Page 90 - Apologetics Student Textbook (3 Credits)

Study Section 12: More Questions about World Issues

12.1 Connect

When you study church history from the first century to the 10 century, you will see that
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the church became political and walked away the doctrines of the faith. In fact, the church
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of the 10 century which called itself “Christian” was totally in defiance to God’s Word and
Christ’s commands. They were Christian in name only, but not in actions.

Today we are going to see how some people claim to be Christians but do not demonstrate
the truth of their claim by their lives or actions. James spoke to this when he said, “Faith without
accompanying works is a dead faith.” In the 10 century, the pope (leader of the “Christian” Church)
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declared war on the Muslims who had conquered the Holy Land and started nine Crusades. “Christians”
invaded Israel, especially Jerusalem, and slaughtered millions of people in the process. Skeptics look
back and remark, “If these guys were Christian, I want nothing to do with Christianity.” Is their remarks
correct? Let’s see what happened….

12.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain how the Crusades where not really a movement of
true Christians, rather what a true believer is.

2. The student should be able to explain to a skeptic what makes Christianity unique among
other faiths in the world.

3. The student must be able to demonstrate that not all faiths lead to God; only Christianity will bring
them safely to heaven.

12.3 Aren’t most of the wars in history caused by people claiming to be Christians? (ex., the
Crusades)

To answer this question, one must first make a differentiation between someone who claims
to be a Christian and a person who is genuinely a Christian. Throughout history, people have
claimed to be “Christian” as one who claims to be the son of a family. They think of a
Christian as one who is born into the religion. There is no understanding in their minds of
what a person must believe to be a genuine follower of Christ.

Some of the most wicked people in the world have claimed to be Christians. For example, read this
quote:

"In this hour I would ask of the Lord God only this: that He would give His blessing to our work, and that
He may ever give us the courage to do the right. I am convinced that men who are created by God should
live in accordance with the will of the Almighty. No man can fashion world history unless upon his
purpose and his powers there rests the blessings of this Providence."

This was a speech that was presented in 1937 by the Chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler. In the name
of Christ, he murdered 6 million Jews. But was Adolf Hitler a Christian?

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