Military service is rejected; nonresistance is a core Hutterite conviction
Hutterites are committed pacifists. Military service — involving weapons, violence, and killing — is incompatible with the Hutterite understanding of following Jesus and with the community's identity as a peaceful colony of the Kingdom of God. Nonresistance is one of the most fundamental and non-negotiable Hutterite convictions, rooted in the Sermon on the Mount and in the community's tradition of suffering nonviolently under persecution.
During World War I, Hutterite colonies in the United States faced severe persecution for refusing military service — property was seized, colonies were broken up, and members suffered imprisonment and abuse. This experience accelerated the migration of most Hutterite colonies to Canada. The conviction against military service remains absolute in all Hutterite groups.
Key Distinctions
- Official stance:
- pacifist — military service is incompatible with Christian discipleship
- Theological basis:
- Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38-44); love of enemies; non-resistance
Scripture References
Sources
- Peter Riedemann, Rechenschaft (1542), Article on the Sword
- John Hofer, The History of the Hutterites (1988)