Beware of False Conversions

Hastein was a Danish Viking who led raids from the 850’s through the 890’s. His men looted lands in Europe and Africa, praying primarily on Christians but also Muslims.

While terrorizing Italy, the leader thought it a worthy goal to plunder Rome. But he knew that the walls of the city were too strong to be stormed, so he came up with a plan to fool the trusting Christians.

A messenger was sent to the city bishop. The messenger explained that the Vikings had fell on hard times. They were hungry and tired, and their leader was mortally wounded. He desired a Christian baptism before he died.

The bishop welcomed the group into the city, allowed them to buy supplies, and stood as the sponsor at Hastein’s baptism. The Vikings returned to their ship until evening, when they sent another message to the bishop that their leader, who desired to be buried in the city, had died. The bishop sent a procession to escort the grieving Vikings back into the city.

Once in the church, while the bishop was reciting mass, the “dead” chieftain rose up with his sword and hacked the bishop to death. At this the Vikings all pulled their swords from under their robes, let out a war whoop, and commenced to slaughter everyone, including the children, who were in the church. They then raided the sleeping city and returned to their longboats with their spoils.

The Vikings, as always, were proud of their cunning until they learned that it wasn’t Rome that they had sacked. They had missed their mark by about two hundred miles and attacked the city of Luna.

Though this is an extreme example, it still makes the point that there are those who make professions of faith and receive baptism for insincere reasons.

* This story was taken from the White Horse King by Benjamin Merkle.