Christian Nonviolence

Christian nonviolence is the conviction that followers of Jesus are called to reject violence as a means of resolving conflict, pursuing justice, or defending themselves. If you are wondering whether nonviolence is the same as pacifism or whether Christians can serve in the military, those questions are addressed in our answers section. This guide covers the full tradition.

Jesus' teaching

The case for Christian nonviolence begins with Jesus himself. In the Sermon on the Mount, he explicitly rejects retaliation: “Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39).

He commands love for enemies (Matthew 5:44), rebukes Peter for drawing a sword in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:52), and goes to his death without resistance, praying for his executioners: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

For advocates of nonviolence, the pattern is clear: Jesus taught nonviolence, lived nonviolence, and died nonviolently. His followers are called to do the same. See our guide on what “turn the other cheek” actually means.

The early church witness

For the first three centuries of Christianity, the dominant position of the church was pacifist. Many early Christians refused military service. Church fathers like Origen, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria explicitly condemned killing, even in war.

“We who were filled with war, and mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have each through the whole earth changed our warlike weapons — our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into implements of tillage.”

— Justin Martyr, c. 160 AD

This began to change after Emperor Constantine's conversion in the 4th century, when Christianity became intertwined with state power. Augustine of Hippo developed the “just war” theory as a way of reconciling Christian ethics with the responsibilities of governance.

The Anabaptist and Mennonite tradition

When the Reformation swept Europe in the 16th century, a group of believers known as the Anabaptists argued that the Reformers had not gone far enough. They insisted on a return to the practices of the early church — including the rejection of violence.

The Mennonites, named after the Dutch leader Menno Simons, became the largest surviving Anabaptist community. They have maintained a consistent peace witness for nearly 500 years, refusing military service, practicing reconciliation within their communities, and building institutions for conflict resolution.

The Church of the Brethren and the Quakers (Society of Friends) share this commitment, forming what are sometimes called the “historic peace churches.”

The Catholic Worker movement

In 1933, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin founded the Catholic Worker movement, which combined radical Catholic social teaching with a commitment to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, and hospitality.

Day was a pacifist who opposed both World War II and the Vietnam War — positions that put her at odds with much of the American Catholic establishment. Yet she grounded her pacifism not in political ideology but in the Sermon on the Mount and the example of the saints.

Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, became another towering figure in Catholic nonviolence, connecting contemplative prayer with prophetic witness against war and the nuclear arms race.

Common objections

What about self-defense?

This is the most common objection to Christian nonviolence. Advocates of nonviolence generally respond that while self-defense is a natural instinct, Jesus calls his followers to a higher standard — one that trusts God with the outcome rather than relying on violence.

What about protecting the innocent?

Nonviolent Christians do not ignore injustice. They argue that there are always nonviolent means of protection and resistance — intervention, de-escalation, physical interposition, organized noncooperation, and prayer. History shows that nonviolent resistance is often more effective than violence at achieving lasting change.

Doesn't the Old Testament support violence?

The Old Testament contains many accounts of divinely sanctioned violence. Nonviolent Christians typically argue that Jesus represents the fullest revelation of God's character, and that his teaching supersedes the earlier commands. As the book of Hebrews puts it: “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2).

Nonviolence is not passivity

Christian nonviolence is often confused with doing nothing. But the greatest practitioners of nonviolence — Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Desmond Tutu — were anything but passive. They confronted evil directly. They suffered for it. And they changed the world. Read more about the difference between peace and passivity.

Nonviolence is not the absence of force. It is the refusal to use force that destroys. It is creative, courageous, and costly. As King wrote from a Birmingham jail: “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.”

Practical applications today

Christian nonviolence is not only about war. It applies to every area of life:

• Online discourse — choosing gentleness over outrage, listening over lecturing.
• Family conflict — responding to anger with patience, not retaliation.
• Community life — building institutions of reconciliation, not punishment.
• Inner life — practicing prayer before reaction, silence before speech.

If you want to explore the deeper roots of this tradition, read about the Catholic Peace Tradition or explore our Prayers for Peace.

Frequently Asked Questions