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Is Christianity a Bloody, Pagan Religion?
Ask Pastor Tyler: Often I will have people ask amazing questions via email, text, or in person. So, I will occasionally turn them into blog posts for those interested. I’ve found that so many of us are all thinking about the same things.
Today’s question is this: Christianity seems to be a very bloody religion. Is animal sacrifice (to the gods) a pagan concept that Christianity ripped off?
As Christians, we sing a lot about the “blood of Christ.” Some of these songs as famous favorites, but the imagery is still a little strange: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. . .Oh precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. . .” Or:
“There is a fountain that I see//Filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s vein//The sinners, sinners plunged beneath that blood//Lose all their guilty stains.”
That last one is particularly odd; a “fountain of blood” sounds more like a horror flick than good news to modern ears. Although these songwriters probably took the image a little far, the picture and visual of blood does come from the Bible, like 1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” And Ephesians 2:13: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
As my friend asked me recently, does this make Christianity a bloody, barbaric, pagan religion?
On the surface, because the ancient culture of the Bible is so different from our own, many things in it can seem primitive and pagan. But if we look closely at Christ’s death, we’ll see that it’s very different from these ancient religions. There are some clear contrasts with paganism and Judeo-Christianity.
For example, pagan gods are often hungry, needy, volatile, and demanding. They’re moody and they need constant blood. And their bloodlust is not just limited to animals, pagan gods often demanded infants, children, or adults. Human blood. And the gods need people to feed and serve them. In fact, this is paganism’s “chief end of man”: to pacify the gods and serve them forever.
But in Christianity, God makes humans to be in relationship with them. When that relationship gets broken, and things go off the rails, God eventually comes down to us, in the person of Jesus, and serves US through a sacrifice. In Christianity, God doesn’t demand blood, he becomes human and gives of his blood (sacrifices his life).
In this, Christianity isn’t very bloody at all! Only one person dies. He gives his life voluntarily, taking all the sin, suffering, and evil onto himself. In this way, Christ’s death is less pagan, and more like the stories we all love and remember. So many stories and books and movies demonstrate that this theme means so much to us as humans, like in Harry Potter or Stranger Things. I would argue that these myths that deeply resonate with us point to the source of these myths, a God who sacrifices himself for us. In this, it’s not so much the blood itself that forgive us. There’s nothing magical about it. But blood is a powerful piece of life, and of death. When we say “the blood of Jesus” forgives us, we mean that Jesus’ substitute and sacrificing his life is what brings us forgiveness.
Now, when some people think of a bloody Christianity, they might be referring back to the Old Testament. But even before Jesus, Judaism (Old Testament) is also very different from paganism.
A) One fact that often gets missed is that animal sacrifice, in the Old Testament, sometimes function as a BBQ. A party. Simply enjoying some good meat with family and friends. Yes it's bloody, in the same way that a butcher shop is bloody. Not a bad thing if you clean up well.
B) Also, as mentioned above, God commands animal sacrifice, unlike the surrounding cultures which killed humans. God is moving his people in a different direction (eventually ending all sacrifice with Jesus).
C) Sometimes these sacrifices are meant to show the seriousness of a moral failure, highlighting the principle that our actions affect those around us. In this ancient culture, these signs and symbols were hugely important. But Christianity put a stop to these practices.
Christianity is definitely still strange, and as Russell Moore has argued, we should keep it that way. Our culture is desperate for the transcendent and true. We should explain Christianity in the vernacular (common language), without religious clichés, but still in a way that keeps the central message (which is a strange one). But remember, Christianity was just as strange back then as it is now. God breaks in on both paganism AND progressivism, rattling pre-modernity, modernity, and post-modernity. So, #KeepChristianityWeird, but also in a way that’s historically reliable and culturally understandable.
Frank Dunkle serves as a professor and Coordinator of Ambassador Bible College. He is active in the church's teen summer camp program and contributed articles for UCG publications. Frank holds a BA from Ambassador College in Theology, an MA from the University of Texas at Tyler and a PhD from Texas A&M University in History. His wife Sue is a middle-school science teacher and they have one child.
This mystical weapon transcends the limitations of mere human ability, merging the mundane with the extraordinary. It is as if the bat itself possesses an ancient knowledge, a connection to realms unseen. Yet, despite its fantastical powers, the supernatural spell baseball bat remains a cherished relic, coveted by those seeking mastery over forces beyond the realm of human understanding. In skilled hands, this bat can cause miracles on the field and leave spectators in awe of its bewitching abilities. However, caution must be exercised, for the power it wields is not to be taken lightly. In the wrong hands, the supernatural spell baseball bat could unleash chaos, twisting reality to suit its own whims. Ultimately, the supernatural spell baseball bat embodies the intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the meeting point of human skill and ancient magic. It is a symbol of the mysterious, the unknown, and the limitless potential of the human imagination..
Reviews for "The Ultimate Weapon: Conquering Opposition with the Supernatural Spell Baseball Bat"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to try the Supernatural spell baseball bat, but I was extremely disappointed with the results. The bat didn't live up to its claims of enhancing my performance and hitting power. In fact, it felt just like any other regular baseball bat. Additionally, the supposedly supernatural element was nothing but a gimmick. Save your money and stick to a regular, reliable baseball bat.
2. Emily - 1 star - I wish I could give the Supernatural spell baseball bat zero stars. It was a complete waste of money. Not only did the bat not improve my performance, but it was also poorly constructed. After just a few hits, the bat started to show signs of wear and tear, with the grip coming loose and the barrel denting easily. I reached out to customer service for a refund, but they were unhelpful and unresponsive. Stay away from this gimmicky and poorly made bat.
3. David - 2 stars - As an avid baseball player, I was intrigued by the idea of a Supernatural spell baseball bat. However, my experience with it was underwhelming. The bat's design and concept seemed promising, but it failed to live up to expectations. The claimed magical properties had no noticeable impact on my hitting ability or power. Additionally, the bat felt unbalanced and lacked the weight distribution necessary for a solid swing. Overall, it was a disappointing purchase and I wouldn't recommend it to serious baseball players.