism.

 

[Anglian]

Dear Brother Xavier,

People would do well to remember the parables of the Prodigal Son and the labourers who turned up for only the last hour and were paid the full rate for the whole day; those who serve the Lord should not look for special preferment - those who were first shall be last, and those who were last will be first; our pride should be in working for the Lord - not in having it lauded openly.

On pacifism, yes, there is a long history of it in the Faith. The Church provides for those occasions upon which we need to defend ourselves either as individuals or as groups; there is much wisdom in this.

peace,

Anglian

 

[Eucharisted]

Pray for the person. God is the best of Fathers

 

[Fantine]

I have heard lectures by priests who have said that the "just war" theory of the Catholic Church doesn't have anywhere near the number of loopholes that people think it does.

 

[Winter]

Edited: whoops, nevermind. I think i initially took your scenario too literally. sorry.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I prefer to be a person of non-violence, rather than pacifism.


Let me explain the difference.

Pacifism, is where you see injustice and do nothing.

Non-violence is where you see injustice, but do something about it, in a non-violent way.

Now, non-violence also means not using aggressive language and words, and even allowing yourself to be a victim of the injustice, in order to bring about justice.

Jesus was not a pacifist. He was a person of non-violence. Although his use of a rope to drive out the money changers was an act of aggression, it was still non-violent in the sense that he did not harm anyone. We don't even know if he actually hit anyone.

Gandhi and Martin Luther King, were not pacifist, but people who were non-violent. They didn't stand by watching injustice, but worked against it, in a non-violent way. Pacifism would do nothing, where actions without the use of violence, transformed entire nations.

In the case of the OP's question concerning a person who wants recognition for deeds that they haven't done. I remember the words of Jesus where he use the example of those who look for recognition in how they do acts of prayers and fasting for all to see. Jesus said, they have already received their reward. But what a shallow reward, compared to being given praise by God the father, for service done with humility and for only His eyes to see.

So it will be with this person. The recognition they seek will be their reward. But what a shallow reward it is.

Jim