The Cult of the Klan
                    are they simply
     "Kluks without a Klu, but want to be a Klan"?


Why the Lure?

The lure of the Klan like so many cults is that of a
perceived need. The need in this case is for a place to
vent, react, and express outrage in a safe place.  They
react to the coercive way popular culture, through the
instrument of political correctness imposes certain
viewpoints about homosexual practice and rights, abortion
on demand, multiculturalism, quotas, reverse discrimination,
and lax attitudes about illegal immigrants, etc.

Many if not most evangelical christians would find themselves
with many similar concerns and frustrations. The difference
regarding THESE points, and a LARGE difference at that,
would be one of core belief, and one of mature character.
Those most  attracted to the Klan seem to be those that
would seek to respond against perceived coercions with
antithetical coercions and extremism, saying in effect, "Well,
that's what THEY do!" as a justification for hatred.

The history of the Klan is rife with violence, but modern
adherents tend to downplay this by pointing to exaggerations,
through their persecution complex to ignore this significant
defining characteristic of the group. In some ways they
have this mis-information in common with Louis Farrakan and
in fact are strange bed fellows with Farrakan in mutual
disdain for Israel and Jewish peoples. The Klan is not simply
an ethnic "support group" like some gangs, but actually has
an informing theology howbeit erroneous.

Like David Koresh, the Moonies, and Jim Jones before them,
they have sought to view themselves as the true christians
with the true light and way of life, to justify their fears
and errors.

The first error is an extreme nationalism that shows itself
in a kind of hyper manifest destiny mentality. Make no mistake
about it, this is a core value for the Klan. These are the
kinds of quotes you might hear from KKK adherents:

"Native Americans (they would not use that label) got what is
 coming to them, they were savages."

"African Americans (they would not use that label) are the
 reason for American slavery. Africans were selling africans
 to warring tribes, and ship runners."

"America was founded by christians, who were christians just
 like me."

Similar to all of these, are enormous fallacies of extension
and hate that leads adherents to their convictions and
practical "theology." Their rude, and emotive choice of 
vernacular can provide the sensible evangelical with the 
opportunity to be pro-active in witness, right up front.

A second grave error is their devotion to the supremacy of
the white race. All other races resulted in a kind of negative
or devil-lution. The curse of Noah's son Ham resulted in the
black race, Shem is the founder of the Asiatic peoples and
is inferior to Japheth the father of the white folks. Of
course JESUS is a descendant of Shem as he was Jewish, but
the Klan tends to ignore this fact. This ratings approach to
the races and determining which is superior and inferior, is
then coupled with a number of Old Testament passages preventing
inter-racial and inter-national marriages (what is overlooked
is that the purpose of this ban is one related to staying
pure theologically by not compromising with false and destructive
religions; the Caananites were quite perverse even by modern
standards). Together, this double error combines to give
the Klan a basis for segregation, race baiting, race heirarchy,
race suspicion and hatred.

A Christian Response.

The Klan like all cults, tends to thrive on persecution.
Persecution tends to galvanize them in their false convictions.
AND the Klan is probably more persecuted than any other cult.
It is actually politically correct to hate a Klansman. In fact
the degree to which you hate them actually seems to be a
cultural measure of how tolerant and loving one is. The
Christian does not have the option of hating a Klansman. Nor
does the Believer have an option of embracing any the Klans
errors. We need to love the sinner and hate the sin. It is
as if the modern Samaritan (with the 1st century Samaritan
theological error of rejecting much of the Old Testament, and
antithetical to the Klan, having a kind of inter-racial pride,)
has a kind of parrallel with a seeking klansman. Would Jesus
reach out to them? I think the Church needs to say a clear and
certain "Yes" no matter how embarrassing the Klan's associations
with a warped version of christianity may be. I believe the fact
that so few do this kind of outreach, is an indication of how
deep the Church secretly, and inwardly struggles with racism.

Here are some Christian refutations of Klan thinking.

First all people have a common grandparent in Noah, and a common
ancestry back to Adam. No race evolved first, no race is
superior or inferior. This common parentage is affirmed in
Genesis 1-3 and in Paul's speech (Paul, a Jewish person
speaking to a Greek audience) on Mars Hill in Acts 17. The
common image of God and a strong condemnation of favoritism
is made in James chapter two as well.

Second, at the end of human history around the throne of God
the book of revelation mentions without heirarchy or mention
of separate groupings, that there will be people from EVERY
nation (ethnos), tribe, and tongue present in worship TOGETHER
of God. This is not the kind of destiny that would attract
a member of the Klan externally. One must believe that such
a community of love and healing, of purpose, meaning, and
truth, of honesty and euphoria, is the inner longing of every
person made in the image of God, including adherents of the
Klan, whose utopian vision is dwarfed compared to the new
heavens and the new earth vision of the Bible.

At the beginning of the Church in Acts 2 we have a multi-
cultural community brought into faith and community. People
from all around the world who had come to Jerusalem for
the feast of Pentecost, were unified in Christ, not through
some defilement of races, but through the direct act of the
HOLY Spirit of God.

The early Jewish Believers were shocked repeatedly by the new
thing God was doing in His people. Jews and non-Jews
worshipping in community together, certainly this could not
be a good thing. Yet this context is the FIRST place
Believers in the New Testament are called "Christians." And
it is in the context of a multi-cultural Believing community
in Antioch, mentioned in Acts 11:26. It seems that regarding
FIRST things (Genesis, Pentecost, the title "Christian") and
in LAST things (the consummation) that God is making His
reconcilling intentions quite clear.

Multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic witness has always enriched
and enhanced the attractive nature of God's work in and
through God's redeemed people.  Even in the innocence (sinless)
and righteous character of Jesus Christ, we see a racial
"mixing."  In his blood line, regardless of if you
erroneously trace it through Joseph (remember, Jesus was
born of a Virgin), or correctly through Mary, the blood
line goes back through King David (Matthew 1). But if you
look closely at David's blood line you will see a couple
of mixed marriages. First to show up is Rahab, the converted
Canaanite harlot...in the blood line of Jesus. Second is
Ruth, the converted Moabite who is also mentioned in the
blood line of David. It would appear the Messianic title
"Son of David", referring to the Messiah and salvation of
the world, may not be something that race pride Klan
adherents would want to celebrate and identify with. Their
Jesus is one of their own invention. He is an angry American.
Frustrated with the sins of OTHER people.  A white American
who would go crazy if his daughter (hypothetically speaking)
had a close friendship, or married someone who was non-white,
or un-American. Jesus for the Klan, couldn't REALLY be a Jew,
for he has to be "red, white, and blue."

Eph 2 speaks of "one new man" in Christ. The barrier of sin
is broken because of the blood of Jesus, poured out with
his life, on the cross for our sin. But not only is reconcilliation
(restored friendship) possible between people and God (which
is primary) BUT Eph 2 emphasizes that this friendship and
love relationship is restored between people of different
racial, ethnic, and national heritages. The burning cross of
the KKK is a symbol of hatred, of separatedness, of alienation,
of fear and intimidation. The cross of Jesus Christ is ablaze
with the love of God for sinners, of peace between God and
man, people group to people group, of unity, of community,
of hope and harmony. This is the message for all peoples,
KKK adherents, radical gay activists, and the apathetic Sunday
morning disengaged and mindless pew sitters.  The truth is
radical. Everyone needs Jesus. And what Jesus can do, nobody
else can touch it.

                                          Joe Whitchurch
                                          jbw7@earthlink.net