ChosenRebel's Blog

The following is excerpted from THE MEDIAN, volume 23 / #4 (Fall 2016). The Median is the monthly newsletter of MasterMedia International started by Dr. Larry Poland. MasterMedia ministers to the media elite in Hollywood and New York seeking to bring a Christ-like witness to the power-brokers of Radio, Television, and Film.

Larry was the pastor of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Redlands, California and dedicated our two oldest children. He is also the pastor I sought out to co-teach a class on preaching with me, the first year that the seminary asked me if I would take over the Preaching I class. I have many great memories of my time in California and working with the College and Career class (Light Company) at Trinity EFCA is among them.

Just in time for Sanctity of Life Sunday, my wife, still waiting for our house to sell in Illinois, sent some mail that included the Median. Here’s the article that caught my attention:

On Screen Inspiration . . .

In a climactic scene at the close of the film, Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler prepares to flee from the Allies after the Nazis are defeated. [Later] The Jewish survivors he has saved want to express to Schindler that by saving them, he has saved humanity. They give Schindler a ring made from their gold fillings, engraved with a quotation from the Talmud . . . “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.”

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more. I could have got more, I don’t know. If I just  . . . I could have got more.

Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are 1,100 people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

Oskar Schindler: If I had made more money. I threw away so much money. [laughs, then gets teary-eyed] You have no idea. If I just . . .

Itzhak Stern: There will be generations because of you.

Oskar Schindler: I didn’t do enough.

Itzhak Stern: You did so much.

Oskar Schindler: This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people. This pin . . . two people. This is gold. Two people. He would have given me two more, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern, for this. [starts crying] I could have got one more person, and I didn’t! I — I — I didn’t!

This scene inspires deep introspection . . . one reflective response might be, “As I near the end of my life, will my heart be at peace with the assurance that I have given my all for the cause of Christ? Or will my heart be troubled with regret . . . “I could’ve done more!”

I wonder what our generation will say when we look back over the last 45 years of the abortion horror in our nation. Will we have the same regrets that Schindler had? Will we do more to rescue the perishing?