Christlike Quote by Gregory A. Boyd
““when the kingdom of God is manifested, it’s obvious. It looks like Jesus. But America as a nation has clearly never looked remotely like Jesus. There was nothing distinctively Christlike about the way America was “discovered,” conquered, or governed in the early years. To the contrary, the way this nation was “discovered,” conquered, and governed was a rather typical, barbaric, violent, kingdom-of-the-world affair. The immoral barbarism displayed in the early (and subsequent) years of this country was, sadly, pretty typical by kingdom-of-the-world standards. The fact that it was largely done under the banner of Christ doesn’t make it more Christian, any more than any other bloody conquest done in Jesus’ name throughout history (such as the Crusades and the Inquisition) qualifies them as Christlike.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Sermon on American History, Gregory A. Boyd, 2015
The quote argues that America's founding and expansion were violent and imperialistic, contradicting the teachings of Jesus, and that invoking Christianity does not make those actions moral.
In simple terms: America's history is violent, not like Jesus.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the gap between ideals and actions.
Themes
history
morality
religion
colonialism
violence
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
ethical
When to use this quote
- education
- public policy
- church leadership
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Christian ethics
imperialism
national identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we reconcile faith with national history?
- Can religious symbols justify violence?
A Different Perspective
Christian rhetoric can mask immoral actions.
