The movie, The Apostle, touches the very heart of classical American Pentecostalism, a form of charismatic Christianity. Robert Duvall plays a Pentecostal Pastor in the south. His character, Buddy, was a snap shot of a deeply passionate and religious spiritual leader. The name of the movie, “The Apostle,” speaks of Buddy’s obvious and strong gift of leadership. Although Buddy’s leadership is important, the most prominent characteristic depicted was his strong passions.
The plot is quite racy. And although it has elements of horror and extreme violence it still carries the ability to touch and relate to viewers that believe as Buddy does. At times, the church is depicted as gullible and easily led by strong personalities. But as the movie progresses we find a compassionate group of people that has the understanding that everyone is weak, frail and subject to sinful behavior. The church is depicted accurately in that sometimes it can be flakey and other times real and understanding. The movie was perhaps written by authentic Christians.
1. The Charismatic Leader
Buddy has a strong personality. The use of an extremely strong personality to progress the movie opens the door for tools in causing deep impact for viewers. Often, Buddy is depicted as a strong and gifted leader. The movie opens with Buddy, on foot, racing toward the scene of a car wreck. As he approaches, he finds two young adults barely alive or dead. He prays for one and the person is rejuvenated. He asks the individual what would be the most important question to him; something to the effect of whether or not he knew Jesus. This was a good depiction of the church in general because this would be the most important question to ask if the asker believed that knowing Jesus was the only way to escape hell. This scene helps to establish Buddy as a bold and gifted charismatic leader.
2. Buddy’s Weaknesses – Losing His Church and a Bad Decision
The plot of the movie progresses on Buddy’s strength and frailty as a church leader and as a human being. Though the story is moved in some pretty drastic ways, the story poses a pretty accurate argument of morally fragile people giving their lives to do spiritually great things.
The movie follows the car-wreck scene at a down point with Buddy losing his church and his wife to a younger man. This was a church that Buddy had built from nothing to a large and prominent body of believers. His ministry would extend to invitations to minister to other groups because of his ability to be a strong spiritual leader. Buddy’s church, the church that he had founded, was handed over to the younger minister by the board of the church. Buddy was officially put out of his own church.
The lowest points of the movie revolve around Buddy’s frailty in handling the loss of his family and life’s work. To state again, he lost his wife and children to a younger minister. Details of why his wife and the church had made those decisions are not as pronounced but there was a scene in which she hinted at Buddy not being around for the family.
In dealing with the frustration, Buddy was tempted to take matters into his own hands. In a fit of anger, he blindsided the man with a baseball bat. That killed the younger minister. The scandal had gotten worse and Buddy went on the loose.
3. Back in the Saddle – Buddy Establishes Two Churches
He ran and found a small country town in which to keep a low profile until he started preaching again. He built a church and saw great success within a small community. He made disciples and encouraged other preachers. Buddy began to build again. But his past would catch up with him and he would be arrested.
The progressive agent of the movie is Buddy’s response to each phase in his life. His last acts of ministry, before he goes to prison, demonstrate the strength to move on and do as he believed. Under his leadership the people begin to prosper in Christian values and stern faith. These are very real and important elements in identifying leadership and the church. The plot progresses with each act of violence, lustful advance and each act of ministry that he performs.
The final scenes of the movie show an incarcerated Buddy leading his chain gang in a worshipful chant glorifying Jesus. Buddy learns from his mistakes and moves forward in using the gifts that he has. As a value, moving ahead at the lowest points in life are extremely rare qualities. Yet these qualities are the true picture of a triumphal Christian.
What Buddy Believes and How It Keeps Him in the Game
The main thrust of the movie involves Buddy’s faith in the idea that he can always run with God. His problem is that he also runs from people and his own frailty. Because he believes he can escape his frailty and the consequences of it, he has to face a drastic set back in order to be corrected and grow as a man of God. Once the law had caught up with him he was forced to reconcile his weaknesses with his faith and move on. Thus we find him honorably serving his time and ministering as was intended for his life.
Overall, Buddy’s reactions and responses can accurately represent the passions of real church people. No one denies feeling tempted to take revenge, steal someone’s spouse or hide from past wrongs. These are elements of the story that touch human frailty. On the other hand, any true believer has at least a fantasy of partnering with God in the ways similar to the ways in which Buddy did.
References
Price, Tom (1998) Retrieved from: http://hollywoodjesus.com/Apostle.htm
