July 18, 2025

Viking Christians: Breaking the Mold of Traditional Faith

Viking Christians: Breaking the Mold of Traditional Faith
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Viking Christians: Breaking the Mold of Traditional Faith

In this episode of Battlegram, host Merrill delves into the concept of being a 'Viking Christian,' exploring the challenges of fitting into traditional church culture while maintaining a personal and authentic faith. Merrill shares personal experiences of feeling judged and disconnected within church settings, emphasizing that faith is not a one-size-fits-all journey. The episode encourages listeners to embrace a relationship with Jesus that is genuine and personal, rather than conforming to societal expectations of religious practice.

Merrill outlines 20 ways Christians can encourage one another to foster a more loving and authentic faith community. These suggestions include promoting humility over superiority, making room for doubt, and separating tradition from truth. Merrill advocates for a church environment that feels like family, champions grace over guilt, and supports mental health openly. The episode concludes with a call to love radically and to embrace diverse expressions of faith, reminding listeners that the essence of Christianity is found in love and community, not in rigid adherence to tradition.

00:00 - Introduction: A Viking Christian Perspective

00:52 - 20 Ways to Encourage Authentic Faith

05:10 - Embracing the Viking Christian Identity

05:50 - Breaking Molds and Building Community

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NOTE
Transcription provided by Podhome.fm
Created: 7/18/2025 10:07:46 PM
Duration: 392.202
Channels: 1

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Could you be a viking Christian?

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This video isn't to bash Christians.

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I am one.

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But

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I've struggled to feel at home in church culture,

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and I know I'm not alone.

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Somewhere between the sermons

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and the Sunday close,

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I felt

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judged,

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boxed in,

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disconnected.

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Like,

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if I wasn't doing faith a certain way,

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praying before every meal,

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raising my hand during worship,

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going to church every week,

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then maybe I wasn't Christian enough.

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But faith isn't one size fits all.

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And Jesus didn't come to create clones.

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He came to invite us into a relationship.

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So here's something different.

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20 things Christians can encourage in each other

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to make our faith more real,

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more loving,

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more like Jesus.

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Not to condemn,

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but to grow.

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20 ways Christians can encourage one another.

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One,

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let's encourage humility,

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not superiority.

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Faith is a gift, not a trophy.

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Two,

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let's make room for doubt.

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Thomas doubted

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and Jesus showed up anyway.

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Three,

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let's separate tradition

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from truth.

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Going to church every Sunday isn't the only way to walk with god.

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Four,

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let's listen more

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than we preach.

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Jesus met people where they were.

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He asked questions.

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He didn't just give answers.

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Five,

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let's stop using the bible as a weapon.

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It should convict us

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before we ever use it to correct others.

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Six,

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let's invite people into faith, not impose it.

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God never forces love,

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neither should we.

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Seven,

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let's normalize

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messy faith.

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Yes, messy faith.

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We all have questions.

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We all fall.

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Let's walk together,

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not pretend we've got it all figured out.

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Eight,

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let's be real.

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Tell the truth about your struggles,

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not just your victories.

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Nine,

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let's stop

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judging.

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That job's already taken,

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and God is a lot more merciful than we are.

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10,

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let's celebrate different faith expressions.

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Worship isn't one sound,

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It's many voices,

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many hearts.

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11,

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let's make church feel like family,

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not a club.

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There should be no VIP

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section in the kingdom of God.

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12,

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let's champion

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grace,

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not guilt.

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Correction should come with compassion,

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not

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shame.

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13,

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let's support mental health

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openly.

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Faith and therapy

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can

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coexist.

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Jesus healed minds

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as well as hearts.

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14,

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let's call out performative

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faith.

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God sees the heart,

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Instagram

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doesn't.

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15,

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let's be okay with saying, I don't know.

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Mystery isn't a weakness,

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it's part of the journey.

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16,

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let's find God in everyday

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life. You

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don't have to pray before dinner to be close to God.

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Kindness

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is a form of prayer.

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17,

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let's talk about transformation,

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not just blessings.

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God's not a vending machine.

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He's a relationship.

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18.

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Let's elevate

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diverse voices.

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The early church wasn't monochrome,

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neither is the body of Christ.

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19,

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let's ask questions

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together.

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Faith grows stronger when we wrestle with it, not when we hide from hard

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topics.

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20,

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let's love radically.

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That's the most Christian thing we can do.

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I'm gonna give a bonus.

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Let's start caring,

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not Karen ing.

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I call myself a Viking Christian sometimes,

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not because I pillage and burn,

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but because I follow Christ

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boldly

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outside

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the usual boxes.

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I love God.

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I believe deeply.

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But I don't always fit the church mold,

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and that should be okay.

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Jesus was known for breaking

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molds,

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not enforcing them.

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He flipped tables for justice,

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not tradition.

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He ate with the outcast,

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not just with the righteous.

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So if you're feeling like an outsider in your own faith,

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you're not alone

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and you're not less Christian.

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Let's stop judging each other and start building each other up.

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Because a church isn't a building.

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It's a body and we need

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every part.

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Let's be known by our love,

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not our lectures.

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Be bold.

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Be viking.

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I'm Merrill and this is Battlegram.

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Click here for a different way to look at the Bible, and click here for more crazy granny videos.

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Goodbye.