“God does not love this world,” says Louis Farrakhan. Apparently, that’s his version of John 3:16—but more on this later. Perhaps the reader has heard Farrakhan’s name before. Wikipedia explains:
The Million Man March was a large gathering of African-American men in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 1995. Called by Louis Farrakhan, it was held on and around the National Mall. The National African American Leadership Summit, a leading group of civil rights activists and the Nation of Islam working with scores of civil rights organizations, including many local chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (but not the national NAACP) formed the Million Man March Organizing Committee.
Probably Farrakhan has been most famous for that event—until now. On March 22, 2019, he made a speech at the (ironically) United Center Arena in Chicago. He began by quoting John 3:16, although he exchanged the world for his people. However, when he began to deny the verse, he omitted people and reverted to world. He boldly stated:
God does not love this world. God never sent Jesus to die for this world. Jesus died because he was 2,000 years too soon to bring about the end of the civilization of the Jews. He never was on no cross. There was no Calvary for that Jesus.
Farrakhan thus rejects Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as historians; they all mention the crucifixion—not to mention reporting some of the words that He spoke while on the cross. Paul also mentions Jesus’ death on the cross (Phil. 2:5-8) and even related how that the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14). Peter refers to the fact that we are redeemed “with the
precious blood of Jesus, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). He also mentions that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree…” (1 Peter 2:24). Jude endorsed the apostles of the Lord (v. 17)—three of whom wrote about the crucifixion (Matthew, John, and Peter). James does not specifically mention the crucifixion, but he does
acknowledge Jesus as Lord (1:1; 2:1) and does not disagree with anything that Jesus or His apostles taught; he rather upholds them.
Thus, Farrakhan rejects the entire New Testament. One must either choose to believe the writers of the New Testament, who confirmed the Word with miracles, signs, and wonders—or to believe Louis Farrakhan, who has no evidence of any kind to substantiate anything that he teaches. Imagine the arrogance of anyone who would deny the most well-known verse in the Bible—John 3:16!
Isaiah 53
“God never sent Jesus to die for this world,” Farrakhan asserts. It’s too bad that he was not sitting in the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot, along with Philip. The evangelist might have been able to teach him truth from the Old Testament. The queen’s treasurer was reading these words from Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:32-33). He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.
Clearly, this was a description of Jesus being offered for our sins. Other verses from Isaiah 53 mention that “He was wounded for our transgressions,” “by His stripes we are healed,” “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all,” and “He poured out His soul unto death” (Isa. 53:5-6, 12). Farrakhan could not be further from the truth.
Too Soon to Do What?
The charge concerning Jesus being 2,000 years too soon proves to be another direct contradiction to the New Testament. Paul wrote: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4). Jesus was born at precisely the time that God wanted Him to come to this earth. How a person could be any more wrong than Farrakhan is would be difficult to achieve.
But notice what the Muslim leader thinks that Jesus came to accomplish. He was supposed to end “the civilization of the Jews.” In a sense, Jesus did so. After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which Jesus prophesied, the Jews have not had any genealogical records, no priesthood, and no temple. But these conditions are not what Farrakhan refers to; he wants the end of the Jews, period. He wants them all dead. He even makes a joke out of it by saying, “I’m not anti-Semite; I’m anti-termite.” He wants all Jews exterminated.
Jesus never came to destroy the Jews; He came to convert them, and on the Day of Pentecost, with the preaching of the gospel, He made a great start. Eventually, thousands in Jerusalem became Christians. Jews are still welcome in the body of Christ if they are willing to obey the gospel. Jesus said that He did not come to destroy lives—but to save them (Luke 9:56).
These statements of Farrakhan do not reflect rumors about him; one may type in his name and the content of the speech; not only will a text appear, but each individual can hear the words for himself. It is amazing that they remain available to be heard.
When Did These Events Occur?
According to one report, Loquacious Louis “claimed that he made the deaf hear and the dumb speak.” Really? Where are they? He said, “When I made the call in 1995 to Black people, with the Million Man March, that was like Jesus calling Lazarus and Lazarus came forth.” Uh, what is this—a mixed metaphor? Lazarus had died! Did Louis call forth a million Black men out of their graves? Hah! The Washington crowd would still be talking about that. People in D.C. might ask him to coach football to see if he could revive the Redskins.
A better (though not perfect) analogy would have been God calling His people out of Egypt. At least they were alive. But something is wrong about his appealing to Lazarus. How do we know that the man’s death and being brought back to life is accurate? After all, John wrote of Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection, all of which Farrakhan denies. If John is wrong about the cross, then how can he be trusted to be telling the truth about Lazarus? Hmm.
More Confusion
Despite alleging that Jesus did not die on the cross, Farrakhan calls Him “our Savior.” If He did not die for all mankind on the cross, then how is He “our Savior”? What did He save us from, and how did He save us?” Consider this on-line quote:
“Early one Saturday morning our Savior taught us, when he found out he was 2,000 years too soon to end the civilization of the Jews, He decided he would give his life for the truth that he taught, that his name would live, until the one that he prefigured came into existence. And that’s why the Koran says Jesus and his mother Mary were a sign. Jesus didn’t die on Calvary; he died in front of an old Jews’ store that was boarded up, and the Roman soldiers came to get him.”
Has anyone heard anything more absurd? How does any of this scenario even begin to make sense? God sent forth His Son (Gal. 4:4)—and then had to tell Him He sent Him 2,000 years too early? Hello! Does such a description sound as though God is even remotely omniscient?
Jesus did give His life for the truth He taught, but that truth included that He was God in the flesh (John 8:24, 58). Furthermore, He was not just keeping His name alive until another arrived. Paul said that God had “highly exalted Him, and given Him the name that is above every name.” All shall someday confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9, 11). Jesus is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16). He is not giving way to anyone. He does not prefigure anyone. And the Koran is wrong if it says Jesus is only a sign. He is the One to bruise Satan (Gen. 3:15), the prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15), and the King to come (2 Sam. 7:12-13).
Jesus died in front of an old Jew’s store that was boarded up? This information does not come from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter, or Jude. Someone either has an active imagination or deceitful visions. Such a notion possesses no credibility whatsoever. The Roman soldiers did not care about Jesus; they had no motive to kill Him. The Jews demanded Jesus’ crucifixion. He was no threat to the Roman government; He had not offended them. For that reason, the Jews had to insist the Romans crucify Him because only they had the authority to implement crucifixion.
Baptism imitates the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Rom. 6:3-5). We crucify ourselves by dying to sin. We are buried in water. And we are raised up to walk in newness of life. This is the way each individual obeys the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4; cf. Rom. 6:17-18). How does a person’s repentance and baptism relate to Jesus dying in front of a boarded-up store?
Blasphemy
Farrakhan was not finished with his speech. The following words are incredible.
The real story is what I tried to tell you from the beginning. It didn’t happen back there. It’s happening right while you’re alive looking at it. I represent the Messiah. I represent the Jesus and I am that Jesus. If I am not, take my life.
Not all of the false Christs that Jesus warned about came before A.D. 70 (Matt. 24:23-24); Farrakhan is a modern-day impostor. Farrakhan is not in any way, shape, or form like the true Messiah. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). It ought to be evident that Farrakhan came to kill, rather than to, save men. Jesus commanded all His followers to love one another, as He had loved them (John 13:34-35). Farrakhan has come to stir up hatred and encourage violence. Jesus came to end prejudice (Luke 9:49-56); Farrakhan is here to promote it. Jesus broke down the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:14-18). Farrakhan wants to reconstruct it.
Farrakhan says that he represents Jesus and is that Jesus. This statement is blasphemous. First, how could he even represent the Lord when his goals are contrary to those of Jesus. But, second, he is not Jesus in any sense that someone would care to explain. Furthermore, he is long on claims and short on proof. Jesus offered abundant evidence to establish what He taught concerning Himself (John 20:30-31). Everywhere He went, He healed people (Mark 6:54-56).
Farrakhan challenges all to take his life if he is not who he says he is. We don’t take the lives of people who disagree with the Scriptures. We expose their errors. God will deal with Farrakhan at the time He chooses and in the way He desires. Vengeance (for blasphemy) belongs to God—not Christians (Rom. 12:19). One thing is certain: if anyone erroneously does put him to death, he will not be raised up, as Jesus was.