5:21, #638 Dirty Harry and God

Yessereebob...you read the title correctly. Clint Eastwood has forged an acting career on squint eyed characters who dispense theology that most folks completely miss. I mean think about it, "a man's got to know his limitations" is just his reworking of Romans 12:16, "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion." Who would have thought that Old Dirty had part of a pastor's wisdom? Of course, the classic last line of the 1973 classic, "Magnum Force," sort of forgets about verse 19, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." In fact, the two movies about The Boondock Saints are all about Justice, Retribution, Vengeance, Good and Evil along the same basic lines, except that the Saints are killing non-cops while Old Dirty was up against Bent Coppers, as the Brits would say.

So, What's My Point? Both the Apostle Paul and Old Dirty Harry had a good world life view, I think...from opposite ends of the theological spectrum. Paul knew he was a soldier in the army of the Living God and that he had to wisely assess himself in light of the fact that, even if he could not make things right as Harry, Murph, Conner, and Noah (the Saints and their Da!) thought they could, he had a greater, more effective Righter of Wrongs who would take care of the wicked in His own way and time. When you think it through, this system of Paul's takes a lot of the hassle out of trying to 'make paybacks Hell.' Actually, for those who get paid back in Eternity, that's exactly the case.

Ouch, am I tramping on toes? Think about Hollywood Heroes like Harry and the Saints. They think they are doing right or are doing God's work in cleaning up the evil of this planet, when they are actually just as culpable as the bad guys they're killing! Didja ever feel like praying for Clint Eastwood, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, and Billy Connolly to come to saving faith? No? Well, if you feel the urge, don't stifle it, Edith!! You might be getting a direction from the Spirit within you.

On the other hand, if you don't have the Spirit within you, you might want to pray for yourself along the lines of "Help, Lord...You're right, I repent, save me..." Or some such thing, just sayin'...

Got Jesus?