I've purchased numerous copies if this book and give it regularly as gifts for young adults. I wish it was available in a high end hard cover. It's worthy !

The GA Henty book about the life of King Alfred the Great, "The Dragon and the Raven", is a really great introduction to him for kids.

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read.

"If you knew that I desire mercy and not justice." Reading about the Christian giants of old, they were hardened men who knew how to show mercy to their enemies.

Great Episode! Enjoyed the discussion.

Thank you both for your ministries

This has been just wonderful!!! Thank you so much for this fantastic interview with Dr. Merkel. Every Christian should read, "The White Horse King" (and/or listen to it on Canon+) and learn about the amazing life of King Alfred the Great for such a time as this! Soli Deo Gloria!!!

@caraisabelladeborah

2 ай бұрын

Hi Susan, I would like to listen to the story. What is Canon+? :)

President Ben Merkle! Yay blessings!

Thanks from Germany

That story about Alfred and Guthrum is such a beautiful picture of the Gospel(assuming that Guthrum actually converted)

So cool. I read this book a few years ago after learning about Alfred from a netflix show.

@1Whipperin

5 ай бұрын

Believing a violent man like King Alfred promoted Christianity is like believing a pimp promoted motherhood.

Did this guy say king alfred was an evangelical? Haha

It is deeply troubling to reconcile King Alfred the Great's use of violence with the teachings of Jesus, who preached love, forgiveness, and nonviolence. Alfred's military campaigns, for the defense of his kingdom, stand in stark contrast to the principles of the Prince of Peace. Instead of embodying Christ's message of nonviolence and reconciliation, Alfred's military actions show a troubling contradiction between professed faith and violent means. In considering Alfred's legacy, a Christian cannot help but feel a sense of disgust at the notion of violence being employed under the guise of following the Prince of Peace.

@mwright_boomer

5 ай бұрын

I don’t know everything that Alfred did, but the use of military force to protect image-bearers of God under your charge is justified. The Vikings were never going to stop simply because the English said “please don’t do that.”

@1Whipperin

5 ай бұрын

@@mwright_boomer You have no faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior?

@user-uz4to3pb6y

5 ай бұрын

Abraham rescuing his nephew Lot by use of the sword, David fighting Philistines, Elijah putting the prophets of Baal to the sword and others...by your standard they and many other Christian leaders in history did the wrong thing by taking up arms for their country and people.

@austinrothjr

5 ай бұрын

Explain Jesus’ violent cleansing of the temple in regard to your contention that he was exclusively non-violent.

@joaomatheusbeck7664

5 ай бұрын

@@1Whipperin Didn't Joshua, the Judges of Israel, Samuel, David, Solomon and so many other saints of Israel have faith in the God of Israel? Yes, they had faith that the God of Israel would save them from their enemies. But what did their faith in God lead them to do? Their faith in God led them to fight both to conquer the promised land and also to keep it under their rule and to protect those within its borders. Note that in the Old Covenant there is complete compatibility between having faith in God as the one who saves you and making provision for national security and the protection of its citizens. There is perfect compatibility between David's faith in God as the protector and savior of Israel and his precaution, as king of the nation, to maintain under his command a professional army prepared for battle. What many Christians do not understand is that the compatibility between faith and action, even action through a professional army, remains in the New Covenant. It is interesting to note that when citing the heroes of faith, the writer of Hebrews makes a point of listing their military feats: And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight (Hebrews 11.32-34). The explicit purpose of the writer of Hebrews in this chapter is to encourage his readers to remain firm in the faith. And he makes a point of showing how the faith of the Old Covenant saints, among other ways, was shown through their willingness to wage war against those who opposed Israel. If the writer of Hebrews were a pacifist, if he were someone who claims that all wars are unjust, if he did not recognize that sometimes Christians will have to take up arms to defend their nation and even their home, why would he make a point of relating true faith in Christ as Lord and Savior with the willingness to enter battle and wage war? If he were a pacifist, after having linked faith in Christ with the willingness to wage war, why did he not argue that for Christians all war is unjust, and for this very reason all the commendable examples of courage on the battlefield found in the Old Testament should be spiritualized and reinterpreted in terms of the believer's battle against his flesh, against sin or even against Satan?