Christian Jihad Book Review

Christians today are charged with going and telling the world about who God is. Winning a lost world over to a relationship with Jesus as their personal savior. This is a message to a world that often times views Christianity as the entire historical movement because they have been taught in secular schools the role of Christians in history. The book by Doctors Ergun and Emir Caner, Christian Jihad and subtitled Two Former Muslims Look at the Crusades and Killing in the Name of Christ gives a view of Christianity that acknowledges the dim view that the world perceives of Christians due to acts committed by Christians in the past.
Christian Jihad through the title introduces the idea of a holy war waged by Christians. Jihad is typically applied to Islamic actions of war. The Caners apply this idea to the historical wars of the church. To give insight to the idea of a Christian holy war there is a retelling of an overwrought defender of unborn babies armed with a gun with an abortion doctor in his sights claiming to be doing God’s will. This may be what initially comes to the mind of modern Christians when Christians take justice into their own hands in the name of defending God. One misguided individual striking out to right the wrongs of the world.
The Caner’s explore the historical ideas of Christians, after the death of Christ, in regard to war. Initially a push for pacifism was the prevailing thought that evolved into being able to take part in the affairs of war but not fighting. By the third century church leaders had included military involvement as an acceptable profession, still not condoning war. The haunting retelling of the persecution of Christians throughout this time period reminds the reader of the choice for pacifism was horribly tested through torturing innocent believers by the Roman governments.
The majority of the book, in great detail, tells of how the Christian people were first a target of distrust and persecution. Then the reign of believing leaders gave Christians safety but introduced the struggle of control of the state in religious affairs. An unholy marriage is what is used to refer the union of the church and governing body. The book gives a very clear view of the role played by the Muslim nations, the Catholic Church and the differing leaders of the Roman Empire on into the European leaders in the wars that were fought for centuries. Similarly to modern day vigilantes claiming that “God wills it”.
The Caners carefully discuss the establishment of a just war and relate it to today’s war in the Middle East. The cycles of power that took the lives of God-fearing people because of doctrinal differences are explored. As well as highlighting the injustices against unenlightened persons by theological giants and the role religion played in the genocide of thousands.
Christian Jihad is a revealing look into the past to shed light on a dark subject that has plagued our world and still does today, helping us understand the conflicts of the present and future. Wars are still being fought oversees and domestically in courts over the issues of power of church and state. Christians need to be aware of the past so that they can interpret current happenings to not repeat the mistakes. Hopefully, the information given in this book will empower Christians to continue with the spreading of the Gospel message keeping in mind the effects of a Holy War.