Still Reforming

My church recently had an event that they call "THEOLOGY+CULTURE". I guess they do this thing every few months where they show a movie on a Friday night, and afterward discuss the theological relevance to today's culture. Hence the name, I suppose. This Friday night, the movie was "Luther", the 2003 biopic on the life of Martin Luther. (Side note: Joseph Fiennes played William Shakespeare and Martin Luther in back-to-back movies. That's some heavy stuff.) If you don't know the story, Martin Luther was a priest in 16th century Germany. When he was sent to Rome, the center of the Roman Catholic Church, he was appalled by what he saw. You see, the Church was engaging in the practice of selling indulgences. Basically, what this means is they were manipulating people into giving money to the Church by telling them that when they gave, they or their loved ones would be spared time in purgatory if they gave. They received a certificate stating such. And on the back, a coupon for a free scoop at Baskin-Robbins. OK, that part is not true. When Martin Luther saw this, he became saddened and furious. He began preaching about these practices, and, long story short, got himself kicked out of the Roman Catholic Church and started the Reformation that launched the Protestant church.

As I watched this movie, I couldn't help but think we haven't learned anything. Nearly 500 hundred years later, you need only tune in to one of the Christian television networks out there and hear pretty much the same message. Oh sure, they don't preach purgatory. But it sounds a little like this, "If you'll send me $100 right now, that lost son will come back to the Lord." Or, "Do you need a miracle? Make a $1000 vow tonight." How is that any different? Don't get me wrong--if you give to the Lord, He will bless you. But He is not a puppet. He is not obligated to react the way you want Him to. And if you are giving in order to get something, shame on you. The truth is, God has already given us the ultimate blessing in His son, Jesus Christ. What can I do that will begin to repay that debt? Nothing. There is no amount of money or time or work I can do for God that will swing the scales back over into my favor. God will continue to bless us, because He is a loving Father that takes great pleasure in lavishing gifts on His children. But in His wisdom, He dispenses those gifts when and how He sees fit, and for us to think we can force His hand is, well, it's heresy, plain and simple. Perhaps it's time for another Reformation . . .