The Brethren in Christ maintain a historic peace witness rooted in their Anabaptist heritage. Military service is discouraged, and the denomination affirms pacifism—the conviction that Christians should not kill in war, self-defense, or other contexts.

The theological basis for this position is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), particularly Jesus's command to "love your enemies" and "turn the other cheek." Christians are called to follow Christ's example of nonviolent resistance and substitutionary love. Violence and coercion contradict the way of the cross.

The Brethren in Christ have a long history of supporting conscientious objectors (those who refuse military service on conscience grounds). Members drafted during wartime were encouraged to seek alternative service or to refuse military conscription. This commitment to pacifism and nonresistance is central to the denomination's identity and witness.