Let's reclaim the truth of historical Christianity interacting with paganism. Today's episode we consider Scandinavia, Russia, Finland, Latvia, Northern Germany, Netherlands... Let's consider some early crusaders: 1. Boniface - English Christian (Saxon) who preached Christ at Saxony (Northern Germany through to the Netherlands), his ancestral home. He was warned by the pagans, that if he laid hands on the 'sacred' oak tree, the gods would kill him. So he chopped it down, and he was just fine. Just like the Old Testament stories (1 Kings 18:20-46). God stands against murdering ideologies, including ancient ISIS type beliefs. God will hold terrorising leaders to account "those who live by the sword die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). Ask, seek and knock, and God will 'show up' for you; in both the best of times and the worst (Hebrews 11:32-12:3, Acts 7:54-60); power and ability to face anything when you trust in the King of Kings.

2. Charlemagne - fought against the pagan Saxons who fought against Frankish Christians, at the same time Islam was invading Spain, enslaving and killing its citizens; Saxons to the north; Islam to the south. Charlemagne, an educated King, whose scribal principles we still use today.

Christian Scribal Tradition Christians documented and wrote what they saw and heard. The Old and New Testament bear testimony to this. Written witness is Biblical. Oral tradition, Holy Spirit empowered, is first-hand witness! If the God of the universe is behind your traditions, has spoken to you directly, it is worth taking note of them. If God isn't, then we can begin to doubt that tradition. Early Christians speak of priceless relics, wrote testimonial accounts, stopped pagan cruelty, rebuilt cities (such as Reiga, capital of Latvia), or built new cities; civilised cities built on the foundations of the Giver of abundant new life -King Jesus, (Psalm 18:2, Psalm 46, Isaiah 28:16, Romans 8).  Let's discuss real paganism Is it recycling? Love of nature? Uh, 'no'. If you really love nature, and wish to preserve the earth - go to Jesus.  Love and care of creation, animals, environment is Christian.

Pagan's burned people (Northern pagan gods), let animals suffer (cows in India), sacrifice animals and humans (paganism of Saxoni, Netherlands and Scandinavia). Slavic pagans sacrificed humans to their 'god' Radegast (such as the Scottish Bishop John Scotus, 1066). Paganism worldwide (from the Americas, through Asia into Europe) carries similar themes - rivalry, includes sacrifice of personal items, human beings and animals, to be appeased, oppressed by and feared.  True paganism destroys nature, it does not preserve it. Christianity stopped pagan death-practices in South America.  Christianity stopped Suttee burning deaths (burning widows alive) in India. Christianity stopped pagan death-rituals in Europe and America...  Christianity does not suppress, but frees us from the suppression our pagan religions impose on us, especially on the vulnerable, or outsider tribes.

Christ gives life (Romans 8:31-39)