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Jumpstarter 10 of 10

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The Myth of Christian America  /  MCA (7 of 14): Causes of the American Revolution  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
Bercot says Jesus’ teachings—“love your enemies,” “do not resist evil,” and going the extra mile for a soldier—would have prevented incidents like the Boston Massacre and likely “no American Revolution,” then contrasts this with early Christians staying out of wars even when their countries fought; what concrete changes would it require for us to adopt that early-Christian posture today in our speech, activism, voting expectations, and willingness to suffer financial loss or humiliation without retaliation?
Another way to ask: If Jesus’ teachings like loving enemies and not fighting back could have prevented the Revolution, what would it take for Christians to live that way today? What would need to change in how we talk, protest, vote, and accept loss or humiliation without getting revenge?

Direct Answer Based on the transcript, adopting the early-Christian posture would mean refusing mob-style intimidation, refusing retaliation, and deliberately practicing Jesus’ nonresistant love—even toward government agents—while accepting taxes, losses, and humiliations rather than using force or deceit to “win.” It would also mean keeping national conflicts from overflowing into the church, since our true “homeland” is the kingdom of God.

Support from Transcript:

  • Jesus’ instructions are summarized: “love their enemies and not to resist evil,” and if a soldier forces you to carry a load “one mile…carry it two miles.”
  • Bercot says if Boston had responded that way, “there would have been no Boston massacre…no American Revolution,” and likely no troops in Boston.
  • He condemns coercion tactics: threats, beatings, burning property, and forced boycotts (“you had better comply”).
  • He insists Christians should “pay…taxes and customs,” and treat government agents with “honor and respect.”
  • He warns against propaganda lies, tying lying to Satan and judgment.
  • He says early Christians stayed “completely out of the conflict” and did not fight “on either side” even when nations were at war; their “country…was the kingdom of God.”
Discussion Follow-ups What specific political habits would we have to stop (threatening rhetoric, contempt, sharing propaganda) if we truly embraced nonresistance—and how would we prepare to absorb the financial and social costs?

Jumpstarter 10 of 10
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