Proverbs 3:5b
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart
AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING…”
“OF GODS AND MEN”
In 1996, seven French Trappist Monks were kidnapped from their monastery in Tibhirine, Algeria, and held for ransom by an Islamic terrorist organization. When the French government refused to release imprisoned Islamic terrorists being held in French prisons in exchange for the lives of the seven Monks, the men were beheaded. The identity of the actual perpetrators has never been fully confirmed, though a notorious Algerian Islamic terrorist organization took full credit for the murders.
“Of Gods and Men,” is a 2010 French film which details the story of how these peaceful, faithful missionaries reached their collective, unanimous decision to remain at their monastery, living in the midst of a village of peaceful practitioners of Islam despite the increasing danger of their circumstances, fostered by the Algerian Revolution, which ultimately cost them their lives. I saw the film. I recommend it to anyone who can stomach sub-titles. In this true story, we are immediately captured by the personal and collective struggle that each of the monks must endure in order to reach his decision regarding “escape and safety” or “remainder and danger.”
What was striking to me was the amazingly accurate portrayal of the reality of the battle that goes on in the heart of each of us as human beings to one extent or another. This is the battle deciding to lean on our own understanding or that of God, to have the faith to face uncertainty, discomfort, or in this case, between death for the cause of Christ or to retreat to the human tendency of comfort, protection, and self-preservation. Again and again, the Monks were warned of the consequences of remaining at the monastery. Again and again, the Monks came face to face with the real potential of death through encounters with the terrorists and a corrupt Algerian government. Again and again, they were reminded that the only “sensible” thing to do was to leave, to go home to France, to seek safety. Yet they remained because their mission was to the cause of Christ, bringing the message of Christ to the peaceful Islamic people of the village who saw Christ in the empathy of the Monks, in their ministry, and in their everyday encounters.
The film focuses on the very real difference of opinions that initially erupted within the monastery with some of the Monks favoring flight and safety while others preferred to remain. In the end, they all decided to wait on the Holy Spirit to give them a sense of direction. When the Spirit impressed upon each of them individually that in remaining they were in the will of God, in spite of all human evidence to the contrary, they decided to stay…all nine of them. It cost seven of them their lives.
My prayer for each of us is that we never have to face a decision that could cause us to lose our lives for the cause of Christ; but my deeper prayer for myself is that in all circumstances, I personally believe God enough to follow His will, His direction, and His purpose for my life…regardless of what could potentially happen as a result. Throughout your life’s walk of faith you will often have to choose between leaning on your own understanding or the infinite, unfathomable wisdom of God. Perhaps it will not involve a decision of personal safety, but perhaps it will. How you choose in those situations will chart your course, determine your character, and define your impact on this world.
This summer you will not always understand why you are doing what you are being asked to do. You will not always necessarily want to do what you are asked to do. In those times, lean on God, not your own understanding. Trust that God has ordained for you to be at camp this summer. That is where he wants you. If the only thing you learn this summer is how to lean on God’s provision and plan instead of your own, you will have taken a leap of faith that you will never, ever regret. As the film closes, we see these haunting words, penned anonymously by one of the martyred Monks, flash across the screen…
“Should it ever befall me, and it could happen today, to be a victim of the terrorism swallowing up all foreigners here, I would like my community, my church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God and to this country.
The Unique Master of all life was no stranger to this brutal departure. And that my death is the same as so many other violent ones, consigned to the apathy of oblivion.
I’ve lived enough to know that I am complicit in the evil that, alas, prevails over the world and the evil that will smite me blindly. I could never desire such a death. I could never feel gladdened that these people I love be accused randomly of my murder…
My death, of course, will quickly vindicate those who called me naïve, or idealistic, but they must know that I will be freed of a burning curiosity and, God willing, will immerse my gaze in the Father’s and contemplate with him his children of Islam as he sees them.
This thank-you which encompasses my entire life includes you, of course, friends of yesterday and today, and you too, friend of the last minute, who knew not what you were doing.
Yes, to you as well I address this thank-you and this farewell which you envisaged. May we meet again, happy thieves in Paradise, if it pleases God, the Father of us both. Amen.”
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
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