"BEN-HER" BLOGS
A Blogger Living in the Same Cultural Conflicts, Confusion, and Chaos, as the First Century Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ was a novel by Lew Wallace, published by Harper and Brothers on November 12, 1880. It was described as “the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century”. It became a best-selling American novel and later was made into movies, four times, starring Ramon Novarro (1925), Charlton Heston (1959), Joseph Morgan (2010), and Jack Huston (2016).
I summarise the story of Ben-Hur as a man who was thriving in the culture and politics of Rome in the first century who had an encounter with Jesus Christ. His beliefs were gradually transformed and ultimately challenged when he faced conflicts between the Christian world, that included the woman he loved, and the idoleogy of the Roman’s world of that day.
This to me is no different than what we are facing today, and as I begin this blogging journey, we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are facing many pressures from the government trying to control it at the expense of taking away ‘normal’ freedoms. That often comes with increased attacks on those who want to walk in faith and not fear.
So forgive me for using the name “Ben-Her” to identify a type of blogging format. The dichotomies in the story Ben-Hur are the same as we have today. Confusion. Conflicts. Chaos. Corruption. Corona "leprosy" of the day. And citizens on earth figuring out where they belong. What side to take if any.
You may not agree, but please just ponder the many sides of a topic and reasons for opinions. Most of all reasons for hope against despair. These are as much for me as they are for you. Sincerely, "BEN-HER" (aka Linda McKendry)
I summarise the story of Ben-Hur as a man who was thriving in the culture and politics of Rome in the first century who had an encounter with Jesus Christ. His beliefs were gradually transformed and ultimately challenged when he faced conflicts between the Christian world, that included the woman he loved, and the idoleogy of the Roman’s world of that day.
This to me is no different than what we are facing today, and as I begin this blogging journey, we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are facing many pressures from the government trying to control it at the expense of taking away ‘normal’ freedoms. That often comes with increased attacks on those who want to walk in faith and not fear.
So forgive me for using the name “Ben-Her” to identify a type of blogging format. The dichotomies in the story Ben-Hur are the same as we have today. Confusion. Conflicts. Chaos. Corruption. Corona "leprosy" of the day. And citizens on earth figuring out where they belong. What side to take if any.
You may not agree, but please just ponder the many sides of a topic and reasons for opinions. Most of all reasons for hope against despair. These are as much for me as they are for you. Sincerely, "BEN-HER" (aka Linda McKendry)
