What is Christianization?

Answer

Christianization is a term used to describe the process of making something “Christian.” When a nation’s population embraces Christianity as its official or predominant religion, that nation is considered Christianized, particularly if it is governed by a Christian ruler. The concept of Christianizing a country or nation is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. The Bible emphasizes evangelization—spreading the gospel—rather than engaging in political or military campaigns for Christianization, which historically involved forced baptisms and coerced recitations of creeds. Christianization can also involve adopting a pagan practice, structure, or holiday and repurposing it for Christian use. Some pagan rituals may have been adapted for use in contemporary Christmas celebrations, for instance.

One of the earliest instances of Christianization on a national scale took place under Emperor Constantine. It is uncertain whether Constantine was a Christian for most of his life, although there are suggestions that he may have converted in his later years (dc Talk and Voice of the Martyrs, Jesus Freaks: Volume II, Bethany House, 2002, p. 230). Constantine halted the persecution that Christians had endured under previous Roman emperors and showed favoritism toward Christianity, while also permitting pagan religious practices to persist. Although Constantine did not actively aim to Christianize his empire, he is recognized as one of the initial emperors who permitted Christianity in the Roman Empire and supported its expansion.

Subsequently, other rulers such as the Frankish King Clovis I and Prince Vladimir of Kievan Rus endeavored to Christianize their entire realms. In contrast to Constantine, who tolerated paganism, these rulers did not allow it, seeking to foster political cohesion. Richard Fletcher, a history professor at the University of York, remarked in an interview in Christian History, “It isn’t until the Frankish kingdom of Charlemagne in thIn the eighth century, force was used to coerce conversions, particularly in the campaign against the Saxons (“Interview—Converting by the Sword,” Issue 63, 1999). Mass baptisms were commonly conducted to Christianize the subjects of Roman Catholic kings and rulers during the medieval period.

Forced Christianization is clearly unbiblical since individuals cannot be compelled to place their faith in Jesus. Salvation is a gift from God through His grace, and individuals must freely and willingly accept this gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). Those subjected to forced conversions may have professed to be Christians, but that does not necessarily mean they truly believed in Christ. Scripture stresses the importance of genuine belief in the heart aligning with verbal confession: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

To facilitate national Christianization, many rulers adopted syncretism to resonate with native pagan traditions. Pagan converts to Christianity often simply added Jesus to their existing pantheon of gods. While the continuous presence of Christianity eventually led many to genuinely believe in Jesus, the rapid and forceful conversion of pagans initially failed to effectively bring them to Christ (Fletcher, op. cit.). It is impossible for a person to serve the one true God while also worshipping false gods simultaneously, as this is explicitly condemned in Scripture (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 6:24).

Arguably the most contentious aspect of Christianization was the looming threat of violence if one did not comply.

Do not submit to “conversion.” Many European explorers such as Christopher Columbus observed that extending a nation’s borders meant extending Christianity; conquering and enslaving new lands meant spreading the gospel (Kevin Miller, “Why Did Columbus Sail?” Christian History, Issue 35, 1992). Conquistadors would invade a land, capture entire peoples, and then impose Christianization on the natives: “Survivors were given few choices but to accept the sacrament of baptism and convert to Christianity. Latin America—by far the most Christianized region in the world—has remained predominantly Catholic ever since” (Dyron Daughrity. Roots: Uncovering Why We Do What We Do in Church, Chapter 2, ACU Press, 2016).

While non-coercive Christianization may have had some benefits, such as making the gospel easily accessible and establishing a Christian presence, it is not entirely positive. There is always the risk of altering behavior to fit a cultural trend without transforming the heart. As mentioned in Jesus Freaks: Volume II, “As Christianity transitioned from being persecuted to being trendy, a pattern emerged that continues to challenge believers today: cultural Christianity” (p. 230).