Tertullian and Non-Conformity

I recently sat in on a presentation about the N. African Patristic Theologian Tertullian by a friend named Tom Longenecker. Perhaps like me you are a bit unfamiliar with Tertullian. Well, his bio includes such distinctions as 1) being one of the first theologians to develop the concept of Trinity, 2) being deem by some to be a heretic because of his connection with the Donatists, and 3) is often cited as a church father who advocated pacifism and non-participation in the military in the early church (which is somewhat debatable).

Tom's presentation focused on #3. I don't have the time, energy, or ability to unpack Tom's research on Tertullian, but here's the jist of what he said - Tertullian is not necessarily pacifist as we would understand it today, and it's not even clear if Tertullian believed participation in war was immoral for a Christian. What is clear is that he was very concerned with the notion that Christians cannot serve two masters. In his context of Pax Romana, Tertullian saw how the Roman Empire was in competition with God because it demanded allegiance, devotion and subservience. Christians, he asserted, cannot serve two masters and the empire was (is) in competition with God. Thus, to support and participate in the empire is to commit idolatry.

So while it's hard to say if Tertullian was a "pacifist," it is safe to say that he is anti-empire. Christianity, for Tertullian, is a counter-cultural movement and it is our loyalty to Christ as Lord that determines if/how we participate with the nation-state.

I like this concept. It recognizes pacifism as an ideology like any other that can be co-opted, manipulated, and elevated as a false god just like militarism, socialism, the free market, etc. Being anti-empire is less of an ideology and more of a posture. It is broader than pacifism which is primarily concerned with the immorality of war. Being anti-empire involves all the ways in which the nation-state demands our loyalty and worship over-against god. It has implications for economics, class, race relations, gender, and more.

Essentially, violence and war is the way the empire protects and maintains the political, social, and religious status-quo. Tertullian is calling us to go deeper than just rejecting the protection of empire (all the while perhaps enjoying the benefits of being citizens of the empire). He's calling us to reject the very foundations and expectations of empire. He's calling us to be non-conformed. Why? Because we worship the living God, creator of the universe, prince of peace, the everlasting father. And he calls as to another way of living and another way of perceiving reality.