Michael Moore ~ A Modern Prophet?

I knew of Michael Moore vaguely; a fat guy who made documentaries which seem to anger and tremendous amount of folk. Then there was his famous anti Iraq war speech at the Academy of Awards, which was popular at the time and which seem to make him public enemy number one. I had never seen any of his documentaries.

But then there was an article in the last issue of Christian Century that really caught my eye. It started with an interview in 2009 by Sean Hannity of FOX news with Moore on his film Capitalism – all about corporate greed which led to the great recession. Hannity begin the interview  saying that Moore is an “unapologetic socialist” – are you not?” Moore corrects him saying, “Christian. I am a Christian, an unapologetic Christian. I believe in what Jesus said.” Hannity then replies that he, Hannity, is a Christian inferring that if he is Moore could not be. Hannity them says “I did theology” and asks Moore if he is Catholic and if attended mass this Sunday. Moore then asks Hannity what the gospel and the sermon was about. Hannity can’t remember and Moore continues that it was only two days ago.

Wolf Blitzer on CNN later in the year interviews Moore and infers that Moore is a left-wing Democrat and a multimillionaire (are these sins?) and again asks, “Are you a socialist?” Moore replies, “I am a Christian.” And then explains he believes we will all be judged by how we treat the least among us. And the interviews go on with Charlie Rose, Bill O’Riley and with the women on the View.

The article goes on and has a lot of content show Moore raising questions about who’s side is God on; what would Jesus do? Are we not our brothers and sisters keepers and seems to try to take Christianity back from the evangelical right. At this point I see Moore as a kindred spirit.

I also find out that Moore has a new book out called, Here Comes Trouble. So, it now resides on my Kindle and I’ve read about a quarter of it and I like it very much. I have found out a lot about Moore and what happened to him since the Academy Awards speech and that he has to have his own police force to protect him. He went through a period withdrawal and then entered the arena of documentaries again. He went to Roman Catholic Seminary; I think he got tossed out. He has incredibly deep family values and his time with his mother when she dies brings tears to your eyes. And, he has become physically fit.

I am reading his book like a box of chocolates and have put his documentaries on my Netflix instant queue and am looking forward to watching them.

I love the way Moore combines his religious teaching with his political beliefs and says, “If I have a clarion call, it is: Everyone off the bench. Everyone in the game. Citizenship is not a spectator sport.”

Michael Moore appears to me modern day prophet. And as prophets often do, he makes us uncomfortable with his ethical demands to live out the gospel with all the risks that entails.