The Power of Christianity

I have been reading about Lenin.  Not John Lennon the singer, but Lenin as is Marx-Lenin.  What I have just learned is that Vladimir (or Vlad for short) was radicalized big time when his brother Alexander (or Alex, or Al) was executed for his role in plotting against the Tsar.  Vladimir was the first leader of the Bolsheviks.  The world would never be the same.
What stands out to me is that thinking that is contrary to the accepted is dealt with.  Alexander thought differently and was executed.  Vladimir thought differently and so began the cold war.
I don’t have a problem with people thinking differently, it is when they try to force me to think their way I have a problem.  When they take away my free will.  If I want to live, I need to think their way even if I don’t think their way.  It happens though.  It would be Pollyanna like of me to think otherwise.
Gabby Giffords in the US thought differently. She was a senator and shot in the head.  24 other people were also shot.  Six of them died.  She had to resign with a brain injury.  She was shot by someone who did not think her way.
It makes me think about Christianity.  In the west at the moment it is tolerated.  There are places where not tolerating it is state policy.  There are other places where intolerance is not state policy, but the government is powerless to stop those who do not tolerate it.
The good thing about Christianity though is, get rid of one, and two are likely to pop up in its place.  Stamping it out is a battle that cannot be won.  I’ve read the end of the book.  They lose.
In the meantime though, it is not a pretty sight.  For some, becoming a Christian is signing their own death warrant.  All Christians die to themselves.  For some it is dying twice immediately.
Someone put it incredibly succinctly on Facebook.  Why is Christianity considered a threat?  Why is the Bible banned in 52 countries?  As they said, no one goes to prison for reading Cinderella or Snow White.  Certainly, love your neighbour and do to others as you would be done by, is revolutionary.  Offering my cloak when someone asks for my coat, and thinking on things that are pure and holy could be considered insidious as far as much thinking today goes.
Personally, I think it goes deeper than just not liking something.  There is power in Christianity.  Light vs. dark.  There is an agenda at work and it is the devil’s.
Right now we just do what we are told.  We are on the winning side.  No matter what happens the devil loses.