I read an article in Charisma magazine about 82 year old Willie Nelson being a Christian. It turns out that Willie’s mother left him shortly after birth and then his father remarried and left him too. He gave him to his grandparents who raised him and his sister. They were Godly people and raised him up singing Gospel songs in the church.
The article said, “To say his Christian faith is unconventional is an understatement. A rebel since his teens, the singer’s tumultuous career and personal life mirror the ups and downs of his spiritual journey, which seems to resemble a tapestry of many colors.
Today, at 82, Willie still performs 150 nights a year. In his new autobiography, It’s a Long Story, he makes a firm declaration about his faith in Christ, despite what doubters may think . . . “I was a believer as a kid, just as I am a believer as a man. I’ve never doubted the genius of Christ’s moral message, or the truth of the miracles He performed. I see His presence on earth and resurrection as perfect man as a moment that altered human history, guiding us in the direction of healing love.
He fully absorbed the cultural influences of the 1960s, emerging as a devotee of marijuana use and an admirer of eastern religion. At one time or another, he stated a belief in reincarnation and appears to have a connection to the ancient Chinese quasi-religion of Taoism.
The Abbott Methodist Church that Willie grew up in still holds a special place in Willie’s heart. When the church faced financial problems in 2006 and considered selling the building, the singer purchased it so they could continue holding services.
The church’s Facebook page describes it as a “wonderful ole country church saved from destruction by Willie and Bobbie Nelson. God is alive and well at the Abbott Methodist Church!!!!!!” The worship schedule includes the notation that “you just never know who will be there for service.”
Rev. Curry, (its current pastor) wrote, “I don’t think it is possible to fully appreciate Willie unless you know his spiritual underpinnings, The gospel is the lens through which to see all he has tried to do to lift others, whether it is through Farm Aid, alternative fuel, medical research, making somebody else laugh or encouraging a friend whose heart is broken.
Willie ends his book in church, where he looks back with humble admiration for all God has given to him. “I sing OK, I play OK, and I know that I can write a good song, but I still feel like I’ve been given a whole lot more than I deserve.”
Wow! One just never knows.
I visited Chic Fil a founder Truett Cathy one time and when I walked into his office I saw a life-size dummy which turned out to be in the image of Willie Nelson. I didn’t ask Truett what was up with it, but since he was such a devout Christian I thought it odd that he would have such a memento prominently displayed in his large office. In my mind I was asking, “Does Truett admire this pothead or simply like his music? I was guilty of prejudging Willie Nelson based upon what I’ve read about him.
I have a sick feeling in my stomach. I remember what turned me off so much about Christians when I lived on the street was the judgmental attitude of every Christian I’d ever encountered. I hated them because of it. Am I now one of them? I think I am.
At our Jesus Alliance meeting a movie maker friend of mine did a presentation of a number of the famous people in Hollywood who were outspoken Christians. I was shocked to learn of some of them to include Alice Cooper. Many Christians don’t know that rock singer Cooper is a man of God who came from a Christian home. He talks openly and often about his spiritual journey, his dark years and how he’s been misunderstood because of his looks.
So Willie Nelson openly tells people in his book and interviews that Jesus Christ is Lord. Some might say, “He isn’t a Christian, just look he still smokes pot and has lived a life of sin. Well how many “Christians” drink alcohol (to excess)? How many on the pews have done things of which they are not proud? How many of them publicly tell others they love Jesus?
I just prayed for forgiveness for prejudging Willie, (or Alice Cooper for that matter). I asked God to take away my self-righteous judgmental attitude. He told us in His holy word that He does not look at the outward man, rather the heart. We don’t have that capacity to do that even if we wanted to do so, thus it is rather obvious that judging is HIS job and not ours. I thank God that He doesn’t see things the way we see them.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
June 16, 2015 – Click here to listen