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Nonresistance

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of God, and accept the commands of the NT and the example of Christ as our rule for living. The NT forbids the Christian from retaliation and revenge but instead charges us to pray, bless, and do good to those who would harm us. We suffer the spoiling of our possessions for Christ's sake joyfully. We preach the Good News of the Gospel, which is a message of peace—reconciliation is possible between God and man. Jesus came not to resist and judge evil humanity, nor to set up an earthly government, but to willingly and peacefully lay down His life for His enemies. As followers of Christ, we are to follow His example so that our life becomes a living sermon, pointing to the life and works of Jesus. This is the purpose of non-resistance. Therefore, it is not a way of life to be foisted on those who are not the disciples of Jesus, because it is for the Church, a heavenly institution, established by God's redeeming grace. Nor do we expect it of the state, which is a worldly institution, functioning under God's conserving grace. The country is presently ordained by the sovereign God to carry the sword to keep order and execute the wrath of God, but nowhere in the NT are the Disciples of Jesus given a part in this service. We are called to walk as Jesus walked and to go into the nations, making disciples, teaching them his commands, and trusting in God for our protection. The state and the Church are two separate institutions, differing in their purpose, character, and destiny.
785:," etymologically, is he who makes himself a witness to his faith. And it is the ultimate testimony to one's faith to be ready to put it to practice even when one's very life is threatened. But the life to be sacrificed is not the enemy's life, but the martyr's own life – killing others is not a testimony of love, but of anger, fear, or hatred. For Tolstoy, therefore, a true martyr to Jesus' message would neither punish nor resist (or at least not use violence to resist), but would strive to act from love, however hard, whatever the likelihood of being crucified. He would patiently learn to forgive and turn the other cheek, even at the risk of death. Such would be the only way to eventually win the hearts and minds of the other camp and open up the possibilities for reconciliation in the " 198: 167: 590: 86: 197: 157:
movement was based on a belief in resistance that was active but at the same time nonviolent, and he did not believe in using non-resistance (or even nonviolent resistance) in circumstances where a failure to oppose an adversary effectively amounted to cowardice. "I do believe," he wrote, "that where
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The word "nonresistance" is taken from Matthew 5:39, "do not resist him who is evil." It is strictly a New Testament (NT) doctrine, intended for the followers of Jesus, with a specific purpose during this NT church age. When we submitted ourselves to Jesus as Lord, we became citizens of the Kingdom
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One soldier taunted an Indian by pretending to offer him his hatchet with the words, "Strike me dead!" When the man answered, "I strike no one dead!" the soldier swung at the Indian and "chopped his arm away." All the while, the Indian kept singing "until another blow split his
650:; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 37:) is "the practice or principle of not resisting authority, even when it is unjustly exercised". At its core is discouragement of, even opposition to, physical resistance to an enemy. It is considered as a form of principled 69:. While it is true that in particular instances (e.g., when threatened with arrest) practitioners in such movements might follow the line of non-resistance, such movements are more accurately described as cases of 45:
which rejects all physical violence, whether exercised on individual, group, state or international levels. Practitioners of nonresistance may refuse to retaliate against an opponent or offer any form of
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include rejection of the following civil practices (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:1–8): sue at law, lobby the government, hold government office, use the force of the law to maintain their "rights" .
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You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek,
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of the 16th century, became defined by its adherence to the doctrine of nonresistance, which they teach is found in the
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saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake near
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R. K. Prabhu & U. R. Rao, editors; from section "Between Cowardice and Violence," of the book
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Burial site of the Moravian Christian Indian Martyrs, who were murdered by U.S. militiamen in the
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Author James R. Graham wrote, "The Christian is not a pacifist, he is a non-participationist."
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were notable advocates of nonresistance. However, there were variations between them. Gandhi's
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Sometimes non-resistance has been seen as compatible with, even part of, movements advocating
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Graham, James R., Strangers and Pilgrims, The Church Press, Glendale, California n.d., p. 35
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The path shown by Jesus is a difficult one that can only be trod by true martyrs. A "
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The Doctrine of Nonresistance in Anabaptist Theology - Pilgrim Mennonite Conference
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there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence."
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Christian Non-Resistance in all its important bearings, illustrated and defended
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A main application of this theology for nonresistant Christians is to practice
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used the principle of nonresistance protest in Indian independence movement.
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The Courts and the Colonies: The Litigation of Hutterite Church Disputes
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has the right to execute punishments. Nonresistant Christians note that
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Tolstoy's Legacy for Mankind: A Manifesto for Nonviolence, Part 2
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Tolstoy's Legacy for Mankind: A Manifesto for Nonviolence, Part 1
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Peoples of the River Valleys: The Odyssey of the Delaware Indians
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traditionally has taught the principle of nonresistance. In the
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Conquest of Violence: The Gandhian Philosophy of Conflict
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Harrington, F.C.; Kerr, Florence; Watson, Carl (1946).
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Pentecostal and Holiness Statements on War and Peace
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Chapter 8. 985:Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom 956: 954: 952: 161: 1229: 932:participating institution membership 949: 24: 25: 1355: 998:The Kingdom of God is within you. 701:Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma) 118:during the religious troubles in 1230:Esau, Alvin J. (February 2005). 1169:University of Pennsylvania Press 960: 697:Emmanuel Association of Churches 588: 1212: 1203: 1185: 1163:Schutt, Amy C. (1 March 2013). 1131: 963:"The Doctrine of Nonresistance" 114:was later used to refer to the 1295:The Principle of Nonresistance 1062: 1049: 1036: 1006: 990: 977: 965:. Pilgrim Mennonite Conference 938: 897: 305:Separation of church and state 13: 1: 1252: 890: 808:, nonresistant practices of 767:Alexandre Christoyannopoulos 7: 1057:The Mind of Mohandas Gandhi 823: 300:Priesthood of all believers 10: 1360: 840:Christian Peacemaker Teams 489:Mennonite World Conference 280:Nonconformity to the world 80: 1234:. 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Index

Non-resistance
nonviolence
pacifism
self-defense
Anabaptist Christianity
social change
Mohandas Gandhi
Indian Independence
nonviolent resistance
civil resistance

Mahatma Gandhi
Anabaptist Christianity
Radical Reformation
Bible
Established Church
England
English Civil War
Protestant Succession
abolitionist
Leo Tolstoy
Adin Ballou
Mahatma Gandhi
Satyagraha

Gnadenhutten massacre
a series
Anabaptism
A 1685 illustration by Jan Luyken, published in Martyrs Mirror, of Dirk Willems saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake near Asperen in the present-day Netherlands
Jan Luyken

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