Courageous

The movie Courageous opened this weekend.  You need to see it.  It’s a statement to our culture; it’s a statement to Hollywood; it’s a statement to fathers everywhere.  It’s the kind of statement that took courage to make, and they made it well.   The characters are believable, the acting is well done, the cinematography is excellent, the theme is clear, and the story is just gripping.   It draws you in from the very first scene and takes you down every emotional road in a compelling way.  You’ll laugh almost until you cry, and then you’ll cry for real.   There is genuine humor and heart-breaking sorrow.

The desperate need for fathers who are willing to be real fathers permeates the whole movie.  Authentic, biblical fatherhood in our culture is nearly extinct, which is exactly why this movie is called “Courageous.”   Calling men back to this kind of fatherhood demands courage, and taking up the challenge to be those fathers will require a level of courage that most men have seldom seen.

But what this movie does with the question, “How can I ever be this kind of father?” is refreshing.  It is what gives hope and life to every father who has faced his failures.  The answer to that question is the life-changing, sin-forgiving, strength imparting Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Gospel resolves the guilt we all feel for our fatherhood failures (and every other sort of failure before God) and it connects us to the grace and strength from Jesus Himself to start over, no matter where we are in the process.  That’s a bold, courageous statement to make in a movie playing in theaters all over the country.  But they make it – without apology.

So, go see the movie.  Then go back to see it again and take your teenagers with you.  That will take courage to let them see what you should be.  But that’s what it’s all about – being Courageous.  Start now.