March 2005

I’ve just finished watching Luther again–I highly recommend it! I was deeply moved by it when I first saw it in the theater about a year ago; my sister Jennifer had called and urged me to see it right away, saying it wasn’t likely to play long. I saw it a few days later. Oddly enough, it stayed in town for about a month, and I took my older son Zack to see it as well. Zack loves history, and I wanted him to see the life and impact of this most influential figure.

Early in the film, we see Luther in his cell talking to Satan; his spiritual advisor, Johann von Staupitz, says to him: “You’re too hard on yourself, Brother Martin. Arguing with the devil never does any of us any good. He has had 5000 years of practice. He knows all the weak spots.”

Luther goes on to say that he lives in fear of hell and of God; he pleads for a God he can love. Staupitz tells him: “Then look to Christ. Bind yourself to Christ. Then you will know God’s love.” As he puts a crucifix in Luther’s hand, he adds, “Say to Him, ‘I am yours. Save me.’”

These words are the theme of the film–that we belong to Christ, and He loves us and saves us.

My time in a very charismatic church showed me many Christians who spent more time arguing with the devil than they did binding themselves to Christ. While the intent was good, it seems to me the focus was wrong. Joyce Meyer says that the greatest warfare a Christian can wage against the enemy is to walk in love, and she points to Jesus Christ himself as our example. He walked in love and forcefully advanced the kingdom.

The Old Testament presents us with a beautiful picture of looking to God rather than contending with our enemy. Second Chronicles 20 tells the story of God defeating Moab and Ammon. Jehoshaphat learns that these two kingdoms are coming against Judah, and he proclaims a fast to seek God’s help. His prayer concludes, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (v. 12, NIV). At the direction of a prophet, the people march out toward the waiting armies the next day, led by singers praising God “for the splendor of His holiness” (v. 21, NIV) as they sing a simple song:

Give thanks to the LORD;
his faithful love endures forever! (v. 21, NLT)

The result is amazing: “At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves” (v. 22, NLT). In other words the people didn’t have to fight; God did it for them because they trusted Him and praised Him.

The writer of Chronicles finishes the story with this powerful statement: “So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side” (v. 30, NLT). Two things I like about this sentence: one is that we are told that “his God” did it–Jehoshaphat moved from knowledge of God to experience of God, or to put it the way Beth Moore does, he went from believing in God to believing God; this experience, this belief makes for intimate relationship with God, and He becomes not the “God of Judah” but “his God.” Second, this idea of “rest on every side” is wonderful and worthy of meditation. Imagine a life in which you are surrounded by rest! It can be ours as we bind ourselves to Christ.

One final note: I find a great irony in the NIV section heading at the start of 2 Chronicles 20; it titles this story, “Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon”–did they miss the point of the story?