Pastor Don Wolan

Pastor Donald Wolan
Downriver Christian Community Church
Melvindale, Michigan

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Godfather!

To Make 'The Godfather' His Way, Francis Ford Coppola Waged A ...
During the current upheavals in our country, people have had to reexamine their underlying worldview assumptions on many fronts. When faced with this inspection process, long-held beliefs may not stand the scrutiny of current popular opinion or expected public displays. Faced with being demonized or ostracized by family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and society, these pressures can either mold, reshape, or camouflage our true beliefs. Societal issues such as public health, police brutality, systemic racism, social justice, protesting, rioting, looting, white privilege, welfare, political corruption, and a host of other subjects need answers that are just, right, and equal for everyone.

Trying to answer these all-important questions from a worldview other than a Biblical one has only led to mass chaos and confusion. Living in a pluralistic society, everyone's answers to these questions differ and contradict each other radically and whomever's definition of "justice" prevails will ultimately win the day.

I am reminded of the opening scene of "The Godfather." The Godfather is sitting in his home office on his daughter's wedding day, listening to a man describe a horrible event involving his daughter. The man tells the story of making a good living for himself and his family by "doing the right things." He explains to the Godfather what had happened to his daughter and the "justice" he wants the Godfather to extract on his daughter's perpetrators. The father wants death for these men but the Godfather schools him as to what his "justice" is. He explains to the father that his daughter is still alive and to take the lives of the men who committed the crime would not be "just." Both men had a view of "justice," but their views contradicted each other. Whose sense of justice was the correct view, if either?

   


During World War II when the Italian army captured Libya, they tortured some of their Libyan prisoners. When the Libyans had captured Italian soldiers, they wanted to torture the Italians. The Libyan leader stopped them. “But why?” they complained. “They torture us!” The leader responded, “But they are not our teachers.”

Who are our "teachers" today? Who will define for us what is "just" and "fair"? Is it the Godfather, the funeral home owner, or the Libyans? Maybe it will be our politicians who change their minds as often as I change my socks or is could it be the numerous "legitimate" courts that have been politicized against those of a different political persuasion? Or maybe our unelected movie stars, news reporters, and sports heroes can enlighten the masses with a unifying and agreeable definition.

Someone's idea of what is "just" and "fair" will eventually be encoded into law, and when that day comes, someone is going to feel that it is "unjust" and "unfair" to them or their group or cause.

May God our Father give our leaders understanding minds to govern the people and discern between good and evil and enact laws that rest upon the unchanging and righteous decrees of his law.

As the Psalmist wrote,
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commands of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. - Psalm 19:7-11

The Godfather was sought out because there was an "injustice" that was obvious to all. The injustice demanded some type of penalty be extracted from the perpetrators and a lesson sent to all who might consider similar evil behavior in the future. The search and cry for "true justice" has been an ongoing quest over the eons of time and there are many pretenders to the throne who will step forward to tell us all what "true justice" entails.

As children of God, may we continually look to God's holy word for direction, instruction, and comfort in these troubling and changing times as well as being a prophetic voice in our world towards every evil which is assaulting it.

Stay Holy My Friends!


Pastor Don

1. Nadler, Sam. Messiah in the Feasts of Israel (p. 167). Word of Messiah Ministries. Kindle Edition.