So I was watching Percy Jackson and the Olympians

I started watching Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I am a Christian. And the show was a little disturbing. But it wasn't for the reasons you might think. The problem was that I saw my own religion, my life, in the show.

Make Sacrifices

At one point the characters must make sacrifices to please the Gods. Percy was unfamiliar with this practice and the other ones explained it to him. They told him that he needed to give up something he really valued in order to get the attention of the gods. Then they might hear him and provide a beneficial answer. We are in the middle of our corporate fast at our church. Everyone is giving up something for 21 days. Some are fasting food, and others are sacrificing Facebook, tasty food, sugar, and who knows what. I have been skipping some lunches. I used to fast all my meals for the whole time, but I either lost the vision or strength. Watching that episode while being in the fast felt too similar.  Are we actually any different from the pagan followers in our practice of sacrificing to get God's attention?

Trust God for Help

Percy struggles with his relationship with Poseidon, his father. He faces various troubles and feels abandoned by Poseidon. He wonders aloud why his powerful father doesn't do something to help his situation. That was a little too close to home for me too and many of the psalmists. Where are you God? Why did you abandon me? Why do others tell me how faithful you were to them in the past? We in the church accept things "in faith" but such an answer is hollow for a logical and scientific world. Are we actually different from the pagan followers in our struggles with trusting God to show up when we need him?

Knowing our practices and struggles are very similar to pagans does not necessarily require us to change or abandon beliefs. It is possible that the practices and experiences could be similar and one god is true and other god's are not.

But what can we learn?

• We should recognize that some of our Christian practices bear similarity to pagan practices and those outside the church can see this.
• We should recognize that while Jesus' sacrifice may be unique within religions, our spiritual practices are not unique.
• We should recognize that Jesus lack of distinct interaction with us can be a significant stumbling block for people within and without the church.

I'm always interested in you thoughts; please comment below.