A review of what an early Christian Red Piller said about the Christian Red Pill.

Readership: All;
Theme: Problems with the Red Pill / Socio-Political Appropriation
Length: 1,000 words
Reading Time: 5 minutes

In this post, I want to relay a fascinating essay from an early Christian Red Piller who hosted a blog named, Quit Playing Church, that ran from 2012/2 to 2015/6 and is still up on WordPress.  In this post dated 2012/12/10, he outlines his vision of what The Christian “Red Pill” is (or should be) all about.  I’m reposting this here because I think it is worth reviewing what the early pioneers of The Christian Red Pill had to say about it.

“I hope I am not going out on a limb by posting this because many “red pill” blogs have to do with relating to women, marriage, and alpha and beta traits, both secular and Christian.  However, of the Christian ones, many of the topics discussed point out how the Bible is being either horribly distorted or totally neglected by many in Christianity.  I appreciate many of their posts.  It has helped me to see the questions that I have asked are ones that others ask too.

I am not necessarily here to speak specifically about any “flavor” of the “red pill” such as feminism, marriage, PUA, Game, MRM, or the like.  In this post, I want to broaden the reach of the Christian “red pill”.

The Christian red pill is not anything special.  All it is about is taking the Bible for what it’s worth at face value.  It’s about taking all of what God says, not only the parts you like, and counting it as truth and seeking to please God by doing it, even if it goes against the “Christian” norm.”

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“The “red pill” goes down hard, tastes horrible, and has serious side effects.  You are just living life and BOOM!  …questions arise.  You get answers to those questions that don’t make sense and it makes you question things even more.  You wonder where in the Bible what is said came from.  But what is said is just the way it is.  Everyone seems to think it as well.  It’s just tradition.  Then you hear that Pastor so-and-so said “this” or a Christian book or radio program said “that”.  Where did they get THAT from?  Suddenly, you start fighting with yourself on what is true or not.  Who is right?  You realize God is.  His Word is truth whether other Christians want to follow it or not.

The “red pill” is really nothing new, either.  Many, many people through the ages have taken the pill.  Some of the more famous ones are ingrained into Christian history.  Martin Luther took the “red pill” and questioned the authority and some practices of the Roman Catholic Church with what the Scriptures taught, only to be condemned because of it.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not sway with the Church toward Hitler’s Nazi Regime and stood his ground at the cost of his life at the age of 39.  John Hus was burned at the stake for speaking against the Roman Catholic Church in his time.  William Tyndale was burned alive for translating the Bible into common English.  John Wycliffe was deemed a heretic for his Bible-based views prior to the Reformation.  He died of natural causes, but his body was dug up and burned afterwards.  Charles Spurgeon, a London pastor in the 1800’s, stood strong in the midst of the “downgrade controversy” when, even among Christians, the Bible was being questioned if it was the sole authority.  Ultimately, Jesus, the Maker of the “red pill”, stood up against the religious authority of His day who made their own rules instead of following God’s Word.

You see, the Christian “red pill” is nothing new.  It is believing EVERYTHING God says in His Word whether it sounds good or not, even if other “Christians” think otherwise.  It means not throwing in psychology or philosophy along with the Bible.  It means doing what God says even if it’s not the cultural norm.  It means dying to yourself and the world around you.  The Christian “red pill” simply means believing and doing what God says.  Hey, isn’t that what Jesus tells us to do anyway?”

Quit Playing Church: The Christian “Red Pill” (2012/12/10)

There’s much more content in the original essay, including a list of ‘benefits’ for both men and women and ‘side effects’ of taking the Red Pill.

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Conclusions

In summary, QPC has offered us an ontological conceptualization of The Christian Red Pill, summarized as the confusing, grueling, relentless battle of sifting through one’s beliefs, analyzing the content of one’s heart, and facing up to the reality of life itself, finding the truth, articulating it, and living it out in obedience to God.

I would have to agree that this is the bare essence of The Christian Red Pill, yea, a faith journey in itself.

One thing about the current Christian Red Pill that stands in stark contrast with QPC’s view is his idea of “not throwing in psychology or philosophy along with the Bible.”  The current iteration of the Christian Red Pill does include select topics in psychology and philosophy, but it is framed within a Biblical interpretation or is made subject to a Christian purpose, e.g. improving relationships, personal growth, understanding one’s self, etc.  Lately, the Christian Red Pill has warned against Positivism and has ventured into mystical territory, which may be regarded as a return to QPC’s vision.  Readers may like to comment about this or anything else about the current Christian Red Pill that contrasts with or deviates from QPC’s concepts.

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