Has Christianity Caused Wars?

1
Has Christianity Caused Wars?
2
Fact of History

• Different factions of Christianity have caused
• Trouble
• War
• Suffering

However we shall see that the Bible is not to be
blamed
3
Overview

• We will show
• First few centuries of Christianity
• Politicians replaced Bible as authority in church
• Belief practice were guided by politicians -
  not the Bible

The suffering caused by Christianity is a result
of politics NOT the Bible message
4
The Teaching of Jesus

• You have heard that it was said, An eye for an
  eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not
  to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you
  on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
• Matthew 5 v 38 and 39

5
The Teaching of Jesus

• You have heard that it was said, You shall love
  your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say to
  you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
  you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for
  those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
• Matthew 5 v 43,44

6
The Teaching of the Apostles

• Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good
  things in the sight of all men. If it is
  possible, as much as depends on you, live
  peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge
  yourselves, but rather give place to wrath
• Romans 12 v 17

7
The Teaching of the Apostles

• See that no one renders evil for evil to
  anyone,but always pursue what is good both for
  yourselves and for all.
• 1 Thessalonians 515

8
The Teaching of the Apostles

• Finally, all of you be of one mind, having
  compassion for one another love as brothers, be
  tender hearted, be courteous not returning evil
  for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the
  contrary blessing
• 1 Peter 38,9

9
Summary

• Jesus Christ said that his followers should
• Show love to all
• Live as peacefully as is possible
• Not resist aggressors

As the church developed, this principle was
taught by the founders of Christianity
10
The Origin of Christianity

• And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I
  do with the man you call the King of the Jews?"
  And they cried out again, "Crucify him." And
  Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he
  done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify
  him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd
  released for them Barabbas, and having scourged
  Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
  
• Mark 1512,13

11
1st Century Persecution

• And they arrested them Peter John and put
  them in custody until the next day, for it was
  already evening.
• Acts 43
• and when they had called in the apostles, they
  beat them and charged them not to speak in the
  name of Jesus, and let them go.
• Acts 540

12
1st Century Persecution

• But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and
  having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and
  dragged him out of the city, supposing that he
  was dead.
• Acts 1419
• Up to this word they listened to him. Then they
  raised their voices and said, "Away with such a
  fellow from the earth! For he should not be
  allowed to live."
• Acts 2222

13
Bible Teaching

• Whoever does not love does not know God, because
  God is Love
• 1 John 48

Why then has Christianity Caused so much Trouble
?
14
Church and State

• Constantine accepted the new Faith. Emperor
  worship may now have ceased, but even a Christian
  emperor could not shed the concept that he was
  the fountain of religion. He declared himself to
  be the thirteenth apostle and sat as chairman of
  the Council of Nicea, which established Christian
  doctrine. This set a precedent for the control of
  the church by the state.
• World History Geddes Grosset

15
Church and State

• The emperor maintained Constantines position
  at the head of the church. Patriarchs, bishops
  and priests lay under his power. Emperors decided
  doctrine and mercilessly persecuted many of their
  subjects who held heretical beliefs..
• World History Geddes Grosset

16
Beliefs Guided by Politicians

• Meanwhile important decisions, particularly the
  definition of doctrine, were made by the
  assembled clergy. Theoretically these councils
  represented the voice of the Church, but in
  practice Christianity as the state religion was
  often subject to imperial constraint.
• Times Atlas of World History

17
Beliefs Guided by Politicians

• Constantine and his successors discovered that
  religious unity was difficult to achieve. They
  were repeatedly drawn by personal conviction and
  by political necessity to try to preserve the
  unity of Catholic Christianity, especially when
  serious disputes broke out in the fourth and
  fifth centuries concerning the nature of Christ
  and the nature of the Trinity.
• The Medieval Church a brief history

Personal conviction political necessity became
more important than Bible teaching
18
Christian Doctrine Changed

• Origen, an early 3rd-century theologian, argued
  that the millennium (I.e. Christs reign on earth
  as King for 1000 years) should be interpreted
  allegorically others attempted to eliminate
  Revelation from the canon altogether (the Eastern
  church succeeded)
• When Christianity became the official state
  religion, millenarianism was pushed to the very
  margins of acceptable Christian thought.
  
• Encyclopaedia Britannica
  Online

19
Pope Gregory VII

• Rome April 1075
• Pope Gregory VII published Dictatus Papae
• He believed he had ultimate authority
• That he the pope alone may use the imperial
  insignia
• That he may depose emperors
• That he himself may be judged by no one

In Gregorys view the papacy was a governmental
institution backed by laws
20
The Crusades

• The Pope declared that Christian kings had a
  right to conquer heathen lands. Some Catholic
  friars and, later, Jesuits did identify with the
  cause of the native people, but even their
  mission stations were instruments of colonial
  control...
• In 1095 the Byzantine emperor appealed to the
  pope for assistance against the Turks. The pope
  answered the call by preaching a Holy War.
• Geddes Grosset World History

Bible principle of non aggression not very much
in evidence
21
Trouble Caused by Christianity

• The Crusades 1095 - 1242
• Reformation
• Persecution of heretics
• Henry VIII 1509 1547
• Church of England split from Rome
• Catholics v Protestants
• Spanish Armada
• Gunpowder Plot
• Present day troubles in Ireland

Factions of the church which had left true
Christianity behind
22
Translation of the Bible
23
William Tyndale 1494 - 1536

• Common Bible in Latin
• Tyndale was a scholar
• Translated Bible into English
• Persecuted, hunted down
• Burnt at stake as a heretic

Trouble caused again by mainstream Christianity
24
Where we are today

• The Bible has remained unchanged

25
True Christianity

• True Christians should show love to all people
• Today true believers worldwide
• Still accept Bible teaching
• Try to follow teachings of Jesus as best as they
  can

The suffering caused by popular Christianity
must not be blamed on the Bible