Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 75:298 (Apr 1918)
Article: The Christian Attitude Toward War
Author: John Elliott Wishart

BSac 75:297 (Jan 1918) p. 171

The Christian Attitude Toward War

John Elliott Wishart

Perhaps the most consistent pacifist, in theory and practice, that ever lived, was Count Tolstoi. He was a man of genius, big and elemental in his nature. In studying his New Testament he made a discovery, namely, the command, “Resist not evil.” It seemed to him fundamental. It became the basis of his thinking.

“These words, ‘Resist not evil,’ when I understood their significance, were to me the key that opened all the rest. Then I was astonished that I had failed to comprehend words so clear and precise. Whatever injury the evil-disposed may inflict upon you, bear it, give all that you have, but resist not. Could anything be more clear, more definite, more intelligible than that? I had only to grasp the simple and exact meaning of these words, just as they were spoken, when the whole doctrine of Jesus, not only as set forth in the Sermon on the Mount, but in the entire gospels, became clear to me; what had seemed contradictory was now in harmony; above all, what had seemed superfluous was now indispensable. Each portion fell into harmonious unison and filled its proper part, like the fragments of a broken statue when adjusted in harmony with the sculptor’s design. In the Sermon on the Mount, as well as throughout the whole gospel, I found everywhere affirmation of the same doctrine, ‘Resist not evil.’ ”1

Taking this guiding principle, he proceeded relentlessly to draw the conclusions that logically followed. The business of

BSac 75:297 (Jan 1918) p. 172

a soldier is to resist evil, and stands therefore self-condemned. The work even of governors and judges is of essentially the same nature and comes under the same censure. The exhortation, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matt. 7:1), he interpreted as having reference to the courts. “It would seem then that Jesus denounced judicial institutions. Perhaps (I said) Jesus never had anything to do with courts of justice, and so did not think of them. But I saw that such a theory was not tenable. Jesus, from his childhood to his death, was concerned with the tribunal of Herod, of the Sanhedrim! and of the High Priests. I saw that Jesus must have regarded courts of justice as wrong.”2 Thus the whole idea of opposing wrong by force was rejected.

I shall not attempt any further presentation of Tolstoi’s views. He seems to have been a great and good man, honestly trying to apply the principles of the gospel, as he understood them, to the conditions of his own life. Obviously his task was not an easy one. Brought...