Academy Award winner, Denzel Washington, has spoken out on the spiritual side of his Christian faith in a interview of The New York Times, emphasizing the need of having an “anchor” in an ever-changing culture. “A God-fearing man,” Washington characterizes himself.
Washington said that he is focusing more on his faith because he is honoring the promise he made to this late mother. He said that by being more spiritual, he is honoring his mother and God.
“At 66, getting ready to be 67, having just buried my mother, I made a promise to her and to God, not just to do good the right way, but to honor my mother and my father by the way I live my life, the rest of my days on this Earth. I’m here to serve, to help, to provide,” Washington said.
He added, “The Bible says in the last days — I don’t know if it’s the last days, it’s not my place to know — but it says we’ll be lovers of ourselves. The number one photograph today is a selfie, ‘Oh, me at the protest.’ ‘Me with the fire.’ ‘Follow me.’ ‘Listen to me.’
Washington also alluded at the current practice that everyone wants to be followed. Whether that’s in the long term or short term, he says that he doesn’t know. But it is surely manipulating people in different ways and it seems to him that it is like sheep being led to slaughter.
In a separate interview, he continues the theme of his story, he said that at the end of one’s life, it is not about what you did or what you made. It is going to be about who you have made better and who you lifted up in this life. This statement is a direct address to a self-obsessed culture.
“This is spiritual warfare. So, I’m not looking at it from an earthly perspective. If you don’t have a spiritual anchor you’ll be easily blown by the wind and you’ll be led to depression,” he said, “In Heaven, there are going to be two lines, one long and one short.I’m interested in being in the short line.”
Washington encouraged those listening to him to fill up their bucket every morning because it is rough in the world. What he meant was to read the Bible so that we know what is right from what is wrong. For those who want to read the Bible, Washington says to start reading from the New Testament because the Old Testament is harder to read.
In a conference titled “The Better Man Event” which was hosted by First Baptist Orlando in Florida this year, the actor also revealed that God has revealed something to him. During the conference, he said that in his prayers, he is hearing, “Feed my sheep” and believes that is what God wants him to do.