When we use doctrinal statements to determine the eternal destiny of other people—which is something only Jesus should do—it is not long before we get the idea that if a person is reprobate and a heretic, it is better to send them on their way to hell, then to let them stick around and lead others astray.
Such thinking was actually evident in the apostles of Jesus before the church even began. At one point in the ministry of Jesus, the people of a Samaritan village rejected Jesus. The Jews didn’t really like the Samaritans anyway, and the disciples became incensed that the village had turned them away.
So two of the disciples, James and John, asked Jesus if they could call down fire from heaven to consume and destroy the town and everybody in it (Luke 9:54). They figured that if people didn’t act like them, look like them, and believe like them, they were under the curse of God and were fit only to be destroyed.
The response of Jesus is telling. Not only does He not give them permission to call down fire from heaven, but He rebukes such an attitude! He says, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of! For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:55-56).
Burning people for rejecting Jesus does not reflect His heart.
We can extrapolate this out, and also say that calling people stupid, dumb, foolish, or ignorant for believing something different than we do, also does not reflect the heart of Jesus for all people. Nor does trying to ruin their lives, get them fired from their jobs, destroy their incomes, or pray for their demise. To repeat the words of Jesus, those who act this way do not know what manner of spirit they are of.
And yet such a spirit of hatred and destruction of others has been the modus operandi for the church since almost day one.
We will look at some of this bloody history tomorrow.
I wonder how many Christians have been burned (literally and figuratively) because they were loosely branded a heretic? Or, I wonder how many non-believers were killed by the Christian sword because they didn’t share the same ideology as they? Are we seeing this same mineset in today’s clash of world ideologies (i.e. Muslim world vs Western world) in the form of war and jihad?
Greg,
I wonder the same thing. It would be an interesting report to read. I do think that our modern war on Muslim countries is somewhat similar. There are social, political and economic factors also, but the constant reminder from some in our pulpits and media that true Muslims are extremist Muslims makes me wonder what is really going on.
I can do just about anything I like and say I’m doing it in the name of Christ (or Buddha or Allah or whoever). It doesn’t mean that Christ told me to do it. I may be disillusioned, mentally ill, or just plain trying to hide my bad behavior behind religion.
Nasty, evil people do nasty things and try to blame it on Jesus, which makes them even nastier and more evil, in my opinion.
Sam,
Yes. If people want to do something evil, they should just do it, rather than claiming Jesus told them to, or by trying to make it seem not so bad because they are doing it for Jesus.
Like you say, this makes an evil action more evil.
Ah yes, the sons of thunder mentality
That’s right! Wanting to call down fire on others.