In 1994, the Hutu people in Rwanda instigated a mass killing that claimed the lives of at least 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, yet more than 80 percent of the population of Rwandan population considered themselves Christian. In his book, “Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda,” Timothy Longman asserts that Rwandan churches were not merely passive bystanders but were often involved in the promotion of certain ethnic or political agendas. Similarly, Eric Johnson — author of “Nazi Terror: The Gestapo, Jews, and Ordinary Germans” — claims 94 percent of Germans considered themselves Christians prior to World War II, and many churches saw ministers promote the Nazi Party from the pulpit weekly.

Jesus discouraged violence

What is the problem here? Christians are supposed to be peacemakers, yet some of the worst atrocities of recent history have been committed by self-proclaimed Christians. The problem is not that Christians who aren’t actively involved in peacemaking are tantamount to Nazis. Rather, the problem, I suggest, is that believers have based their identity more in their national, ethnic or sociopolitical status than in their calling as members of Christ’s kingdom.

“My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus said to Pilate before being sentenced to crucifixion in John 18:36. If it were, Jesus continues, “my servants would fight.” The Jews were expecting and hoping for a military messiah to save them from an oppressive and tyrannical empire. But the kingdom of Jesus was not to respond to conflicts as the world did. When Peter struck a guard in Gethsemane, Jesus healed the guard and rebuked Peter. Jesus was doing more than protecting the necessity of his death, for he also gave Peter a principle in Matthew 26:52: “All who take the sword shall perish by the sword.” Can there be a more justified reason to commit violence than to defend the life of our Savior?

Resisting evil and doing good

Paul’s message in Romans 12 concurs with this thrust of the kingdom of God. “Bless those who persecute you.” “Repay no one evil for evil,” and always seek to “live peaceably with all.” “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.”

Rather than repay evil with evil, Jesus commands us in Matthew 5:39 not to “resist the one who is evil.” In his book “Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way,” Walter Wink explains that the word for “resist” here refers to two armies meeting in battle. So in essence, Jesus is teaching to refrain from fighting against the evildoer. “But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Rather than partaking in the aggressor’s violence, Jesus prescribes us not to flee but to firmly offer the other cheek to be struck — to lovingly display the aggressor’s injustice. In this way, Jesus teaches both self-sacrificing love for enemies and defense of human dignity against injustice.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” Paul says in Romans 12:21, contrasting the church with the state, for which, he says in the following chapter, God has a different purpose. And Jesus tells us in Luke 6:26-28, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

Militarism and Christian worldview clash

The various kingdoms of the world respond to problems with force, building up expansive militaries to defend themselves or promote their interests. Militaries exist to defend a country or cause through violence, and each of their members work to serve that purpose. Enemies, to kingdoms of this world, are not to be loved and blessed but dissociated and defeated. Many well-intentioned Christians in America have been seduced by the security and national supremacy afforded by militarism. It is commonplace for Christians, convinced by their patriotism, to join the military and serve in the infantry. I submit that this convention is the result of our national identity overriding our calling as followers of Christ.

Christ’s kingdom, unlike any nation or government, is not of this world. Through the renewal of our minds, Jesus calls us to leave behind our old ways and join an otherworldly kingdom of love and peace, no matter what the personal cost might be.