“…Christianity means no sword, no cannon, no bloodshed…”
Charles Spurgeon is a household name among evangelical Christians. “The Prince of Preachers”, as they call him, was a prolific writter, and delivered thousands of sermons, much of which are collected and bound.
A lesser known fact about Spurgeon, and his messages, is that he was staunchly anti-war. The man that is prided for his unwavering boldness, was what the American church would refer to today as a wimp and a “pacifist”, in the most derogitory definition.
Take this great quote, of his description of the Christian in the context of war, as a clear example of his position on the matter:
“We are up to the hilt advocates of peace, and we earnestly war against war. I wish that Christian men would insist more and more on the unrighteousness of war, believing that Christianity means no sword, no cannon, no bloodshed, and that, if a nation is driven to fight in its own defense, Christianity stands by to weep and to intervene as soon as possible, and not to join in the cruel shouts which celebrate an enemy’s slaughter. Let us always be on the side of right. Today, then, my brethren, I beg you to join with me in seeking renewal.”*
For additional context, I invite you to do some historical digging into what was going on in Europe during the delivery of such an enormus statement. During 1880, Britain was several years into a war with, and in, Afghanistan to gain control over a land as a geopolitical upperhand against Russia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Anglo-Afghan_War
*From: Charles Spurgeon’s Annual Conference Addresses at the Pastors College, [SIXTEENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Spring 1880], and http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/aarm05.htmAn All-Round Ministry, Chapter 5 “A New Departure”
________________________
Find it on 
