The History Channel will resume the historical drama entitled "The Vikings" this upcoming week. I have made it clear as to my feelings of this TV series in other blog articles, and am delighted and somewhat anxious for the 3rd season to begin...
As I was watching a "marathon" of this series from the past two seasons, there was a particular comment Ragnar Lothbrok, the main character in this T.V. mini-series, made to Athelstan, the devout Christian monk spared by Ragnar Lothbrok after his monastery had been pillaged by Lothbrok and his fellow Vikings. Athelstan became a personal captive to Ragnar Lothbrok and in time Lothbrok befriends Athelstan.
In one conversation between them Ragnar brings up this question to Athelstan in reference to the different gods or God they serve. Ragnar asks: "Why does your God deal in silver and gold? Is He not greedy like some of our gods?"
Francis Schaeffer, the great Christian apologist of the 20th century once wrote how the ancient gods of various cultures were actually "glorified humans", not true deity. I have found this to be true not only in ancient times but in the times we live today. In western culture specifically, a Christian is often measured by the degree of success he or she has or the amount of wealth established. More often a Christian is judged as "in a state of sin" when an adversity in life confronts a person. It is ever more true on such deep issues like divorce, finding themselves in financial ruin, or simply outside the "rules of the Christian social circles"...questions arise like: Did this person attend church regularly?, Were they faithful in tithing?, Did the wife submit to her husband? (boy...that is a touchy subject), or Did this person pray or read the Sacred Writings?
As I contemplate our Christian culture today and how we relate to society, I often think how Jesus addressed the world He lived in when here on earth. My favorite is "the woman at the well". This story to me marks the importance of why He came to live among us. He came to her not seeking silver or gold, nor did He come to condemn her. In fact, as I read of this story in John 4:1-40, the only gospel to have recorded this encounter, I find myself content in knowing our God is much more than one who seeks from us silver and gold, or one that judges us according to success in life. He seeks much more than that from us...He seeks our hearts, and that is the beauty of this intimate conversation between a Samaritan woman and the Lord Jesus.
The Scriptures are silent as to the name of this woman, yet we do know the Samaritans were a much despised people in the Jewish culture of that day. Not only that, this Samaritan woman was despised in her own arena of friends and culture because of her numerous relationships with other men.
So here comes Jesus...around noon in the heat of the day and asks her to draw for Him some water. This is bold...because even the Samaritan woman was aware He shouldn't even be speaking with her, let alone ask for a drink... Jewish custom of the day would not allow it. Yet...He did!
As this woman answers the question of how many men she had been with, I think Jesus gets a joy as she answers the questions openly and honestly. By the end of the conversation, this woman is fully aware she has been with...The Messiah!...and expresses her joy with others.
I love the part where the disciples return from getting food and ask Him: "What were You doing talking to that woman?" Jesus never answered their question...yet the woman at the well?...she definitely got the answer she needed.
It's a beautiful encounter and is well worth the read and background found in John 4: 1-40.
As for Ragnar's question regarding our God as greedy?....No, no He is not. It is not gold or silver He wants from us, rather it is our hearts...He wants us to experience the joy of knowing Him. He really is the drink of Living Water...just ask the Samaritan lady.....
As I was watching a "marathon" of this series from the past two seasons, there was a particular comment Ragnar Lothbrok, the main character in this T.V. mini-series, made to Athelstan, the devout Christian monk spared by Ragnar Lothbrok after his monastery had been pillaged by Lothbrok and his fellow Vikings. Athelstan became a personal captive to Ragnar Lothbrok and in time Lothbrok befriends Athelstan.
In one conversation between them Ragnar brings up this question to Athelstan in reference to the different gods or God they serve. Ragnar asks: "Why does your God deal in silver and gold? Is He not greedy like some of our gods?"
Francis Schaeffer, the great Christian apologist of the 20th century once wrote how the ancient gods of various cultures were actually "glorified humans", not true deity. I have found this to be true not only in ancient times but in the times we live today. In western culture specifically, a Christian is often measured by the degree of success he or she has or the amount of wealth established. More often a Christian is judged as "in a state of sin" when an adversity in life confronts a person. It is ever more true on such deep issues like divorce, finding themselves in financial ruin, or simply outside the "rules of the Christian social circles"...questions arise like: Did this person attend church regularly?, Were they faithful in tithing?, Did the wife submit to her husband? (boy...that is a touchy subject), or Did this person pray or read the Sacred Writings?
As I contemplate our Christian culture today and how we relate to society, I often think how Jesus addressed the world He lived in when here on earth. My favorite is "the woman at the well". This story to me marks the importance of why He came to live among us. He came to her not seeking silver or gold, nor did He come to condemn her. In fact, as I read of this story in John 4:1-40, the only gospel to have recorded this encounter, I find myself content in knowing our God is much more than one who seeks from us silver and gold, or one that judges us according to success in life. He seeks much more than that from us...He seeks our hearts, and that is the beauty of this intimate conversation between a Samaritan woman and the Lord Jesus.
The Scriptures are silent as to the name of this woman, yet we do know the Samaritans were a much despised people in the Jewish culture of that day. Not only that, this Samaritan woman was despised in her own arena of friends and culture because of her numerous relationships with other men.
So here comes Jesus...around noon in the heat of the day and asks her to draw for Him some water. This is bold...because even the Samaritan woman was aware He shouldn't even be speaking with her, let alone ask for a drink... Jewish custom of the day would not allow it. Yet...He did!
I love the part where the disciples return from getting food and ask Him: "What were You doing talking to that woman?" Jesus never answered their question...yet the woman at the well?...she definitely got the answer she needed.
It's a beautiful encounter and is well worth the read and background found in John 4: 1-40.
As for Ragnar's question regarding our God as greedy?....No, no He is not. It is not gold or silver He wants from us, rather it is our hearts...He wants us to experience the joy of knowing Him. He really is the drink of Living Water...just ask the Samaritan lady.....
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