John Wayne: Theologian

John Wayne continues to stand as one of the most popular male actors in cinematic history.  His towering presence filled the screen, exuding a type of masculinity that caused adoration and respect by generations of film goers.  Little did people know that John Wayne also served, unbeknownst to him, as a theologian of sorts.  J.I. Packer, C.S. Lewis, John Wayne…wait a second!  

In the movie, The Green Berets, John Wayne is the commander of an elite group of men fighting for victory in the jungles of Vietnam.  At one point in the film, Wayne makes an interesting statement: regarding a future action needing to be taken He says, “We’ll do it…Lord willin’ and if the crick don’t rise.”  Lord willing.  What a humble idea!  This will happen, we will accomplish our mission, if the Lord wills it.

In Matthew 8:1-4, we see a similar message being conveyed.  Jesus is exiting a region and as always the crowds are following Him.  A man with a skin disease, some say leprosy, is following along as well.  As Jesus walks, this man approaches Him, kneels before Him, and says simply and honestly, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Looking down on the submissive and humble man, Jesus compassionately states, “I am willing.”  Immediately the man is cured. With the touch of Jesus his ailment disappears and this restored man takes with him a newly acquired testimony of God’s grace and power.

Many churches today are striving to accomplish a mission and to achieve victory in cities, towns, and regions for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.  As each strives, in one way or another, for a total Gospel saturation in Colorado, it is easy to feel as if the battle is theirs alone…the fight is theirs alone. When those thoughts occur we need to hold onto the lessons of the leper in Matthew 8.  He approached Jesus in humility; he was rightly submissive; he trusted that Jesus had the power to do it; and he acknowledged that God’s will determines the outcome.

Together, as we strive for God’s presence to be made known in the lives of all who would come to the San Luis Valley, let’s remember that we don’t deserve the presence of God…we’re not entitled to His power and ability to change hearts and lives through our ministries.  Instead we need to approach him in humble prayer and adoration; we need to submit to His authority in our lives and in our ministries; we need to fully trust that He alone holds the power to achieve transforming victory in the lives of friends, family, and others we serve. We need to acknowledge that His will for our ministries is not always accomplished in the way we desire but even in that we can be content that His Sovereignty will be expressed in the perfect way He chooses to reveal it. 

We are privileged to be engaged in a fierce battle for the eternal outcomes of the lives of people around us.  We have been included in this fight and we have a role to play.  As we fulfill our calling of "making disciples", I want to encourage us all to embrace the humility of the leper.  Hold onto the submission that speaks of the condition of our souls and our maturing transformation into everything God dreams we could be.  When we do this, we will experience the willingness of God to move in our context in ways we could have never imagined…glorious outcomes where all praise and glory can be given straight back to the “author and finisher of our faith”. Pilgrim, that’s a theology that we can all embrace.