Tuesday, September 17, 2024

*** This is a rough transcript of today’s show ***

 

It is the 17th of September 2024. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

It’s the 17th; I should be in Munich today, and let me remind you that while they put pretzels on your table, they charge you if you eat them- it’s not like chips and salsa (this, of course, is one of the reasons I’ve been made into a tour guide).

I got a question from Lizzy in  Alaska. Home of Ron from Alaska, whose kids laugh at the way I say…. My name.

Her question boils down to “Can we, as Christians, believe that Bigfoot may exist?” She has a friend who got her into a podcast that she found herself getting into but wondered about the place of myths and the world of spirits, elves, fairies, etc.

I love this question- I think it will take personal discernment ultimately, but here is what I have.

One of the most pernicious worldviews is that of strict materialism. That is, if you can’t see it- it doesn’t exist. Not like, "sound waves don’t exist,” but more like “God doesn’t exist.” There are people who, in our post-enlightenment world, have a completely “de-mystified” picture of things. (Of course, there are the others- the wildly credulous, but you’ll hear why that doesn’t bother me as much). 

The best thing that “post modernism” ever did was kill, for some, the promise of modernity and the ability to master the known world. Post Modernism suggests that the world is not a closed system, we can’t explain it all, and there might be weird things we can’t account for.

Like Bigfoot.

And the Resurrection of the dead. To name two things, one of which to believe in is probably irrelevant, and the other is a matter of life and death.

I have a category of questions like this that I get- they involve aliens, ouija boards, ghosts, psychics etc…

My first bit of advice is: don’t be a mark. Some of this is easily explained with psychology, sleight of hand, camera tricks, sunspots, whatever…

You mentioned working with the native population in Alaska and made a parallel to my time in Scotland where there are all kinds of stories of spooks and ghosts and legends.

I have two models for you: one from Scotland, the other from Germany, where I am today.

The story from Scotland is one I’ve told before about St. Columba from Ireland (this is in the 500s)- he is said to have come across men burying their friend who was said to be killed by the Loch Ness Monster. As the story is told Columba goes out on the lake, confronts the monster with the sign of the cross and the monster flees and the men come to faith.  

Secondly is the story of St. Boniface and the Donar Oak, or “Thor’s Oak”. The pagans used this as the focal point for their worship of Thor and their sacrifices. Boniface shows up, falls the tree with a swing of an axe, and when nothing happens, the pagans convert- it turns out their God was weaker than his.

Both of these stories give us ways Christians have dealt with the curious- the “Bigfoot” questions.

Maybe they are real! Maybe the powers of darkness use these types of things as inroads. I tend to think of seances, ouija boards and the like in this category. Is it real? I don’t know, but I’m also not sure what would happen to my hand in a meat grinder. However, I’m savvy enough to stay away.

But someone who is into those things is going to be more likely open to my supernatural religion and the claims of Jesus. And that Jesus has overcome the powers of darkness- this is some Ephesians stuff here.

This is Columba saying, “Oh, you’ve got a lake monster? Cool. I have a risen God-man who saved the world”.

And then there are times to call out folly- go right at the root- pull back the curtain and reveal there is no Wizard of Oz. This is Boniface cutting down the oak. Perhaps there are animists in your context that believe something has power over them- maybe you don’t want to physically smash it- but ask questions? Take Paul’s approach, perhaps, and say, “You seem religious. Let's talk about it.” Of course, I’d submit we always do it in love, but sometimes some idol smashing is what is called for.

Thanks for the question Lizzy and blessings on your ministry is that giant, far way, cold state (that looks really cool!)

What does tomorrow’s show hold? Another mailbag? I don’t know. I’m currently working out of order because I liked that question so much.

 

 

The last word for today is from the daily lectionary and Colossians 3:

 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 17th of September 2024, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by the Art Bell of coffee-roasting Lutheran pastors- he is Coast-to-Coast Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man jumping out in front of the questions sure to come about Aliens- look up the Fermi paradox. I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.