Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 1
Elam says college students repeatedly asked him, “How are you any different than the Muslims?” because of Christian violence in history; what does his admission (“we can’t just turn a blind eye… this is part of Christian history”) require from us in how we talk about “Christian nations,” “Christian wars,” and our spiritual ancestors?
Another way to ask: Since Christians have a history of violence, how should that change the way we talk about “Christian nations,” “Christian wars,” and the Christians who came before us?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Elam’s admission requires honesty: we must acknowledge that large parts of what is called “Christian history” includes real violence done by professing Christians, and we can’t defend it by pretending it wasn’t “ours.” It pushes us to measure “Christian nations” and “Christian wars” by Jesus’ teachings rather than by labels, ancestry, or majority status.
- Elam says students challenged him: “Christians have committed these terrible crimes… How are you any different?”
- He admits, “we can’t just turn a blind eye… this is part of… Christian history,” even noting many genealogies “go back to the Catholics.”
- He points out the problem of “professing Christians” in major armies: “Hitler’s army… more than 90% professing Christians” and “At least 90% of the US army… considered themselves Christians.”
- He asks what history would look like “if the church as a whole would teach and obey the gospel of the kingdom.”
- He warns that without obedience to Christ, Christians repeat “the same dumb mistakes down through the ages.”