The Family / Children of God

Our Stance Against Physical Violence

Position and Policy Statement

                Issued by World Services on the collective behalf of the fellowship of independent missionary communities commonly referred to as The Family

                IN RECENT YEARS there have been a number of highly publicized violent incidents involving several small religious organizations, which have resulted in injury and a tragic loss of life. These events have been a source of concern for the general public and law enforcement officials, as well as friends and families of members of many minority religions. To clearly answer any questions regarding our own beliefs and stance concerning such incidents of violence, we wish to make the following statements:

                1. The Family is nonviolent. We believe that human life is sacred, and each person should be respected as an individual created in the image of God. It is our belief that God's love is the solution to all of man's problems even in such a complex, confused and highly complicated society as that of today. As Christians, our duty is to "love our neighbor as ourselves" [1], by sharing the news of God's love and salvation for humanity. As such, we deplore the tragic loss of life through acts of violence, more so when religious beliefs are cited as a cause or justification for such acts. We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have died in these incidents, and it is our earnest prayer that tragedies of this sort can be avoided in the future.

                2. The Family has always abhorred the use of violence, and we have never condoned the use of firearms or other weapons as a means of settling disputes. Rather than rely on physical force or weaponry, our founder, David Brandt Berg (1917-1994) consistently advised us to rely primarily on God, and secondarily on the police and civil authorities, for needed protection from hostile forces. We have advised our communities against the possession of firearms.

                3. The only situations in which we feel the use of force may be justified are in cases of self-defense, the defense of loved ones and property. This would only apply if the threat was clearly an illegal one, and all other options had failed. We do not espouse any means of self-defense prohibited by law. Any violent acts, other than self-defense or the defense of others or property, are punishable by excommunication as per the Family's "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights."

                4. The Family has always advocated respect for and compliance with officers of the law engaged in the performance of their duties. We have never and do not approve of obstructing such officers. We adhere to the Scriptural admonition which states that they are "the ministers of God, who bear not the sword in vain." [2]

                5. The Family has never sanctioned, much less promoted suicide as an acceptable act in the eyes of God. We believe that life is a precious gift from God, and as the sole giver of life, God is likewise the only appropriate taker of life. (Please see our Statement on this topic, entitled, "Suicide — A Tragedy, Not a Solution.")

                6. The attempts of anti-religious activists, commonly known as the anti-cult movement (ACM), to exploit tragic events such as the Waco tragedy or the Aum Shinrikyo or Heaven's Gate incidents, is a cause of great concern. By lumping all small and/or non-traditional religious groups together — despite the great diversity of beliefs and practices held by new religions — anti-religious activists' attempt to label and stigmatize all non-traditional religious groups as "destructive cults" capable of violent antisocial acts. We decry such broad generalizations, which can only foster intolerance, bigotry and hatred.

                By the same token, any small religious group that professes a belief that we are living in the last days before Christ's return has been labeled by the ACM as an "apocalyptic cult," and therefore "destructive" or "prone to suicide." However, it should be noted that millions of sincere law-abiding Christians worldwide hold to the Biblical account of the troublous times that will come upon the earth, known in the Bible as the "Great Tribulation," followed by the return of Christ to establish an eternal Kingdom of love and peace. According to a recent Associated Press poll, nearly one out of every four Christian adults in the United States -- an estimated 26.5 million people — expect Jesus to arrive in their lifetimes. Nearly as many — an estimated 21.1 million Americans — are so sure of it that they feel an urgent need to convert their friends and neighbors. And nearly 40% of all Christians expect Jesus to arrive in the 21st century or sooner.

                7. The sporadic incidents of suicide or violence by members of small religious groups have brought calls in some countries for registration and closer monitoring of all religions with beliefs considered unorthodox by the state or larger established religions. However, these calls should be balanced against the tradition of religious freedom in free and just societies. We believe that the gathering of information by qualified academics, the use of common sense, and enforcement of existing legislation are sufficient to ensure this balance; and that further action or stricter legislation by the state will result in stripping its citizens of their basic human rights of religious freedom.

                In conclusion, it is our hope and prayer that the world will see an end to tragic acts of violence, the result of man's inhumanity to man, which provoke such devastating losses to families and loved ones. We have devoted our lives to the service of God and fellow man, in the hopes of making a positive difference in the world, aiding the needy and preaching the message of God's love and salvation to many.

Quotations from David Berg and Maria David

                THE FOLLOWING DIRECT QUOTES are taken from the writings of our founder, David Berg, and his wife and successor, Maria David.

A. Physical nonviolence is our rule.

                Following is a clause from "Offenses Warranting Excommunication" in the Family's governing "Charter of Responsibilities and Rights" (adopted in April 1995), which clearly states our policies regarding violence:

                "H. Charter members will be excommunicated for committing violent, intentionally endangering, or life-threatening acts, except in defense of self, others, or Family property.

                "Family members should not be violent or commit any life-endangering acts for any reason, except in the rare case of trying to defend themselves or others, or Family property. For example, you are allowed to commit a violent act if someone is about to bash you — or any innocent helpless person for that matter — over the head with a bat, or is trying to grab your children or set fire to your property, etc.

                "This 'committing violent acts' clause also covers violence with one's mate or children. If a Family member were to become violent with their mate or children, they would face excommunication. If, however, a mate was defending himself or herself from spousal violence, then it could be judged a matter of self-defense and not necessarily grounds for excommunication."

B. We are even opposed to mock violence.

                "Question [from a Family member]: We have two boys in the Home, aged 13 and 7. What is [David Berg's] opinion on kids playing with toy soldiers and pretend guns in the house?"

                "Answer: We forbid it in ours! Ours have never had a toy gun or played anything but a Roman or Christian soldier in Bible skits! Why should they want to? We should abhor violence even pretended in play! Why should you let them even play bad behavior?" [3]

C. We believe in protecting our Homes, but not with deadly weapons.

                "I believe in protecting our Homes, and Jesus Himself said, 'A strong man armed keeps his goods in peace.' [4] Well, we're not armed in the way of arms as the world thinks of them, 'Our weapons are not carnal, but are mighty through God to the tearing down of strongholds [5],' and certainly to the protection of this house, God willing. It's illegal in many countries for us to bear arms. Though we can't bear arms, we can put bolts on the doors and then we can expect the Lord to do the rest to protect us." [6]

D. Our regard for the authorities:

                "The Lord Himself approves of armed forces [military and police] in the 13th chapter of Romans! It says we are to 'obey the power,' which is the government, because He calls the officers of the law 'ministers of God' three times, and [says] that they 'bear not the sword in vain.' Therefore they're supposed to use it if people refuse to do right and refuse to live in peace and refuse to obey! The officer of the law is supposed to use his weapon! (Maria: And that's what the Bible considers the government, the force that has the arms to keep things under control.) The power, which is the government, they are supposed to keep the peace, and that's what the Lord's Word says they're supposed to do. They're here for our protection, for our good, and we're supposed to obey them so that we can have peace. (Maria: That's their part of the contract, to keep the peace.)—Yes." [7]

                Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9).

                (Our Stance Against Physical Violence was first published March 1993 and updated November 1998.)

Notes:

                [1] Matthew 22:39

                [2] Romans 13:4

                [3] ML #1566:83; 1983  (The references after each quotation indicate the specific article and paragraph number from their writings that is being quoted, as well as the year of publication.)

                [4] Luke 11:21

                [5] 2 Corinthians 10:4,5

                [6] ML #2037:134; 1985

                [7] ML #2242:24; 1986

Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family