“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”
Isaiah 5:20
While working on writing some Christian humor, I recently took a break to see the giant sequoias in California, caught up at work and life after taking the almost two-week vacation, and have looked for an interesting story to share with you all.
I came across a video on social media that reveals a new side to a historical figure. It involves Vlad III Dracul, better known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula, who is still taught to be a Christian hero in Romania. They honor him as a defender of their nation and their faith.
Were you taught this in school or the complete opposite?
The video is from Dustin Allen and focuses on the difference between a Christian prince who waged war on soldiers versus an Islamic empire that waged war on women and children. You can find it on TikTok here.
In summation, Vlad saw the threat of Islam and its brutality on innocent people and not only stood up to it but made sure to leave an impression. The Islamic Ottoman empire waged a holy war on Christianity, swallowing Christian lands, and Vlad stood his ground fighting for his people, to the extent that even when his civilians were outnumbered and couldn’t fight back, Vlad impaled his soldier victims making a display of the savagery that the Ottoman’s could expect, which heavily intimidated them.
Imagine living as a captive throughout your childhood then being responsible for protecting your land and community from the same brutality that you experienced growing up. I’m sure Vlad’s thoughts and life, despite being Christian, were messy and raw. “Not here. Not my people. Not while I breathe.” He said no to the “blood tax” that had been exercised throughout the centuries. It’s an interesting watch!
If you like good storytelling, as I do!, what’s presented is 150,000 Islamic troops intending to crush maybe 30,000 men at best, so Vlad intelligently made his country a nightmare to invade, including night raids against the enemy and 20,000 combatant soldiers impaled on stakes, stretched out for miles. However, Vlad’s cruelty was aimed at soldiers while Ottoman cruelty was aimed at civilians. One Christian prince, outnumbered and “out gunned,” bent the will of the most powerful military force on earth, and saved his people from enslavement, torture, and murder.
For around 400 years, Vlad was remembered as a defender of Christendom. In 1897, Bram Stoker changed that and Hollywood jumped on board. It’s amazing what power the new story had. My takeaway is to think about history, even a harsh history that’s unclean, in context and with respect to those who lived it.
QUICK PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, help me to stand firm and remain faithful, even when life feels uncertain or my efforts seem unnoticed. Keep me from becoming discouraged or distracted. May I give myself fully to the work You have placed before me, trusting that nothing done for You is ever wasted. Strengthen my faith, guide my hands, and let my life bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.