Question and Answer

                                 Are Christians required to be pacifists?

                                 Jesus told his disciples, "........offer no resistance to one who is evil.  When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well" (Matthew 5:39).  He wanted his disciples to strive for peace when confronted with violence because he knew that "all who takes the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52).  We are never to use violence to solve problems.
                                That doesn't mean, however, that we are required to stand by while others attempt to deny either the individual citizen or particular governments fundamental rights, including that of self-defense.  War can be morally justified as a last resort but we should do everything possible to avoid war before it starts.
                                Certainly Christians must speak out against acts that provoke war.  Too, we are required to fight racial, ethnic and religious discrimination.  Better still, when we fight injustice, we actually work to promote peace.  That's the Christian way.  In fact, Jesus turned the violence of the Cross into the ultimate act of love.