Christianism

Yes I have decided to join the growing number of people that are making a distinction between Christians (followers of Jesus) and Christianists (those who use Christianity as a political force).

It seems that now the Christianists are out there burning Churches they don't agree with.  Sure they will break in and rescue the BIBLES, before they burn the buildings, since we can't let the Word of God be insulted.

Christ Church, Episcopal was burned after being robbed of Bibles, read about it here.

Caleb Uriah Lussier of Plymouth, Mass., is a student at the Word of Life Bible Institute.  Lussier confessed to removing the Bibles out of Christ Church and setting fire to it as at least one other Church. He also appears to have sent threatening letters to three churches in Plymouth, Mass.   

Just what do they teach there at "Word of Life"?  Is is a faith of love and self service to humanity or one of hate and attacking those who differ.  Any place can attract a weirdo, but it seems to me that the Right wing of the Christianists is getting more and more dangerous as time goes by.

So is this what the Christian Right is coming to? Home grown Terrorism? I don't see the gentle Shepherd from Nazareth at all in this act of arson.

What would Jesus do?  He already told us what to do. Pray for them that despitefully use us.

†  God, the Father of all, Whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in Your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before You; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Comments

[Tulsagentleman]

Michelle Goldberg has written a book, "Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism" that has attracted a lot of attention. It discusses the politicizing of conservative christianity. I think christianism would be a better word.

What galls me most is the idea that only those who share the radical conservative agenda are worthy to be called "Christians". To disagree is to admit to something very foul, even perhaps to being a "liberal" (shudder).

Even more appalling is the notion that the only alternative to such mindless literalism is to be an atheist. The love of God is boundless and makes room for lots of diverse expression.

[James]

MIT said:

" . . . it seems to me that the Right wing of the Christianists is getting more and more dangerous as time goes by."

I am not sure that people who act out in ways that are inconsistent with the witness of Christ and Scripture should be used to classify whole groups of people.

Furthermore, the left wing 'Christianists' are capable of doing just as much damage by moving away from the witness of Christ and Scripture so that they become undistinguishable from the culture surrounding them. Hence, the declining numbers in most 'liberal' denominations in America today.

At some point, Christians are going to have to open their eyes and realize that they have divided their allegiances to such an extent that they have failed to heed Jesus' call to count the cost of following him (cf. Luke 14:25-35).

As to the first commenter. I think a strong distinction needs to be made between the political Christian movement associated with the GOP, and conservative Christianity. Once Christianity enters into the political sphere, regardless of political party, it can no longer truly be called conservative, because the political parties dictate which aspects of Christianity should be embraced by their members.

Conservative Christianity seeks to conserve "the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 3). That task cannot be accomplished by being democrat or republican, but by being Christian alone.

[Monk-in-Training]

James,
You said it best:
"I think a strong distinction needs to be made between the political Christian movement associated with the GOP, and conservative Christianity."

That is EXACTLY my point with the word "Christianist" which I have avoided up until now.

Good, balanced conservative Christians would never even come up with this idea, but I tell you I have personally heard phrases of amazing violence uttered in a flippant manner all during the last election, and sadly some people seemed to have believed them.

[Reid]

It saddens my heart to have heard of this. The actions of those that would burn a church are sinful. I and my wife are both graduates from Word of Life Bible Institute (WOLBI). "Any place can attract a wierdo", you said. You are correct. But let me, from first hand experience, state that weirdos are few and far between at WOLBI. Unfortunately, their admissions staff and the school leadership provide a low standard for admissions. A general, "Yes, I am a Christian" suffices.

WOLBI is a great school. It is a 2-year program. The first year is demanding but excellent. The second year (when I attended) was lacking the same rigor the first year demanded. Perhaps it has improved.

It is my prayer that all would recognize their need for a Savior. The bible clearly tells us that all sin and are therefore doomed to hell. (Romans 3:23, 6:23)

The Gospel (the Greek word actually means 'good news') is that, although we are doomed to hell for sinning (doing anything that is not done for God's glory... even the 'good' things like helping an old lady across the street) we can be saved or delivered from that horrible judgement if we sincerely repent and believe. Repent from what? believe in what? Repent from doing everything for yourself and not for God (sin), and believe/trust in Christ's payment for sin (death on the cross) on your behalf. (Acts 20:21)

Christ verified His sacrifice by resurrecting on the third day.

If you have more questions, please feel free to email me.

[Mark]

I'm in fact a Roman Catholic (of the so-called "liberal" variety.) And in trying, at age 77, to further distinguish WHO I am, among categories &/or disciplines, I look back on my past history. Having been a fellow-traveller with Dorothy Day's Catholic Worker Movement (though never willing to adopt voluntary poverty as a condition of my loose association) I am much in favor of Christian political action. However, deriving my inspiration from the left side of the spectrum, I wonder what label suits me? I believe in the Church taking a powerful antiwar stance. I believe that the Church (hopeless in most of the RC Church) needs to be morally inclusive. And while no great fan of abortion, I enter my better concern, and that is that the RC Church and the Christian community in general, be more concerned for the welfare of young women who are dealing with the misery of having to make reproductive choices. When once asked if I should leave the RC communion, I replied that I had as much right to remain as the Pope does. I like being an infighter, though I hardly fit the profile of a crank. I am a clinical psychologist (have been since receiving my doctorate in 1955. And I taught future psychologists as well as practicing ones for as long as my memory holds.) who has had real doubts about psychological testing as a means of screening clergy. Too much space. But I'm delighted to have discovered this site.