Rocky Balboa & Augustine -- Finding the (Free?) Will to Get Up Off the Mat

Finally, after several months of waiting, I saw Rocky Balboa last night. Mo went to bed early, so it was the perfect opportunity for a "guy flick." So there I was, drinking port and watching the same story elements play out in this 6th film of the franchise and yet still in rapture! The story always is, essentially, the same:

first we find Rocky in a low place:

I - he's a "bum" to quote Mickey (muscle for a loan shark) and is going nowhere fast.

II - he's run out of money (from the Creed fight) and is struggling to support his pregnant bride.

III - he's defeated by Clubber Lang (Mr T), Mickey, his trainer is dead, and the world has lost faith in him as a fighter.

IV - he's lost his best friend (Creed), killed in the ring by Ivan Drago, and is struggling with his "domesticated life of retirement."

V - he's unfit for boxing (too many punches from Drago) and he's broke (Paulie's accountant squandered all the money) so the Balboas are living back in the Philly slums.

VI - he's lost Adrian to "the woman's cancer", is an embarrassment to his son, and is a true "has-been".

second, a (seemingly) superior fighter emerges (who essentially personifies all that Rocky is being oppressed by) and a match is offered (which everyone -- especially Adrian -- thinks is "suicide"):

I - The World Heavyweight Champion (WHC) Apollo Creed offers a chance for an "unknown" to challenge him for the title.

II - Creed challenges Rocky for a rematch since the last fight ended in a draw.

III - Apollo convinces Rocky to challenge Clubber -- who destroyed an unprepared and arrogant Rocky and took his WHC title -- to a rematch.

IV - Rocky feels that he has to avenge Creed by challenging Drago on Drago's turf: the USSR.

V - Rocky is challenged to a street fight by his protege Tommy "Machine" Gunn.

VI - Mason "the Line" Dixon challenges a retired, 50+ Rocky to an exhibition match.

third, we watch a grueling training regime (always contrasting the opponent's "fancy techniques" to Rocky's rugged and "common" methods). This was missing from Rocky V (part of the reason that the fifth installment should generally be removed from any boxed sets).

fourth, we watch Rocky overcome. Initially he gets pummeled and yet unbelievably remains standing. He begins to "make a dent" in his opponent (usually in the 3rd round), and, after taking everything his opponent has to throw at him, overcomes as the clear winner (though winner doesn't mean the person who necessarily won the match, see I & VI).

finally, (except after Rocky V) we sit in our armchairs, as the credits role, feeling like prizefighters ourselves. As we slowly relax our tensed muscles and let the adrenaline subside, we realize why we got sucked into such a predictable plot line again: because it inspires us to overcome the obstacles that we face. We are inspired by the simple story (full of poor dialogue, nearly offensive stereotypes, and cheesy music) of an underdog boxer who overcomes by sheer strength of will. Rocky is refuses to be told that he can't do it (in fact, this plays out in the most emotionally charged moment in this latest installment when Rocky tells the Sports Association that they have no right to stop him from pursuing his dream).

Why I keep coming back (other than for the awesomely inspiring training sequences) is because I feel (like many, I'm sure) that I don't have enough willpower and determination at many times in my life. I feel like (to use a common boxing term) "throwing in the towel" most of the time (when it is too difficult parenting, when it is too difficult at work, when it is too difficult to get in better shape). Rocky gets into my head (along with that training theme music) and says that strength of conviction is a powerful force in the world, and is something that everyone (especially Christians) should cultivate. Find your passion! Go for it!

Not to overly spiritualize Rocky, but I often think of Jesus' admonition of the sleeping disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). With God all things ARE possible, but we must seek to work WITH and not against God's work in our lives. The context of that "with God all things are possible" text is Jesus' call for the young man to give up his wealth and follow him (Matthew 19:16-30). The disciples ask, "who then can be saved?" and Jesus' response is that it is God's work that makes it happen. This is a strong text in support of the Reformed view that "free will" does not really exist -- that everything is predestined by God. But, the Biblical reality (as many moderate Reformed folks will also say) is that there is a give and take in God's work in our lives. We are not automatons, we have free will. I like how St Augustine understood it. Augustine affirmed human free will, but understood in terms of the Fall. We were free, but our hearts were inclined to choose evil. In practicality, Augustine would argue, in this fallen state we are not REALLY free at all, but are instead bound to sin. The solution? Enter Jesus Christ and God's gracious gift of salvation. Once God comes into our lives (note: God has chosen us, not the other way around, since we would never in that fallen state have chosen him) we are freed to begin choosing the Good. God's illuminating presence within us -- through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit -- guides us into a truly free will: we are now free to choose good, rather than just bound to choose evil. But, note that Augustine has not said that we are automatons -- we are just finally free. Therefore, on the negative side, we can, as St Paul says, quench the Spirit (1Thess 5:19), and choose to go our own ways. Our hearts can (by God's help) be willing, but our flesh can also (by our stubborness, etc) be weak. In those moments we need to ask God for help, and then tenaciously defy what is beating us -- we need to get up off the mat and keep fighting.

Almighty Father,

I know that without you I can do nothing,

and that I need you to make the impossible possible;

So, I beg you to strengthen my will and determination,

through the power of the Holy Spirit,

that tenaciously running after those passions that are in step with your Word,

that I may overcome every obstacle before me;

this I ask in the name of your Son Jesus Christ,

my Lord and Saviour and means of this grace.

Amen.