Saving Private Christian Soldiers

I rented the video, Saving Private Ryan, for once setting aside my general policy against R-rated movies because this one was highly recommended by several Christians whose opinions I respect. Although the violence and profanity were acute, the message was powerful. While I would not allow my teenagers to see the film, I will recommend it to them with a caution when they reach adulthood.

For the benefit of those who have not seen the movie: The story begins on D-Day in France. Top U.S. officials, having learned that all three brothers of a certain James Ryan have recently been killed in action, issue orders for a mission of mercy to rescue Private Ryan from behind enemy lines and send him home to his mother, lest she lose all four of her sons to war. At one point in the film, as the group of rescuers are fighting their way through the dangers and hardships of war, the captain in charge of the mission remarks that Ryan’s life "had better be worth [saving]."

Despite the intensity of the unfolding drama, the captain’s remark momentarily distracted me, and I turned my thoughts to the debates over abortion and assisted suicide, which ultimately boil down to a question of what is the value of a human life.

My musings were soon drowned out by the film’s action until the closing scene, when Private Ryan reappears as a senior citizen visiting the captain’s gravesite, accompanied by his lovely family. In a touching moment, as he reflects upon the awful price that was paid for his life, Ryan begs for reassurance from his wife: "Tell me I’ve lived a good life. Tell me I’m a good man."

A long time ago, God issued similar orders for a mission of mercy, to rescue some who were trapped behind enemy lines and send them home to their Father. The objects of God’s mercy had no way to save themselves, not even knowing which way to go or what to do to be saved.

The mission to save Private Ryan had something in common with God’s mission. Ryan’s rescuers repeatedly questioned their mission, but obeyed their orders because it was their sworn duty to do so. Jesus questioned the Father to see if there was any other way to complete His mission, but He faithfully obeyed the orders He had received. Ryan’s rescuers paid a heavy price, as several died during the rescue mission. The Man sent by God also paid a heavy price, His own suffering and death for those He would save.

In other ways, though, Saving Private Ryan was different from saving humanity: Although Ryan’s saviors were sent to rescue their ally, Jesus was sent to rescue His enemies. Also, while Ryan was able to visit his rescuers’ gravesite, God’s Man did not remain in the ground, but rose from the dead to return in glory to the Commander’s right hand.

In examining his life for evidence of his worthiness, Ryan remarks that every day he remembers what was done for him and tries to live up to the price paid for his life. As Christians, we know that we are unworthy of the price paid for our lives. We can never assert before God that we have lived a good life. Like Ryan, however, every day we must remember our Savior and what He did for us. Although we can never repay Him, we must try to live our lives in a manner worthy of His tremendous sacrifice. Our eternal blessing is in the fact that our Father in heaven decided that as creatures He made in His own image, our lives were worth saving. Let us give Him our thanks and praise!