Volume
9 Week 39 September
28, 2003
Coming
Soon To A Theater Near You... Luther!
Lessons
To Learn From "Luther" Movie And Reasons To Go See It!
I may not make it this weekend because of my schedule, but here's why I'm going to go see the new theatrical release "Luther" as soon as I get a chance.
My least favorite subjects as a seminary student were church history courses, but as I grow closer to a small piece of history myself, I'm growing in my appreciation for how important it is for us to know our history in order to know ourselves.
The New Testament letter to the Hebrew Christians emphasized that very point. In the great faith chapter, Hebrews 11, they were reminded of the faith of their ancestors, Abel and Enoch and Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Moses and Rahab and so many more. And then the writer placed the challenge squarely before them: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1).
We are called to run the same race ran by Moses and Joseph and the disciples of Jesus and Luther and all the saints who have gone before us.
The history of the Reformation era is a reminder for us all that the Church of Jesus Christ is, except by his grace, only one generation away from extinction. Luther ran his race. We have al benefited from his defense of the truth of the saving love of Christ. Remembering his life and witness is an encouragement for us in our race in our time and in our community.
Here's the lessons I learn from the career of the Reformer.
Battle for the
Truth
The organized church at the time of Luther had wandered from the truth of the gospel, that we are saved purely and solely by the grace of God, won for us by Christ's death and resurrection, and received by faith. When Luther brought up the topic for discussion, he found himself embroiled in a battle of immense proportions that shook the foundations of his society.
We're in such a battle. As decades of American Christian history pass by, we're seeing church denominations by the dozens wander from the truth. All kinds of other "gospels" are creeping into pulpits in America. Pastors that claim allegiance to the Bible and the historic Christian faith preach sermons that sound like the latest rehash of Dr. Phil's common sense for living.
And our culture is increasingly anti-Christian. Calls for repentance of sin and total reliance on Jesus for forgiveness, the only way to eternal life are rejected as "insensitive" and "intolerant."
We're in a battle for the truth. Someone needs to take a stand.
Need for
Reformation
It is the nature of the Church to continually be in need of reformation, of renewal and cleansing and purification. The study of Church history is the study of the weaknesses of Christians. In every age of the church, beginning with the churches of the New Testament, sin wiggles its way in and needs to be purged.
There is no golden era of Church history. Every age finds the Church in need of a return to the basics. Our age is no different. Just as Christian people live by the daily repentance/grace cycle of confession and absolution, so also the Church continually examines itself to see if it is remaining faithful to the Lord's design for us.
There are no new sins. A close look at the film "Luther" will help us to examine ourselves and clean up the error of our ways.
This Is Personal
Our Wednesday/Saturday study of the book of Esther has been a real blessing for me. Mordecai told his cousin Esther, "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (4:14).
A young woman, descended from exiles, far from her homeland, finds herself called to change the course of the history of her people. A young monk, the son of a coal miner, hears the same call. Imagine them both wondering and asking, "Why me?"
Don't ask. It's you.
From the opening pages of the Bible and through the course of the history of the Church, God has always worked in the same way. He calls. He doesn't call perfect people. He just calls people. And sometimes he seems to make a point by calling the most unlikely people just so that his power will be on display through their weaknesses.
Luther was very human and struggled against every weakness we do. But he heard God's call and placed his humble talents at the Lord’s disposal. If anything good happened, it was the work of God.
We remember Luther only as a humble instrument in the hand of a mighty God.
You too. This is personal. God works through regular people just like you and me. It's his Plan A. (And there is no Plan B).
The Word
I'm looking forward to seeing "Luther" also as a reminder that the settings change and the situations change, but the word of God remains forever.
Looking at the previews reminds me of how much living conditions have changed over the centuries. How sad that so many people believe that the Bible, once universally regarded as the foundation of faith and life, should be so greatly compromised in our age. We still stand on the word of God alone. It's worth fighting for.
Well those are my reasons for planning to attend, and why I'm hoping you will also. But there's one more reason that's maybe most important of all.
Our friends at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided funding for this amazing production, "Luther". The intention of Thrivent and of all the supporters of this project is simple and obvious: witness.
Many are hoping and praying for a big "buzz" about this film. It could be controversial. It could be inspirational. It could come and go from our community without much notice. We can change that.
I hope you'll take time to see the film (rated PG-13 for some fairly graphic scenes of war and the intense portrayal of the subject) mostly so that you can help fan the flame of witness. Thrivent's hope is that you will take the opportunity to invite your friends, to tell them that you also follow in the footsteps of Luther, and that they are welcome to meet Luther's friends at your place of worship, and most especially, to hear the great gospel truth for which he stood so strongly.
In his day, "Lutheran" was a name of contempt, intended to mock and ridicule. Today, many in our town have preconceived notions of what Lutherans are all about. The movie might help clarify some things, but the best portrayal of a Lutheran comes from you.
Save me an aisle seat!