I checked on one of my commonly used tags on WP and was aghast that the picture “randomly” grabbed to represent Christianity was that of the KKK. It turns out the guy was making a point about Nationalism being bad, but the truth is, if you don’t consider yourself a nationalist, then you are by default a globalist who marches to the drum beat of the spirit of the Age (Ephesians 2:2). Let us reason here. If God is upholding Israel, then it is not against God to be a nationalist granted you don’t kill or hate anyone.
I have been out of school for some time but generations upon generations are being taught something erroneous by way of perception. I say this mainly because in the words of Jesus Christ,
“…in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.”
John 16:2b-3
One from the world might say, “In context, Jesus only meant to say that to His apostles back then.” Context, context, understood, but not being able to remove the application means you will miss out on the relevance of the passage that pertains to your Christian walk. What happened to Christians then, is happening to Christians now. It is not some isolated case. It is a constant occurrence even until His return.
Countless times I hear famous people use the Crusades, the Inquisition and the KKK representative of Christianity to point out the “evils” done in the name of religion to support their arguments.
As we take the time to understand the verses above, it is talking about the true Christians being killed by the pseudo Christians. Just because somebody claims to be Christian (KKK), it does not make it true. Anyone killing anyone in “service to God” and most especially powered by pure hatred (1 John 3:15) clearly does not know God. What Jesus said is a clear disavowal of those who commit such evils.
“They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me”
They may have claimed to be, but they were certainly NOT Christians.
To the thinker:
Since Academia is unwilling to add “pseudo” preceding the word Christian in regards to the Templars, Salem Witch Trials and KKK in their textbooks, my hope is that you would consider thinking on the verses above. It points to accuracy.
True Christians have been besmirched way too long. They are not the oppressors. For most of history, they were and will continue to be the persecuted.
“You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”
Matthew 10:22
I agree with your explanation of John 16. I would like to add that Jesus was referring to the Jewish leaders at His time, once Jesus would ascend to heaven the Jewish leaders would start to kill and persecute the Christians. Basically, any religious group who follows suit, that text applies to them. The Scriptures have two interpretations philosophy. What does it means in context and how does it apply to one’s life now. Of course, the application has to fall in the meaning of its context not make it say something else. Anyways, just wanted to complement your good post.
Thank You!
Excellent post and additional info on the comment by Spainiard!
Thank you Elizabeth ヅ