A Christian Myth

Like I have thousands of readers who hang on my every word, right? Not likely. So, to the few who rarely discuss religion with any seriously, please go find someone cute to flirt with. Barring that, get yourself a stiff belt (strong drink); then take a few minutes to read a rational discussion about a popular misconceptions about Christianity.

A rather strange tweet appeared in my stream. It said something about Anonymous being the Antichrist. I guess I was supposed to be warned, concerned, intimidated, or something. I’d quote it here, but it has vanished. Needless to say that got me thinking about the whole Antichrist persona in the current Christian mindset. According to popular myth The Antichrist is that one person who is going to lead the forces of evil in the world against the forces of Jesus. Yes, you read that right; it is a myth. 

The Apostle John wrote four lines about the Antichrist back in 70 C.E. None of them point to a far future Armageddon. John, in 70 CE, was convinced that he, while still alive, was living in the end times. This is evident when he writes, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18).

From this one gets the impression that The Antichrist is not a “he,” not an individual, not a single person, but a group of people. John pins this down when he writes, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).  John’s assertion is a simple one: anyone who does not believe that Jesus is the anointed on of God, or the Christ, then he, or she, is an antichrist. 

It seems rather simple, if one does not believe that Jesus is the Christ then that person is “Anti” Christ.  A little later in the same letter, John expands on the idea even further. He writes, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:3). How many times does one have to state the obvious? 

Based on John’s own writings, from his life, from his inspiration, he saw that all who basically held a different belief as being an “Anti” Christ. Mind you, this is an English word, transliterated from Greek, of a Hebraic concept. I think it does lose much in the translation. 

In another letter, John again asserts his observation. “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7). The point is obvious ... again. By the Christian standard, anyone who is of a different opinion and conviction concerning the, now institutionalized, Jesus is an “Anti” Christ. It is worth pausing here and considering that almost every generation of Christians since John’s death has thought it would be the last before the return of Jesus Christ.

"Anit"Christ is not a person. "Anti"Christ is a philosophy. 

Why bring all this up, here and now? We are in another era of social upheaval. Once again Capitalism has proved to be dysfunctional. Once again the few have an essential strangle hold on many. In this environment, it is irrelevant what you believe or don’t believe. That is your own conviction, decision, and belief. All that matter now is what you do, and do not do. This may be contrary to the popular religion. We are however, in a pluralistic, secular society. If one wants to paint themselves as an “Anti” Christ, go for it; it is irrelevant.  The only good, or evil, is what one does, or does not do. That is all that matters.