Reading: Mark 6:14-30
It is a story of Hollywood proportions - a flash back to a scheming woman, a drunken King, the dance of the seven veils and a head on a plate. But what on earth has it to do with the Christian faith? Quite a bit actually!

Intermarriage in those days was important in the consolidation of royal dynasties - as it was in days of Henry 8th in England - and when John the Baptist criticized Herod`s marriage he was making not only a moral statement but also a political statement.

John was confronting the Crown and if you confront the Crown you can expect to have your head chopped off. If you confront the Crown and the culture of the day you can expect dire consequences.

This is, of course the story of Jesus - and his followers! If you are going to promote an alternative kingdom to the one that is, you are going to cop it from the existing kingdom. It is as simple and as profound as that.

Confronting the culture involves copping the consequences. It is a lesson we all need to learn.