The Torchlighter series does such a great job taking Christian heroes and condensing their stories down to a half hour so you can feel their power.
This Martin Luther show was so moving! A kids cartoon! I love it.
Some parallels …
(1) A powerful authority figure who has established “doctrines” that have more or less been fabricated out of thin air.
“Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them. They will exploit you in their greed with made up stories.” (2 Peter 2:2-3)
(2) This authority figure interprets the Bible for the members. We can’t have regular people reading scriptures for themselves without telling them what to think about it! (The LDS church provides manuals galore to tell you how to think about the scriptures.)
(3) This authority figure is all too eager to excommunicate anyone who challenges them, without ever even considering if they might be correct. (There have been so many true followers of Christ excommunicated for apostasy because they read and taught the actual doctrines in the scriptures.)
(4) Teaching that Salvation depends on an extra step …. and requiring money for that extra step. (The LDS church requires tithing in order to receive temple ordinances, which are essential for exaltation with God.) Martin Luther taught unequivocally that the price for salvation was paid by Christ alone.
What’s extra interesting about the sale of indulgences and today’s LDS temples is that they were/are both focused on doing a service for our dead ancestors — a service that requires money — so that they can be freed from purgatory/spirt prison, and be saved…
People, it’s the same frickin’ thing.
Martin Luther is a hero for boldly defying the establishment and refusing to conform.
One quote I love from the movie is something to the effect of “If it’s division between truth and lies, I will create division for the truth!”
We need more people like this today.
Division has become such a bad word. I’m so glad they used it in the movie and addressed this fallacy head on! As Christians, we are called to preach truth. Yes, expect some opposition! That’s a good thing! As we pull people toward truth, there will be some division from the wicked and their lies.
And when we do, God will stand by us.
The Catholic church needed to be called out.
And so does the LDS church.
“For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth…Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:18, 22)
All I Possess 