The Cure for Christian-On-Christian Violence?

by Cindy Kunsman

We’ve looked at many reasons why some Christians like the Alexanders and the Bauchams take what seems like anti-intellectual positions on current issues. I believe that the differences in how a person validates truth plays a significant role in how some arrive at conclusions that differ from my own. Some owe to pessimism that seems to stem from theology, while others seem rooted in preference and spiritual pride. Some boil right down to plain and simple bullying.

Another factor in these disparaging ideas stems from how one approaches their faith. I’m more concerned about the state of my personal faith and how that translates into a life that models love and grace. Others who are different seek a more Puritanical approach where purity becomes their focus. We see these differences in responses to concern for social justice. We’ve heard of Christians who condemn cries for justice for minorities, equating any efforts other than conversion to Christ with the lowest common denominator of the evilest of -isms, save for Calvinism, of course.

We’ve heard that social justice can only be distributive justice which is Marxism which is evil. I don’t think that those who believe such things have any less desire to see justice than I do, but I wonder if they forget about the grace that they received. For them, there no middle ground that encourages the Christian to pursue ways to address prejudice in their local communities and police departments. There are absolutely no other ways to pursue peace or model love and tolerance. Some find it wiser to make ‘shock jock’ statements that offensively grab attention, keep their name in the press, and enhance their ‘brand.’

Concerning race and rioting, Voddie Baucham’s past position drew much criticism, and some even identified it as “Black-on-Black Violence.” He can’t seem to separate those concerns about seemingly secularly tainted ideas from any other single act that a Christian might choose to change their community. All must seem entirely heavenly, even if it offers no earthly good to maintain all purity so that grace is only offered to those who are less guilty. How is it that these paragon judges know all, but the Good Shepherd left the ninety-nine innocent to rescue that one, wayward lamb?

I still pray that God still brings us together to know the truth, but I won’t hold my breath to see it come through those who behave more like God’s sheriff than His shepherd. There is room for all of us in the mosaic of the faith, but it will never happen if we demand uniformity instead of unity. The pietist and puritan can balance one another for the good of all, and diversity becomes a great gift. We need only remember that we are all a part of the main – and the bells always toll for every one of us sinners. We must just decide to take perspective into account, respect others, and trust in God’s greater purpose in its wholeness.

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Cindy is a nurse who was raised in Word of Faith, a Second Generation Adult of cultic Christianity. She and her husband dabbled in Calvinism and Theonomy as a foil to Christian anti-intellectualism, and they were exit counseled together when the walked away from a church that embraced Gothard’s teachings. Cindy escaped many Quiverfull pitfalls but became a social pariah for failing to birth a family. She’s been decrying the abuses of the Patriarchy Movement since 2004, and she writes about spiritual abuse at her blog, Under Much Grace. Read more about her here.