Page:Mennonite Handbook of Information 1925.djvu/79

 powers when called on. Others, such as Zwingli and Calvin, believed and practiced the noncombatant life when applying to aggressive warfare; but defensive warfare they claimed to be right.

Menno Simons held the position and taught his followers that carnal warfare, under all conditions and circumstances, was wrong, and in direct opposition to the teaching of the Bible. He boldly proclaimed that "Our weapons are not swords and spears .... true Christians know no vengeance, no matter ho'w they are maltreated."

Because of the diversity of opinions in many of the Protestant creeds, it has long become a difficult matter in time of war for the kingdom of force to discern the motives of believers who teach and practice the doctrine of absolute separation between Church and State.

It was Benjamin Franklin who said that "There never was a good war or a bad peace." Even in such light the Church stands entirely out of its element, when aiding or abetting war, or in lending assistance to the kingdom of force in executing its powers in resisting the works of the unrighteous.

Individuals high up in the affairs of civil life often fail utterly to understand the creed that holds it to be wrong for the Christian to stand up in defense of his own country. Because of thesfr'ccmditions it readily appears as to why its advocates are misunderstood, and find themselves classecllwith those who are friendly to the enemy and open traitors to their native country. In this way many well meaning people have become utterly blind to the fact that it requires more moral courage and real