The stave churches of Norway were built in the 12th and 13th centuries, not long after Christianity was first introduced in the country. Some of the churches and their amazing architecture and beautiful woodwork still remain.
On the exterior of the churches crosses can be found. Often a dragon’s head can be found as well. These heads were also found on Viking ships and were part of Norse mythology. The dragon’s heads seem to suggest the builders of the churches weren’t completely sure this Christianity they had recently converted to was the only way. They thought it would be good to put a symbol from mythology up on the church, along with a cross, just in case. They were trying to keep all the “gods” happy.
Those 12th century Norwegian carpenters would have fit in well in the American spiritual landscape of today. Many, when it comes to what they believe, are keeping all their options open. They’ll practice some Buddhist meditation, talk about Hindu karma and admire the Mormons’ family values. They believe 1.6 billion Muslims can’t be all wrong. They’ll baptize their babies and take Communion in a Christian church and think it can all fit together and all these religions basically teach the same thing.
Spiritual beliefs that resemble a religious smorgasbord are not a new thing. The Romans believed in many “gods.” They would not have been so bothered by the early Christians if Jesus had been presented as just another option people could consider. What upset them was when the Christians declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The early Christians held on to the cross of Christ alone. They presented Jesus to the world not as something that might work for some people, but as the one hope of salvation for all people. In Acts 17 we read of Paul speaking in Athens to people who had many objects of worship. He told them of the one true Creator God, who was over all other objects of worship and had raised Jesus from the dead.
The builders in Norway who included the dragons on the churches were probably fearful and uncertain that they could trust Jesus as the only hope of salvation. They needed to, and we need to, remember that Jesus is our certain hope of salvation. We can trust Him fully. We don’t need a backup plan. He is our one hope, and He is our solid and sure hope. He will never fail us. We can cast aside other things we used to trust in. Without fear we can go all in, trusting in Christ alone.
~ By Craig Johnson
