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The Christian Identity Movement – What is it?

The Christian Identity Movement is a racist cult that claims to follow Christ. The movement is made up of smaller groups that are connected by the same set of heresies. Christian Identity Movement groups and members are often found among right-wing extremist survival groups. Those who propagate the movement choose to ignore what the Bible teaches and have instead set up a white supremacist version of Christianity that is not pleasing to God and not honoring to Christ.

There are two main false doctrines that typify Christian Identity Movement groups. The first is the idea that the ten lost tribes of ancient Israel eventually became the British people (and their descendants). There are a variety of complex and convoluted "proofs" for this belief, but they are not based in fact. The Scripture clearly shows that the ethnicity of the nation of Israel will be the same in the end as it was in the beginning (Zechariah 12:10). The second false doctrine is the frightening teaching that Christ's return must be "ushered in" by a genocidal war. Christian Identity followers believe that all non-whites must be eliminated and the earth cleansed in preparation for the return of Christ. This belief is revolting and has nothing in common with true Christian belief. Revelation 1:7 makes it clear that people of "all tribes of the earth" will witness Jesus' coming. While there will certainly be "wars and rumors of wars" before the end times (Matthew 24:6), there is no scriptural basis for believing there must be a genocidal war, particularly one instigated by Christians. This belief has more in common with the teachings of Islam than it does with Christianity.

God's promise, on the other hand, is the opposite. Instead of excluding people based on race or color, He has promised that all the nations of the earth will be represented in heaven; people from all nations will love and trust Him, and bring their glory and honor into His eternal dwelling (Revelation 21:22–27). In John's vision, he heard the twenty-four elders around the throne of God praising God and saying: "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).

The Christian Identity Movement is not true Christianity. They may claim to believe in Jesus Christ, but the god they worship is nothing like Jesus, who offered salvation to all who would believe (John 3:16) and died to make that salvation possible. The only person who is excluded from Christ's kingdom is the person who chooses not to be there. Faith in Jesus Christ is the way for all men; He makes no other distinction. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" (Galatians 3:28–29).

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