Bock

World Evangelical Alliance Has It Right on Norway Killings

When my wife told me that a Christian "fundamentalist" was said to be responsible for the recent killings in Norway, I was sick. Not only was this a horrible association of all that Christ represents, it will surely lead some skeptics to say that religion only begets violence and hate.

When my wife told me that a Christian "fundamentalist" was said to be responsible for the recent killings in Norway, I was sick. Not only was this a horrible association of all that Christ represents, it will surely lead some skeptics to say that religion only begets violence and hate.

Watching this tragedy from Germany as well as through the BBC here, it is clear this event struck a nerve in Europe. Europeans are very adverse to violence and the use of weapons. Norway has a reputation for peace, so deep that the most one can serve in prison is 21 years. The attack in the name of fighting multiculturalism is the exact opposite of how one should engage the many cultures one sees not only in the world but in our nations.

So I was pleased to see the statement by the World Evangelical Alliance that these killings also sickened them. A key part of the statement was, “The WEA is saddened to read reports that the suspect claims a ‘Christian’ faith. Evangelical Christians globally condemn religious violence in the strongest possible terms, and are sickened when such violence is carried out in the name of Christ." Another leader said, “We are horrified to see that humans are able to put in practice such an awful plan. “This violence can only be regarded as a sign of utter evil, totally opposing the goodness and righteousness of God."

Well said. Such acts have nothing to do with Jesus or the gospel. They are a betrayal of Him and His care for the world. One hopes such an event will not be repeated. Our prayers are with the families of the killed and wounded. In Germany, there was a moment of silence at soccer matches over the weekend. Stop and say a prayer for the families and the nation of Norway.

For more on this statement, see 

http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelicals-norway-slaughter-totally-opposes-goodness-of-god-52762/

5 Comments

  • Barry Applewhite

    Norway killer may not be Christian fundamentalist

    Indeed there are reports that the killer in Norway — whose name I am consciously avoiding — is a Christian fundamentalist, but there does not seem to be substance behind such claims. For example, today's New York Times has two long articles on the man that extensively develop his background. Nobody is talking about his alleged Christian faith.

    So far, it appears that politically conservative, anti-Muslim blogs really caught his attention. His manifesto quotes them a lot. The impression is that the killer was nominally a Christian so as to style himself as an opponent to Islamic developments in Europe. There is no evidence in what I have seen that he was a deeply religious person of any sort.

    It is entirely possible that someone has decided to spin this evil man's background in such a way as to allow them to smear either fundamentalist Christianity or just plain Christianity. If they have evidence, let's see it.

    -Barry

    • Darrell L. Bock

      Norwegian Killer

      Barry:

      My comment came from police reports and the BBC. I see he referred to a Christian culture in his manifesto. Now I placed the description "fundamentalist" in quotes to suggest the association may or may not be genuine. Thank you for the feedback. Unfortunately, many will not make distinctions in how to see the identification of this murderer. One also may need to be careful not to read the American meaning of fundamentalist into the use of the term. In Europe this can mean a theological or cultural conservative who appeals to Christianity. I suspect his appeal to a Christian Europe may qualify for that sense in Europe.

  • Barry Applewhite

    Thanks for European viewpoint

    I reread my comment and realized to my dismay that it might seem I was criticizing your original post. Your post was much appreciated! My challenge to produce evidence was meant for those who might try to smear Christian faith by false association.

    I'll be a bit more careful next time!

    Your comments about how Europeans mean the theological terms they use was very helpful. There is not much chance I'll get over there, so it helps to have that information.

    -Barry

  • Gerard Dalboussiere

    Dear Darrell Bock, Thank you

    Dear Darrell Bock,

    Thank you for your post. My wife and I were also shocked when several French papers made their first page headline with : 'the killer is a 'Christian fundamentalist'. Very often the French medias seem to take every opportunity to smear or make a mockery of the Christian faith but in the present situation, it was really shocking and it proves that the journalists did not even take time to investigate whether this information, given by some Norwayan authority, was really founded. What an association between the horrible acts done in Norway and the name of Christ ! This event invites all the true Christians to show to their surroundings what a true Christian is : someone who, may be very imperfectly, reflects in his/her daily life something of Jesus Christ's

    Note : Unfortunately, my feeling is that the qualification 'fundamentalist' is getting a more and more negative conotation, at least in France, when associated with  Evangelical Christian.

    .Gerard

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