Answer: Maybe
Disclaimer: It is not our role to determine whether or not somebody is a Christian. We just use our discernment based on the evidence we have found on the internet to come to a likely or best-guess answer. Our answers do not actually determine who is or is not a Christian and it is ultimately between the person and God. Not us.
Kyle Howard Rittenhouse came into the limelight following outrage in the local tabloids and on social media about his involvement in the protest shootings that took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kyle Rittenhouse who was born on January 3, 2003, and was 17 years old at the time of the incident shot three men, while two died, and one was severely injured.
The incident took place in August 2020 and when he was tried in November 2021, his lawyers argued that he only killed those people as an act of self-defense, and in the end, he was acquitted and given a non-guilty verdict.
According to reports, Kyle Rittenhouse attacked the men in self-defense during the protest that happened when a black man, Jacob Blake was shot by a police officer. Kyle Rittenhouse, who armed himself with an AR-15 rifle, joined a group of armed people that claimed they wanted to protect businesses in the town of Kenosha.
Kyle Rittenhouse was born and raised in Antioch, Illinois in the United States. His parents are Michael and Wendy Rittenhouse. His parents who got separated in 2014, got married in 2000, three years before the birth of Kyle Rittenhouse. He is the only son among three siblings. Before Kyle Rittenhouse dropped out of Lakes Community High School in 2018 and took up online schooling, he participated in Volunteer programs such as The “Explorers Program at the Grayslake Police Department” and a “cadet program at the Antioch Fire Department.
Kyle Rittenhouse has not said much about his beliefs. He was not well-known to the public until the Kenosha shooting and he only became the center of attraction after the incident. As a result, the public has been raising eyebrows about his religious status. This article seeks to answer the question: Is Kyle Rittenhouse a Christian?
Is Kyle Rittenhouse Religious?
As earlier stated, Kyle’s Rittenhouse private life was not known to the general public before the shooting incident and as such, it is not known if Kyle Rittenhouse lived a religious life or not. Several reports alleged that Kyle Rittenhouse was associated with a group that was known for violence. According to the Washington Post, during the trial, the prosecutors moved a motion to the Judge’s office. Below is an excerpt from the filed motion;
“The defendant’s continued association with members of a group that prides itself on violence, and the use of their symbols, raises the significant possibility of future harm… The State of Wisconsin prohibits those under the age of 21 from possessing or consuming alcohol (with some limited exceptions) because underage drinkers are not mature enough to handle alcohol responsibly. Furthermore, the consumption of alcohol increases the likelihood of violent criminal acts.”
We’re uncertain if Kyle Rittenhouse was already known to be violent, but in the video, just before the shooting, there was a point where he said “Bro, I wish I had my F—ing AR. I’d start shooting rounds at them.” And because of this statement, the prosecutors said, “the defendant fervently sought to insert himself as an armed vigilante into situations that had nothing to do with him.”
The Washington Post reported that immediately after pleading not guilty to the murder charges, “Rittenhouse appeared at Mount Pleasant Wisconsin bar in a T-shirt that read, “Free as F—,” and allegedly drank three beers, despite being underage. He then posed for photos with members of the Proud Boys while flashing an “OK sign,” a hand signal adopted by the alt-right to signify “white power.”
In a Twitter video, Kyle Rittenhouse was captured saying, “People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business, and part of my job also is to protect people. If someone is hurt, I’m running into harm’s way. That’s why I have my rifle; I’ve gotta protect myself obviously. But I also have my med kit.”
While much is not known about his religious life, it is known that Kyle Rittenhouse was always available for volunteer work for the police, as he was a fan of the police department.
Does Kyle Rittenhouse Believe in God?
Kyle Rittenhouse said that his faith in God helped him through his ordeal while he was on trial and also stated that his faith played a massive role in the verdict of the trial. In 2021 when he was a panelist at the Political Conference AmericaFest, he said;
“I believe God’s been with me every day through the trial and every day since August 25, He’s helped me get through this. I pray to him every single night. I pray for strength. I never prayed for an acquittal. I just prayed for the strength to get through whatever happens to me.”
Kyle Rittenhouse also said, “You gotta just pray every night. I talk to God…Only God knows what’s going to happen in the future. You just gotta live each day by each day, that’s the only thing you can do through, this is to pray. And that’s what I do. I wear a cross every day. Just gotta pray and…know God is on your side. I feel like God has been on my side through the beginning”.
Kyle Rittenhouse said something about his God-given right at the Conference. His statement was, “This is honestly to be an attack on our Second Amendment rights, and our rights to self-defense, and it’s saying, if you use your God-given right to self-defense, they’re going to come after you. If you win in court, you’re acquitted–rightfully so. They’re going to take you to civil court, they’re going to take you for everything you’re worth, they’re going to drive you into bankruptcy and drown you in a mountain of legal bills.”
Kyle Rittenhouse’s statements about God, suggest that he believes in God.
Is Kyle Rittenhouse a Christian?
Kyle Rittenhouse hasn’t said much about his Christianity status, but during the time of the shooting and his court trial, his beliefs came under fire as lots of people questioned his decision to release bullets on those people, because Christianity prohibits murder and was listed in the ten commandments God handed to Moses. While some supported him for defending himself, other Christians came at him for taking laws into his hands.
According to Religion Unplugged, some Christians rallied together and raised funds for him for the trial. One such Christian, Kachina Wallace said, “The boy was defending himself, let’s study the 10 commandments [in the Bible] if people are unsure as to what is right or wrong. As a country, I believe we have moved away from Christian principles. We need people to treat each other with respect.”
Another fund donor Joni Schmidt said “I think there is a good biblical case for self-defense, as far as I’m concerned, Kyle might be another Joseph. Joseph was unjustly accused of several things and he ended up in prison and he glorified God. He didn’t go about arguing about it, he just thought I’m here and I will make the best of it. From the tweet he sent out after his imprisonment, he has good spirits.”
Other people said that Kyle Rittenhouse’s actions were not befitting of a Christian. A Pastor in Antioch who wanted to be kept anonymous said;
“From my perspective, what Kyle did was wrong. He should be held accountable according to the earthly law. However, if he finds repentance in Christ, God will forgive him. If Kyle is a Christian, he was called to not harm. If he is also a Christian and he repents, there is also forgiveness.”
In 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse expressed remorse when he said “I wish I never would have had to take somebody’s life.”
Is Kyle Rittenhouse Baptized?
Kyle Rittenhouse has not disclosed if he is baptized or not, and there are no public records to confirm his baptism status. As such we do not know if he is baptized.
What did Kyle Rittenhouse say about Jesus?
After his acquittal from the Kenosha shooting, he compared himself to Jesus. His words were: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. John 15:18. All the harassment I receive makes me wonder if it would be easier to stay quiet about my values and beliefs. But then I remember that God sent His Son Jesus. who experienced the hatred of the world first.”
Kyle Rittenhouse received a lot of backlash from people because of that statement. A Twitter handle, “Give my regards to Davy” said, “This crybaby drove across state lines to commit murder with an assault rifle. I might be an atheist but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t how Jesus rolled. Or if it is, dude Christianity is a dumbass religion”.
Another person posted on Twitter with the name “right-wing cope” said, “Kyle Rittenhouse is now comparing himself to Jesus LMFAO”
Conclusion
There is no information about Kyle Rittenhouse’s religious life or Christianity status. The young man had said that he prays every night and that his strong faith in God helped him get a good verdict at the end of the trial. As such, Kyle Rittenhouse might be a Christian but since he hasn’t affirmed this openly, we do not know and we are not in a position to judge him based on his actions.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!