June 26: The Wrong Kind of Viking

June 26: The Wrong Kind of Viking

Sometimes the “why” we do things comes to us after we get started. So why a series on “How to Train Your Dragon”? The heart of the film is Hiccup’s exploration of his own identity. His father, and in fact the whole village, apply enormous pressure for Hiccup to become a fearless, foul-mouthed, dragon-killing Viking. It doesn’t take much of a glance to see that Hiccup is none of those things. At first Hiccup tries to live up to these expectations, but soon discovers a whole new way of being a Viking, one which saves him and the whole village. It also ushers in a whole new way of life for them all.

                We will use “How to Train Your Dragon” to begin SCUCC’s exploration of who we are and who we want to be. We will let Hiccup guide us in our conversations and explorations.

                This first week the contrasts between Hiccup and his Viking village-mates are all too clear. He already knows his obvious shortcomings. His inventive nature is at odds with the Vikings’ more direct approach to the marauding dragons. And finally, when he actually gets his opportunity to perform the action that defines a good Viking, he fails: he finds he cannot kill a dragon. Hiccup is the wrong kind of Viking.

Ephesians 6:10-18

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

Good News: We are given the means to transform the world.

Subject: We cannot be agents of positive transformation by using violence or oppression. We have to learn a new way.

Experiential Field: In the process of transformation and growth, we will experience confusion and doubt but it is worth the journey.

                As I said last week, the early Christians we poor fits for their society. This passage is an ironic take on the standard mind-set of that ancient day. Rome was the prevailing power of the day, symbolized by its ever-present military. The scabbard-belt, the breastplate, the army boots, the shield and the helmet were all symbols of a Roman soldier’s power over the peasant. The author of Ephesians (likely not Paul himself) used those symbols ironically to convey the message that Christians must respond in a different mode than do the Romans. Christians do not arm themselves with metal or with strength, but with justice, truth, and peace.

                The double-irony is that many Christians read this passage as a call to battle. They miss the original irony of a call to peace. They read as an exaltation of Rome’s methods and an invitation for Christians to adopt Rome’s militancy. We need to reclaim the complexity and nuance of this passage, and make clear the contrast that this Epistle makes between the Way of Christ and the ways of the world.

                Just as Hiccup is the wrong kind of Viking, so we as followers of Christ make the wrong kind of Romans. If, like Hiccup, we cannot fit into the world’s expectations for violence and self-centeredness, then what is our role? How do we live as ambassadors of peace in a war-addicted world?