There’s no question that horrific acts have been committed in the name of Christ. And there are those who happily bring up the acts as though they are proof that Christianity must then be false. They don’t stop there either. They even go so far as to say Christianity is the blame for most atrocities committed against mankind.

However, history shows that secular, atheistic philosophies and motivations have been responsible for more people being persecuted and put to death. The Nazi way killed at least six million Jews. Behind the atheistic, communist thinking of Mao Tse–tung, Karl Marx, Stalin, and Pol Pot, upwards of a hundred million more were killed. Oh, and let’s not forget secularist ideology that aborts over four-thousand babies each day, just in America. The result is that secular killings in the twentieth century alone have way outnumbered not just Christian, but all religiously caused deaths throughout western history.

But let’s get back to the question of Christianity’s legitimacy. The critics don’t understand that profession of Christianity doesn’t make one a Christian (Matthew 7: 21). Jesus said that we will know His true followers by their fruit of love that was demonstrated by Himself (John 13: 34-36).

The atrocities committed in the name of Christ were done by sinful men. Unlike Jesus, they loved power and in a perverse way of thinking, influenced by Satan, also thought they were doing right by the Lord. The critics fail to realize, though, that Christianity isn’t based on people, all of whom are sinners. They miss the point that the validity of Christianity is all about Christ’s perfection and His power to save and recreate sinners into His loving image.

However, the critics ignore the evidence for this power of the gospel. They choose to overlook the desire and commitment to live a godly way, a transformation that’s seen in the lives of individuals they know. They choose to close their eyes and plug their ears at the good done by the schools, universities, hospitals, and the local and international relief agencies founded in the name of Christ.

Why do they do that? Why do they put forth straw-man arguments about Christian violence? They do it so as to not have to deal with the authenticity of Christianity and the attached responsibilities. They don’t want to come to the Light. Unperceived darkness is their preferred love.