At first sight it would appear a most reasonable stance for evangelical Christians. I do not have any figures but my personal discussions with believers suggest that pacifism is a minority view.
The primary issue is whether or not "we are loving our neighbour by killing him." To state this in vacuo is highly simplistic as we may not be loving a third party neighbour who is being slaughtered by the first.
I failed pacifism myself after a conversation with one such. He was asked what he would do if he saw an innocent person being attacked by a man of violence. His reply was that he would remonstrate with the aggressor. I then asked what force he would use if and when this failed. He said he would continue to argue with the attacker and would use force under no circumstances. There is nothing of God in this.
The Society of Friends -Quakers - are a pacifist group but are so willing to reject the Scriptures with their extreme liberal Christianity; an excellent organisation at its founding now borders on being a cult.
The conscientious objector is surely more to be respected. "I will not fight in or support this war. This war is wrong." That person has then used judgement, weighed the pros and cons and in the case of Christians, tested it against Scripture.
Let us never forget that peacemakers are to be blessed. I may not be a pacifist but shall pray for peace and seek to find it - just not at any cost.
Most Christians are interested in the concept of a war being 'just' and would hopefully refuse to fight should it fail that test.
