Documentary explores Christian attitudes to war and peace

J.E.S.U.S.A., the gripping new documentary film from writer and director Kevin Miller, explores the different ways that Christians have either justified or rejected the use of violence.

For the first 15 minutes or so, a brisk series of interviews present very strong voices who rationalize the use of violence by Christians.

The documentary bills itself as “an in-depth exploration of the relationship between Christianity and American nationalism and the violence that emerges from it.” But really it is much more than that.

The true heart of the film lies in its diligent effort to understand what Jesus is actually asking of his disciples when it comes to peacemaking and loving our enemies.

The connection of this question with American nationalism is most explicit in those opening interviews, where various American voices are shown celebrating gun ownership and military action.

But this initial portrait of an America with a seemingly unified commitment to violence sets up something much better. An unexpectedly interesting consideration of nonviolence ensues, applicable to any Christian in any nation.

The greatest strength of the film thus lies in its unusually serious effort to get viewers to rethink their own attitudes towards violence. Do we need to use force in a brutal world?

Because the film is scrupulously fair to all sides of the issue, it can appeal to all sorts of viewers.

Although the movie runs for an hour and a half, it consistently entertains the viewer with a succession of passionate arguments and keen observations.

A commitment to peace is central to Christianity, but many Christians struggle to make sense of how to live this. They have learned rationalizations for violence their whole life without ever hearing an adequate presentation of real alternatives.

It is thus useful for the film to begin by highlighting the problem of violence, showing how it is culturally embedded in the American psyche. But most exciting is how in real time it dialogically works out a compelling theology of nonviolence.

“Through interviews with a diverse group of scholars, pastors, historians, and activists, this film shows how specific readings of the Bible have led many Christians to confuse their devotion to Jesus with their dedication to the state,” says the film’s promotional material, making clear the filmmaker’s aims:

“The film helps viewers rediscover and restore long-held Christian beliefs regarding nonviolence, inspiring Christians to become purveyors of peace rather than enablers of conflict and violence.”

It is difficult for a documentary to sustain viewer interest for an hour and a half. Yet Kevin Miller pulls off a narrative miracle, editing together his multiplicity of interviews into a spiritually engaging, intellectually rewarding journey.

Near the end of the film, only one detail failed to convince me in the moment, as the quick pacing moved to wrap things up. A number of voices for peacemaking said they were content not to judge others who felt the need to use force to protect people: for example, in law enforcement or government.

I initially wished some voices would then have addressed the obvious criticism that could then be made of those who wish to live an uncompromising witness to nonviolence.

Namely, isn’t this “non-judgmentalism” a highly compromising admission that the advocates of nonviolence are in fact hypocritical and inconsistent? Don’t they live their comfy, self-righteous lives only by outsourcing the hard work to others who are willing to get their hands dirty with violence?

Upon later reflection, I was able to resolve this apparent difficulty, and happy for the way the film had nudged me to think the matter over more deeply.

The gentle acceptance of action that directly intends only self-defence but not harm, as well as the forgiveness of illegitimate uses of force, is integral to the way of nonviolence.

In the same way that God gave Abraham killing a ram as a substitute for killing Isaac, God also educates humans to attenuate what violence they feel they must do, as a way of weaning them off violence.

Similarly, we can patiently work to change hearts in the difficult circumstances of a violent world that has instilled in all of us a violent mentality.

While it is thus understandable why a police officer uses violence to prevent the evils of even greater violence from breaking out, such action is still only an imperfect and stopgap measure, since it falls short of a healing inner transformation of violent hearts.

The perfect path is the nonviolent way of Jesus, who continues to inspire many to actualize our deepest human potential for peace.