In Part 1 of how Christianity has been hijacked by terrorists, I introduced the idea that faith itself is not reason for the atrocities that man inflicts on his fellow man, but blind faith in the apparatus we call the State, or government.

People with faith in Christ are sometimes rebuked for rejecting reason, but reason has told us again and again that people with power are not to be trusted, no matter how many supposed “checks and balances” we try to weigh them down with.

Now we look at how the State uses Christian faith to reach it’s twisted goals, and not the other way around.

An Unholy Alliance

The fact that the biggest thugs and bullies in the world are the ones at the reigns of government was not lost on our Founding Fathers. It drove their thinking for the fundamental idea of a United States, each state being its own sovereign entity so each separate government could compete with each other.

The Federal government was set up as an arbiter between state matters. The second amendment also grew from this understanding, as a well-armed populace was held to weaken the stranglehold of a monopoly whose tendency was to grow in power, not shrink. Remember also the clean separation of church and state, where no religion could be sponsored as the national religion.

Yes, they knew the potential dangers very well.

As soon as Christianity seeks to use the weapons of the State and accept its embrace, the State enslaves it and twists its purpose. This is the tendency of the State in all things, so no one should be surprised that it happens in this case as well.

Throughout history, the State has welcomed this alliance with Christianity, because it allows them to justify their threats with a higher cause. Hence, the principle of the divine right of kings. Marx was, in this sense, correct when he said religion was the opiate of the masses.

I submit that it is this alliance for divine justification that is responsible for most of the major atrocities throughout history. Sweeping through Rome after the persecutions and then the consolidation of Constantine, landing in Europe for the Crusades and other horrors, and crossing the Atlantic to sink its teeth into new blood.

Christianity has played the harlot with the State, much like Israel played the harlot with other nations and idols.

It is to be blamed for being a whore, yes.

But the State shared her bed, then chewed her up and shackled her to the door to rape any remaining principles for its own gain. Which is the most evil in this scenario? Whores, after all, would not exist if there wasn’t a demand for them.

The Way Forward

Jesus was very clear as to how the kingdom should be spread; by turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, serving your neighbors. Getting in bed with the State throws these away and trades them for a gun.

And it opens modern Christianity up to reasoned attacks that it deserves.

Influencing the people around you in a positive way can create a ripple effect. A small, queer sect of Judaism in Palestine soon spread to the foot of the throne of the most powerful man in the world, and dared to say that there was another king.

And it didn’t happen through normal conquest or political action.

We have made the mistake of trusting men that are in power, seduced by the quick and easy benefits of their inherently violent methods. This has allowed them to hijack the movement. The controls must be wrestled back. This goes for America in general as well, but especially for Christians.

We must stop our love affair with the State before we find ourselves in chains once again. We must cure our blind faith in the State.

It’s time to turn our backs to the idol.

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