by Terry Sanders

I remember a Psychology class I took in college. One week we discussed phobias and such. Phobia: “an intense, abnormal, or illogical fear of a specified thing” (American Heritage Dictionary). It was very interesting. Our professor claimed that everyone probably had at least one phobia. I know I did (and still do). I have an intense fear of snakes. I am told this is ophidiophobia. Knowing the technical terminology has not really done much to help me.

It seems that the number of phobias has increased over the years. I know of at least one that is relatively new – Islamophobia. The media invented that one post-9/11. The one phobia that has been sensationalized beyond all others in recent years is homophobia. This is said to be a fear, hatred, or mistrust of lesbians or gay men. Our media and most elected officials put any measure of opposition to homosexuality in the category of homophobia. This, of course, widens the playing field and increases opportunities to accuse others of homophobia.

This means that, according to the media and most elected officials, there is an epidemic of homophobia in America. Frankly, I wonder where homophobia may be found. Is it in the media? Is it in Congress or the White House? Is it in the military? Is it in sports? Is it in TV or movies? Just exactly where is this rampant homophobia? In all of the aforementioned venues homosexuality is applauded and eagerly received. The eagerness in these venues is to the point of hoping that there will be many, many more who openly confess to being homosexual. Once again, where is the epidemic of homophobia in such a climate?

 On April 29, 2013, in an article in Sports Illustrated, NBA player Jason Collins came out as gay. This allegedly made him the first active male professional athlete in a major North American team sport to come out as gay. The acclaim following this announcement seemed to rival Neil Armstrong stepping on the Moon! Collins received a call from President Barack Obama who allegedly told him, “What you did today was brave. I’m proud of you.” Personally, I am unable to see how this was brave due to the current atmosphere of things being gay-friendly. You see, this is an event that is little more than a natural step in the momentum of the gay movement. Nevertheless, in the minds of many it is still a time of high homophobia. If so, where is all of the fear, hatred, or mistrust? If any has been subsequently directed toward Jason Collins, it has not been reported and there are those who would be itching to report it.

If you really want to know about a phobia that is on the increase, it is Christophobia. This is the fear, hatred, or mistrust of anything or anyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel. We have a highly sensitive, politically correct culture where offending someone is almost a capital offense. Notwithstanding, bigotry toward Christianity is acceptable and is almost never censured. Thus, Christophobia, with censure, has become “trendy” and almost a “sport.”

There is ample evidence of a determined effort to remove, through marginalization, Christianity from the public arena. For example:

            1.         Holidays associated with religion are renamed.
            2.         Prayer is banned in public venues.
            3.         An increase in blasphemous art and music.
            4.         A general mocking and demeaning of Christian values.

There are many more, but these are enough for you to get the picture.

Jason Collins received praise for coming out as gay. He was declared to be brave. Does someone who professes to truly be a Christian receive praise? Will that same one receive a call from the President? No, such a one is more likely to receive ridicule and condemnation. In today’s climate it would be far braver to follow Christ. Why? It is because Christophobia is a far more serious reality than homophobia.

Students of the Bible know that Christophobia is not a new thing like – say – Islamophobia. There are few things that are new (Eccl. 1:9). Paul was in Athens, the intellectual seat of the known world. While there he encountered scoffers (Acts 17:18-21, 32). Peter also wrote about scoffers (2 Pet. 3:3). This part and parcel of the persecution mentioned by Paul (2 Tim. 3:12). These words and events tell us that others have experienced Christophobia and that Christ and His gospel have survived. We need to be encouraged that it is Christophobia, and Christianity, that is fighting what seems like a losing battle in our culture.

Allow me to reveal the underbelly of Christophobia. It is a hatred of Jesus Christ. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19; cf. 17:14; 1 John 3:13). The fear, hatred and/or mistrust directed toward those professing to be Christians would not exist except for Jesus. We often think Christophobia is directed toward us personally. It really isn’t. However, Jesus isn’t physically present, the Christian is and those who hate Jesus will unload on Christians.
Another thing that kicks Christophobia up a notch is when real conversion takes place. Someone who was a sinner truly repents of his sins and has a corresponding change of life that is dramatically noticeable. His companions from his former lifestyle will easily take note of this change and take the convert to task. Let me remind you how Saul of Tarsus went from a licensed persecutor of Christians to an inspired prosecutor for Jesus Christ (Acts 9:20-21). His former comrades in persecution hated him with a passion and sought to kill him. Peter wrote, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3-4). Christophobes abhor such dramatic change as they realize that this change is a tacit condemnation of the life of dissipation they still live.

Consider the account of the man of Gadara who was possessed by demons (Luke 8:26-39). Jesus commanded the demons to leave the man (v. 29). The demons preferred being cast into a herd of swine (v. 31-32). The herd of swine was destroyed (v. 33). The keepers ran away (v. 34). Some ventured out to where this took place, saw the man cured, and were afraid (v. 35). News of this spread throughout the region and so did the fear over what happened (v. 37). The folks in this region of the Gadarenes requested that Jesus depart from them (v. 36). All of this is due to unwarranted and illogical fear of Jesus. Apparently they preferred a man possessed by many demons to the Son of God. What a sad case, but so is Christophobia.

Christophobia is alive and well. It is, in my opinion, on the increase. I do not know what it will take to turn the situation around. I do know that disciples should neither hide out nor deny the faith. I think that we should remember the following in the face of Christophobia.

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Pet. 4:12-14).

[Please keep in mind that “Christian” of “Christianity” is not used in the sense of being New Testament Christians. They are used in the broadest sense imaginable.]