-By Bill Watkins

***

As the true Tao cannot be spoken, real Christianity proves itself, needs no explanation. But in the face of the word’s prevalent misuse, I’ll venture out to define it, discuss it, and clarify as best I can. I consider myself an actual Christian, who tries to follow the word of God through Jesus in the four gospels most Bibles present.

There is nothing harmful in the gospels, but for many years people have usurped the name of “Christian” to do evil, commit violence, and as my indigenous friend and writer Steven Newcomb asserts, to dominate others. Domination, evil and violence are absolutely not found in Jesus’ message to his disciples and the world. Because of that very fact, I contend, Christianity has been a perfect target of usurpation: to steal the pure and good for evil purposes.

The middle age Crusades drew a Christian cross on their shields, killed people for land. No credible interpretation of Jesus’ teachings would claim the rebellious Nazarene Rabbi wanted this. Any gospel references to the “sword” seem metaphorical, as Jesus’ overriding singular teaching above all others was Love. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemy. Repent, and the other twenty-plus Jesus commandments in the Book of Matthew have nothing to do with the Papal writings that greenlit the Crusades and later the many abuses of European “Discovery.” In his Romanus Pontifex of 1454, Pope Nicholas V called on Catholics:

…to invade, search out, capture, vanquish, and subdue all Saracens and pagans whatsoever, and other enemies of Christ…

Aha! Enter the Catholicism versus Christianity debate. What is a Catholic? What is a follower of the Church that descends from Rome, home of the Romans who killed Jesus? To me the Catholic Church mixes the Bible, Christian views, idolatry and Roman polytheism enough for me to consider it somewhat alcoholic, confused with occasional gospel teachings that save lives.

English enlightenment thinker Sir John Locke was undoubtedly aware of usurping Christ to commit evil acts, when he wrote a treatise on usurpation, including this tidbit:

It is vain for any man to usurp the name of Christian, without holiness of life, purity of manners, benignity and meekness of spirit.

The above quote the perfect response to a reader ready to hit me with the invalid “No real Scotsman” fallacy in this Real v. Actual Christian debate. The “No Real Scotsman” fallacy does not apply to Christianity because Scotsmen have no explicit written code to follow. True Christians do, and follow it over anything a human leader might say, be he a pope or king or whoever asking people to break Christ’s commands.

Or a president associating him or herself with “Christian Nationalism,” something that doesn’t actually exist. The two terms are at odds. Are oxymoronic. Man cannot serve two masters, saith the gospel: we must choose sometimes. In the case of being a Christian, a follower of Christ and his teachings, you cannot be one while at the same time worshipping a national flag, nation or government.

Go beyond words and declarations. See the truth underneath. Know whether someone is false or true “by their fruits,” recommended Jesus. Their words can say one thing, their actions another. So to say, “I’m a good Christian” as you judge, mistreat, kill and dominate others is to say, you are not an actual Christian. It is to say you are attempting to usurp the name of “Christian” to help you do evil.

And never forget our beliefs, which coincide with the teachings in which we believe. If an actual Christian, you will be certain that you cannot be a “good” Christian because “only God is good,” according to Christ. You wouldn’t put a cross on a shield and kill people, if a true Christian. You wouldn’t post “Christian” on your Twitter bio blurb, while you spew hatred against people who look and talk differently than you.

You would treat the word of God with respect, Jesus’ commandments as laws and never break them consciously. Writing “I’m a Christian” or “I’m doing this for God” is a lot easier than actually living Christian principles. “Do as they say, not as they do,” and “you will know [false prophets] by their fruits” were teachings to prepare us for the Fake Christian. The violent person posing as a follower of God.

The usurper. The thief. The wolf in sheep’s clothing. If you see, hear or spot one of those I’d recommend using Jesus’ words against them: “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Then carry on in the best way forward in your “holiness of life, purity of manners, benignity and meekness of spirit.” Do anonymous acts of kindness, pray in private, love your enemies, forgive to be forgiven and be such a Christian you’ll never have to say you are one.