Are You A Christian?

Wait before you answer! Tell the truth, but be careful.

Christians began the Holy Wars - - the Crusades.

Christians were responsible for the Spanish Inquisition.

Christians in England persecuted the Puritans and the Quakers.

Christian Puritans in America persecuted non-Puritans.

Christians burned Joan of Arc and other “witches.”

Christians brought syphilis to the Americas.

Christians then took syphilis to Hawaii and Polynesia.

Christians set up Apartheid in South Africa.

Christian Virginia had a death penalty for missing church three times.

Christian ships brought slaves to America.

Christians bought, sold, and abused those slaves.

Christian Germans ran the concentration camps under Hitler.

Christians in Eastern Europe were engaged in ethnic cleansing.

Every member of the KKK is a Christian.

Are you sure you want to be associated with these “Christians?”

There is one more. Once upon a time, I went to church with a friend. She introduced me to her pastor who immediately asked me if I was a Christian. This is not a question to be taken lightly. I hesitated. After all, I was under the impression that everyone there was a Christian, or they wouldn’t be there. The discussion went down hill from there. I ended up telling him that I did not need to go to church to be told I was going to Hell, I could go to any bar and find a drunk to tell me that.

In my opinion, none of the above were Christian. But then, that makes me just as bad as that pastor. Perhaps worse, I know better.

Tell the truth. Do not claim to be a Christian while performing an act that Christ would not do or would not have you do.

By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Footnotes:
1. Matthew 7:16

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