Dangerous “Christianity”

Is Christianity dangerous? The very question might seem absurd. After all, Christianity promotes loving your neighbor, turning the other cheek, and showing mercy to your enemies. How could that be dangerous?

But in recent years, there has been a growing narrative that long-standing, Christian traditions are not beneficial for society—and may even be actively harmful. If you have lived a few decades, you’ve likely noticed this shift, and it has been shocking. According to this narrative, Christianity is not inclusive, compassionate, or keeping up with the times, nor is it on the “right side of history.” The list of criticisms goes on.

Yet Bible-based traditions have for centuries formed the backbone of Western civilization. Considering that Jesus Christ taught mercy, love, and consideration for our neighbors, how did Christianity become seen as the enemy? What has caused this extreme change in how the world’s most widespread religion is perceived by so many?

Cultural shifts don’t occur overnight or in a vacuum. There are reasons for the dramatic changes we’ve observed in society—and for the growing trend of hostility against Christianity. What should we make of this trend? Why is it happening? And, more importantly, what should we do about it? The answers are not obvious—but they are biblical.

Rising Persecution Against Christianity

Though some consider Christianity to be dangerous, there’s no question that Christianity itself is under attack. Around 2.5 billion people worldwide call themselves Christians, and 365 million of them live in nations where they experience “high levels of persecution or discrimination,” according to Christianity Today (“The 50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus in 2024,” January 17, 2024).

It’s easy to disregard this if we live comfortably in the Western world, far removed from such persecution, enjoying much more freedom. But there are signs that those freedoms are eroding, even in the West—and greater persecution may well be on the horizon.

In Canada, some lawmakers are pushing legislation that would redefine hate speech more loosely than ever before. In Scotland, such legislation has already been passed. In Finland, a Member of Parliament, Päivi Räsänen, was taken to trial in 2022 for a “hate crime” related to the Bible. Ms. Räsänen was charged with making derogatory comments toward homosexuals by quoting Romans 1:24–27. Yet she was simply expressing what the Bible says. The Bible itself is being put on trial.

This should concern all who consider themselves Christians. ReligiousFreedomInstitute.org summed it up well: “The Räsänen prosecution did nothing more than draw a logical conclusion from the ideological shift that has occurred in the course of recent decades, not just in Finland but also in the United States, Canada, and the rest of Western Europe. In today’s West… now that this type of instinctive secularist progressivism has become the cultural norm, Romans 1:24-27 is hate speech” (“The Bible as Hate Speech?,” April 1, 2022).

So, what should you do if society is labeling your belief system as dangerous, and it’s becoming more dangerous for you to practice it? Let’s explore three actions we can and should take as the world’s hostility to biblical values continues to grow.

Truly Live by Every Word of God

This might seem overly simplistic, but don’t overlook the obvious; make sure you are living by the Bible and living like a Christian. That means getting our spiritual houses in order, so to speak. The Apostle Peter explained this in his first recorded letter:

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter (1 Peter 4:14–16).

Merely calling oneself “Christian” doesn’t make it so, as we see in so much “Christian” conduct (see Matthew 7:21). Researcher George Barna found that “biblical worldview incidence in the United States has declined for five consecutive generations, and during that time the number of adults holding a biblical worldview has plummeted from 12% to today’s 4% level. And this shift among younger generations is ushering in a ‘new morality’ now embraced by the majority of all American adults” (“CRC Study Shows Younger Generations Reject Biblical Worldview, Ushering in ‘New Morality,’” Arizona Christian University, May 28, 2024).

This is not a new problem. A century ago, Professor Rufus M. Jones wrote, “If by any chance Christ Himself had been taken by His later followers as the model and pattern of the new way, and a serious attempt had been made to set up His life and teaching as the standard and norm for the Church, Christianity would have been something vastly different from what it became” (The Church’s Debt to Heretics, 1924, pp. 15–16). And nineteenth-century philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard put it more bluntly: “The Christianity of the New Testament simply does not exist” (Kierkegaard’s Attack Upon “Christendom,” translated by Walter Lowrie, 1946, pp. 32–33). Put simply, Jesus’ teachings have been watered down with falsehoods and compromises over the centuries.

So, if Christianity is dangerous, toxic, and debilitating, you might think its enemies would be relieved that very few actually practice it. Yet Christians are facing dangerous times that will become more dangerous still. We shouldn’t be surprised by this; Jesus Christ even warned His disciples about how to handle such times: “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many’” (Matthew 24:3–5).

It can be easy to read right over that, but Jesus said that many would come in His name—professing faith in Him and even claiming Him as their Lord—but would “deceive many.” We must understand that many who use Christ’s name are not His true followers. We must be able to recognize false Christianity.

Why is this so important? Because there are a lot of fake Christians in our world today. If we truly want to be Christ’s disciples, we must find out what the Bible says and align our lives with it. Christ told His disciples, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). In other words, Jesus Christ’s Church, the one He Himself built, will never die out, even if the majority of self-identified “Christians” are not following Him.

So, has Jesus left us any instructions on what true Christians should do when the world around them derides their faith as dangerous? He does, and one of those instructions is very hard for most to accept: Christians are not to entangle themselves in the politics of this world.

Don’t Put Faith in Politics

When politicians strive to trample on your religious freedoms, it may be tempting to fight back and seek a political solution. Particularly in the U.S., some are turning to what they call “Christian Nationalism.” The movement is diverse and hard to narrow to one definition, though Christianity Today offers this: “Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way” (“What Is Christian Nationalism?,” February 3, 2021).

Should followers of Jesus Christ support Christian Nationalism? If you watch the news, you know the bad press that Christianity is getting from many quarters. Yet some politicians are proclaiming that their Christianity and their political views are not just compatible—they are inseparable. When Josh Hawley, Republican senator from Missouri, told fellow conservatives of his Christian Nationalist beliefs, he ignited a firestorm. “Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation,” he said. “And so I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian Nationalism. And so I do.… my question is, is there any other kind worth having?” (“Josh Hawley Doubles Down on Christian Nationalism Remarks,” Newsweek, July 10, 2024).

Opponents quickly pointed to the famous Treaty of Tripoli, signed in 1797 by President John Adams, which stated, “The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian Religion.” Interestingly, that phrase is not found in the Arabic translation of the treaty, making it hard to explain away as an attempt to appease the North African Muslims with whom the treaty was signed. Almost from the very beginning of the U.S., parties have contended back and forth as to whether or not their nation is supposed to be a “Christian” one.

If you are concerned about the rights of sincere Christians being trampled on and you lament the erosion of biblical values in society, you might understandably feel a kinship with those trying to fight back against this avalanche. You might even want to get involved politically. But ask yourself—does God want you to put your faith in political movements? We are grateful for any leaders in our governments who support biblical values—but will political movements truly solve our problems? Of course not.

Jesus Christ faced immense pressure to fight back against the political forces of His time. But notice what He said when questioned by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate: “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here’” (John 18:36). God doesn’t want us to get involved in the political disputes of this world. He doesn’t want us to fight our adversaries physically or politically.

This brings us to an irony behind the strongest aims of “Christian Nationalism.” While some argue that the machinery of the nation should be politically seized to make the country more “Christian,” Jesus’ own instruction and approach tells us not to get involved in such worldly struggles. The “Christianity” of those advocates differs markedly from their Savior’s!

A Prophesied “Christian” Political Power?

Yet, Bible prophecy does reveal that a similar but deceptive movement will rise in the world at the close of this age. It will be led by a charismatic leader from Europe, portrayed as a savior and defender of Christian values—and he will sway billions to his false cause. Notice how Scripture describes this leader: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11).

This false religious leader will claim to be Christian, having “two horns like a lamb”—a symbol of Jesus. But he will speak like a dragon—Satan the Devil (see Revelation 12:9). His words and teachings will not align with the Bible.

What will this leader do? We find that he “performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do…. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads” (Revelation 13:13–16).

According to Mark’s account of Jesus’ Olivet Prophecy, this worldwide deception will be great enough “to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Mark 13:22). This will be an extremely dangerous time for genuine Christians—the most dangerous time in all of history.

John also describes this counterfeit religious system as a woman sitting on a beast. Scripture often uses a woman to symbolize a church. Notice:

I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (Revelation 17:3–6).

Counterfeit Christianity is dangerous—it will put true servants of God to death, take away religious freedom, and compel obedience by force. Its false prophet, in league with a political and military leader Scripture calls “the beast,” will bring unprecedented suffering to our world.

Notice what John wrote later: “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army” (Revelation 19:19). This alliance between church and state will literally wage war against the returning Christ—but it will be no match for Him. The One who sits on the horse, Jesus Christ, will return in glory and power to quash this rebellion, as John recorded: “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

As society becomes ever more hostile to true Christianity, Christ’s true followers will find themselves living in increasingly dangerous times. So, what should we do? We must completely align our lives with Christ in every way—and, in doing so, refuse to be involved in political movements.

Let Christ Be Our Protector

As mentioned, the Book of Revelation uses a harlot woman to symbolize a counterfeit church at the end of this age. Yet it also uses the image of a chaste and pure woman to depict God’s faithful, true Church. What does it say about that Church?

Revelation provides a behind-the-scenes preview of a cosmic war yet to come, when Satan the Devil will fight against God Himself. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail…. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7–9).

Remember that the counterfeit church, which will deceive billions, will be influenced by the dragon. This is why so many Christians in the last days are Christians in name only: They have been deceived into accepting a counterfeit religion. God’s people have long faced temptation to turn away from God’s true ways and accept human-devised solutions to problems that only their Lord can truly resolve, as discussed in our article “The Leaders We Deserve” in this issue.

But those who truly follow Christ will be protected from destruction and devastation. God will offer them protection on earth in a place of safety. “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent” (Revelation 12:13–14).

Will Christians Be Raptured and “Fly Away”?

Some mistakenly think Scripture describes a “rapture” of the Church—but it plainly describes a flight to a “wilderness.” And Heaven is not a wilderness. The Israelites came out of Egypt “on eagles’ wings” (Exodus 19:4), and since they walked out of Egypt, we know that this symbolizes God providing their way of escape—and He will do the same as He rescues end-time Christians.

Those who will be protected from the wrath of Satan the Devil will be those who persevere faithfully in fulfilling Jesus Christ’s commission at the end of this age. John recounted Christ’s message for His most faithful followers:

I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name…. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown (Revelation 3:8–11).

If we are true followers of Christ, if we obey His commandments—all ten of them—and are covered with the blood of His sacrifice and led by His Holy Spirit, He promises to take care of us. But to be under His protection then, we must let Him be our Lord and Master now. We must trust Him and give our lives to Him.

Notice what the prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord…. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes” (Jeremiah 17:5, 7–8).

Our full trust must be in our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our Rock, our Protector, and our Savior. King David, a man after God’s own heart, recognized this, writing, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:1–3).

How grateful we should be for having a faithful and loving High Priest! Christ, our Rock, is our strength—and internalizing this truth will be crucial as times become more difficult in the days and years ahead.

Sincerity of belief is not enough. We must base our belief on Scripture. Satan is real, and he is the great counterfeiter. He is the cause of the confusion we find throughout modern, mainstream “Christianity,” and he will cause the mayhem and destruction that is coming. But true Christians can be assured of protection under the care of Almighty God.

Embrace Genuine Christianity

Increasing numbers of people today are calling Christianity dangerous. But we must distinguish between true and false Christianity. False Christianity is genuinely dangerous—and will bring the world to the brink of destruction. The true Christianity of Jesus Christ and the Bible is the only real hope for our world. It teaches us that Jesus Christ will return, set His feet on this earth, and rule as King of kings, bringing the peace and prosperity we desperately need.

While there are many false Christians in the world around us, our duty is to genuinely follow Christ. We may suffer persecution for doing so, but He will guide and protect us if we obey Him and put our faith and trust in Him. And we will not be deceived when a powerful counterfeit religious leader rises in Europe—calling himself a Christian but allying himself with an evil political leader Scripture calls “the beast.” Though this coming false leader will even perform signs and wonders, Jesus’ true followers will not be deceived.

Jesus Christ promises to help His faithful and zealous servants. As David said, He is our Rock, our fortress, our high tower. He is our protection—and we need His protection more than ever, because counterfeit Christianity is dangerous and will become even more so as we approach the end of this age. We must be alert and awake to not fall prey to it. We must embrace genuine Christianity with all our hearts, anticipating the true hope for our world—the promise of Christ’s soon-coming millennial reign on earth. May God speed that day.