The question of non-violence is often controversial among Christians, but Christ’s
teachings offer clarity: “Those who live by the sword, will die by the sword.” Non-
violence, as Christ taught, goes beyond refraining from war or physical aggression. It
encompasses the thoughts and attitudes we hold—what we entertain in our minds and
how we feel toward ourselves and others.
The central argument is that true non-violence is holistic: it involves our actions, our
thoughts, and our attitudes. To practice non-violence, we must first understand its roots
within ourselves. Despite external challenges and safety concerns, non-violence
fundamentally begins internally. Christ’s words, “the kingdom of God is within,” reinforce
the central thesis that cultivating non-violence starts from within—first toward ourselves,
then toward others.
An attitude of healing, one of self-care and compassion, is the foundation. How we
speak to ourselves and what we do to promote peace in ourselves and our
surroundings are rudimentary to any hope of peace and non-violence extending beyond
the narrow limits of our immediate influence and attitude.
Yet it cannot go any further unless it begins within our hearts, minds, and emotions. For
our actions are nothing more than the embodiment of what is in our hearts, minds, and
how we feel about what we hold in our hearts that ruminates in our minds.
We should look at violence in its original form. Biazō, rare in the New Testament, means Biazomai means to press, exert force, or move forward. Usually, Biazō is understood in physical terms, but words and actions can be violent, too. The phrase applies here. Biazomai may mean making others feel excluded or ignored. There are incremental levels to how violence is demonstrated and how it seeps into our
lives. How we handle ourselves, what we eat and drink, how we perhaps neglect taking
care of ourselves, whether we believe our self-worth or value is less than others, or that
we distrust ourselves, etc. These are all emotional and mental ways of self-detriment, exerting violence
toward ourselves. The more we grow accustomed to these beliefs and behaviors, the easier it will be for
us to extend them toward how we interpret others and judge accordingly. Every war
starts in the imagination of children hurt by those they trusted or rejected by society.
Ignorance, pride, fear, and greed are taught. Nothing exists by itself. Ahimsa and
Shalom, terms used in Jainism and Judaism, respectively, to denote peace and
nonviolence, show that peace and nonviolence are born of individual belief and practice
and then extend outward into communities and the world. The main argument is that the
journey to non-violence starts with each person. This is why Christ says the world will
know us by our love. May this be true for us all—beginning today.
