Taking Jesus at His Word: What Jesus Really Said in the Sermon on the Mount

by Addison Hodges Hart

No baptized disciple during the first three centuries of Christian history was supposed to be either a soldier or a magistrate. Either one did things the world’s way, or one did things Jesus’ way. Intentionally distancing oneself from legal and military service to the world was one of the hard choices one was expected to make when choosing citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. Is it any wonder, then, that early Christians were soon distrusted and persecuted by the authorities of the Roman Empire? Peacemaking means working for other solutions in the affairs of the world than that of resorting to hostilities. The follower of Jesus is a practitioner and promoter of nonviolence, and normally should be uncooperative with every form of a nation’s “war effort.” If the cost to oneself is to be accused of lack of patriotism, so be it. Following Jesus means choosing his way without concession.