True Confessions of an Originaljoesnake

Relevant’s Rourke write-up is a piece of cotton candy fluff, aimed at promoting the actor’s new movie, disguised at first glance as a conversion piece.

The cover of the latest issue of Relevant Magazine boasts ”The Salvation of Mickey Rourke”.
Admittedly, I was interested in the article. Was it true that the former Hollywood bad-boy, now experiencing a career resurgence, had received Christ?

I loved Rourke’s turn as The Wrestler. In the article, Evan Rachel Wood, Rourke’s Wrestler co-star, explains the appeal of the film’s main character:

“It shows a kind of man you don’t see often in film: a man who acts so tough, but is vulnerable and broken.”

Real life Rourke has also battled personal demons – his autobiography would make for a movie as compelling as the fictional characters he’s played on screen. So eagerly, I dug in, expecting to see confirmation that Rourke was indeed a believer. The piece begins by detailing Rourke’s rough childhood and fall from fame. Success, money, and drugs were too much for Rourke and he seemingly threw away a once promising career.

“You know, you can have fame, success and all the money in the world but you can never take it with you.” – Mickey Rourke

However, the “Salvation” the article refers to is notoriously absent. Maybe it refers to the desperate night Rourke contemplated murder and suicide, but went instead to church in a return to his catholic roots. Rourke now visits the church’s priest regularly on Holidays to open up and balances prayers to St. Jude, the patron saint of impossible causes, with the rigors of Hollywood stardom.

Says the Priest who consoled him on that night, Father Peter, “[Rourke] is definitely a man of faith and believes in God’s presence in the world.” The article goes on to describe Father Peter’s call to congratulate Rourke on the success of The Wrestler – the critically acclaimed actor directed the priest to instead pray for his dogs.

The Relevant piece ends with a bold, yet unsatisfying statement:

“…Mickey Rourke is still wrestling: fighting an internal battle that’s been raging his entire life – a struggle between the call of fame and the call of God.”

Why be upset about Relevant’s Rourke article? Relevant, a Christian magazine, that tries to be, well, relevant has written a misleading piece on a “hot-right-now” actor that will really do nothing except increase magazine sales, internet page views, and generate interest in the film Rourke is promoting, which is being released on DVD today.

At worst, Relevant Magazine contributes to the myth that anyone can be “Christian” and has salvation if they live a life of “faith” and pray enough times. So, Mickey Rourke goes to church a few times and prays to God…what does it really mean? Increasingly, a real, personal encounter with God is being substituted with a vague and unclassifiable “faith” that people can turn to during their free time. It resembles a self-help program rather than anything biblical.

“I wish I went with God’s plan 15 years ago instead of mine. I’d be in a lot different place – but I’m glad to be where I am right now.” – Mickey Rourke

While I don’t presume to know whether or not Mickey Rourke is a believer in Christ, Relevant’s article leaves the reader with some serious doubts. What is for sure is that people living lives full of the sort of vague “faith” described by Relevant, especially a person as conflicted as Rourke, the very people who would benefit the most from an actual salvation.

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