Nyr’e Jones, Staff Writer

While having a movie night with my friend Jordy – something we often do as a way of bonding and expanding her movie intake – I left with much more than our post-movie debriefs. Jordy typically chooses the movie from a curated list that I create – one that highlights films rooted in Black American culture, along with a few other random options I’ve wanted to see her reactions to. That night, she chose the film “Higher Learning.”

I had seen the film twice before, once around the age of thirteen with my mom and again at eighteen, just before moving into college. Each time, my perspective on the movie evolved. The first time, I took it as my mom being overly cautious as usual, wanting to expose me to the dangers of the world. The second time, the film became more significant as I prepared for college. It represented the importance of education and spoke on difficult topics like racism, identity and sexual assault. However, during the third viewing, I recognized a newfound perspective, which became the foundation for this article. 

In John Singleton’s “Higher Learning,” there is a heavy scene in which a character, Remy, pulls out a gun and invokes the name of God, and uses it to justify racist violence while declaring white supremacy. The use of God’s name slipping by me the first two times I watched the movie made the scene even more unsettling. Not only does it display active violence and racism, but it also shows faith being distorted in the process. The use of God’s name was spoken, yet the actions of the very person who spoke it were the opposite of Christ’s teachings. Influenced by and a part of Neo-Nazi ideologies, Remy allowed hatred and extreme nationalism to be masked with Christianity.

As a Christian, the scene prompted me to reflect not only on the movie but also on reality. When those who claim the name of Christ act in ways that contradict his teachings, it challenges the faith. Not just it being a personal failure, but a failure for the mission Christ set out – ultimately becoming the reason non-believers view religion and inevitably reject Christ. Provoking the thought of: how often does Christ’s image pay for the corruption of people who claim to follow him?

One of the most common ways Christ becomes misinterpreted is through hypocritical behavior. Many people who claim Christianity are quick to recite Scripture and assert moral authority, yet their personal life and behavior have no relation to Christ. The practice of loving others as we love ourselves becomes forgotten while judgment prevails. Non-believers began to take the actions of these people and attach them to Jesus, seeing the religion as performativity and a display of power rather than passion. If a Christian’s choice in following Christ becomes based on public recognition or self-praise, they lose the aspect of true connection and devotion to God. Without authenticity and relationship, there will be no love or rightful reflection of Jesus. As Matthew 7:16 reminds us, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” When a supposed Christian bears the fruit of self-righteousness and unlovingness, the fruit of the spirit is immediately misrepresented. 

This pattern is not new. Historical events like slavery show how easily God’s word was manipulated by corrupt individuals. By selectively twisting God’s voice, taking Scripture out of context and ignoring passages that reject oppression, they distorted God, using Him as a tool to justify cruelty. This misuse of Scripture later became a major reason many Black people left Christianity–a pattern that continued through segregation and Jim Crow.

Now, as these conversations resurface, many Black people are labeling Christianity as the “white man’s religion,” rather than the faith for all that Christ taught. Years of discrimination and torment carried out in the name of Christianity pushed many away from Christ. If the people inflicting hatred and pain claim God while doing so, how can that invite anyone into His presence?

The hypocrisy of claiming to be Christian while weaponizing Scripture and disobeying God’s law undermines the mission of spreading the gospel. It not only distorts the image of God, but also harms the reputation of believers who are genuinely committed to doing His work.

This distortion of Christianity continues today as faith is used to support nationalism rather than the teachings of Jesus. When Christianity becomes tied to national identity and beliefs, dedication to the country can overshadow dedication to the will of God. This becomes dangerous, as it prioritizes government and political beliefs over the love and unity that we all share under Christ. This combination of ‘God and Country’ causes the idea of exclusion and separation while defining belonging to borders or cultural differences. 

Eventually, masking this personal belief of exclusion behind Christianity. We see this becoming more popular with political leaders who make Christianity their identity but use the religion to outwardly spew hatred. Modern Christian nationalism can be seen in political leadership where religious language is used to reinforce national identity and power, as evidenced by figures such as Donald Trump in the United States and Viktor Orbán in Hungary—leaders often criticized for prioritizing nationalism while invoking Christianity. This isn’t only limited to political leaders who claim Christianity, but also to others who claim to be Christians as well. Their loyalty to nationalism causes the disassociation from the duties of Christ we are to uphold. This is seen now as ICE is separating families, killing innocents and dehumanizing immigrants. At a time in history where Christians should gather with prayers and love as a protest against oppression, loyalty to government and country supersedes. In these situations, nationalism is masked as righteousness, while legality is mistaken for morality. In choosing nationalism over compassion, Christ is once again removed from Christianity; not by those outside the faith, but by those claiming to represent Him.

In writing this article, I wish not to condemn my brothers and sisters in Christ, but righteously call out deeds that are not of God. To represent Christ correctly when corrupting it has become normal. The misrepresentation of Jesus—whether through hypocrisy, historical injustice, or modern nationalism—does not negate the truth of who He is. It reveals the consequences of people placing power over our calling to love. Using Christ’s name in a context that doesn’t relate to who he is, ruins the image of him and us Christians as a whole. 

Christ didn’t call his followers to abuse power, corrupt his name or exclude people. He called them to serve as he has served us, to stand up for the oppressed and the poor, to adapt to the likeliness and personality of him. We as humans and Christians will always fall short because we are not perfect, but righteous judgment amongst one another should always be appreciated and an obligation. To represent Jesus rightfully, we must strip our ego and desire for personal gain and replace it with the desire of God’s heart. We must make sure our foundation is built on love, humility, and authenticity. 

For those who have been pushed away from Christ by the actions of his followers, this is not a reason to overlook harm, but a reminder that Jesus is not defined by those who misuse His name. He is defined by a true relationship. To those who claim Christianity, this is a call to reevaluate behavior that might be done mistakenly or purposefully: not on how loudly faith is declared, but on how faithfully it is lived. Only then can Christ be the center of Christianity as he always should be. As scripture reminds us in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Let us fulfill that mission sincerely and faithfully.