How "Ragamuffin" Encouraged Me to not Leave the Church

It’s more than a strong possibly that the only Christian movie I enjoy is a movie called Ragamuffin. Ragamuffin is the true and realistic story of Rich Mullins, the famous Christian musician. The movies focus is on Rich’s struggle with severe loneliness, depression, drinking, abuse as a child, and his passion to tell an honest story without fame or fortune. Rich Mullins was real; he wasn’t afraid to admit his darkest parts of him and neither was this movie. It shows a side of him the Christian community was afraid to see in him, such a major model Christian, being a drunk, a smoker, and a man close to suicide in his youth, brutally hurt by the church and his father.

This movie is the reason I didn’t leave the church altogether. I felt as if Christianity lost its ability to recognize brokenness, as if to be in a Christian community you must already be practically perfect, a model Christian, or at least if you weren’t perfect, talk of your imperfection or brokenness became taboo. That sickened me to the core, because without recognizing brokenness there is no need for a higher entity, especially the Christian God. Look at who he chose to lead in the bible, David a man who struggled with lust, Moses who had just murdered a man and ran away from his place as price of Egypt, with a feeling of no self-worth, Job who literally had everything taken from him, Paul who killed christens, and Jesus who was God yet even struggled with weather he could continue to bear the burden but on him. God uses struggle and brokenness to make room for healing and that proceeds needs to be highlighted and embraced. Ragamuffin gave me hope that we could return to that though, embrace our brokenness, and find what it truly means to live with God. This movie gave me hope that maybe we haven’t fully lost the church, that out their people do believe in brokenness.

Brennan Manning a mentor of Rich Mullins and one of the greatest preachers in the history of time, wrote this as analogy for what is happening with the church in the book “The Ragamuffin Gospel”, “The story goes that a public sinner was excommunicated and forbidden entry to the church. He took his woes to God. 'They won't let me in, Lord, because I am a sinner.' 'What are you complaining about?' said God. 'They won't let Me in either.” Strong image but sadly true. When you reject your own sorrow and Brokenness you start to lose your connection with God, or at least I do.

Rich Mullins brother Produced and co-wrote this movie. In this process, he was turned down and shut out, many times by Christian film companies. He was told multiple times that this movie included too much pain and he would spur Christian’s and non-Christians to turn away from the faith, because it looks unideal to have such a role model of faith, be unable to at times hold up his own faith. Something not only explained but is the main role of the movie. Of course, his brother was not willing to change the legacy of his brother, he didn’t want to idolize rich’s life.

You will, most likely see more posts on Rich Mullins and Brennan Manning from me so weather you like it or not watch out.

So yes, this movie saved me from leaving Christianity through the hope of brokenness… well this movie and 2Pac, but that’s another blog. And check out the movie its free on Netflix you have literally no reason not to. Here is a trailer...