The Entertainment Ministry - Identifying God's Purposes in Popular Entertainment

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The John Wayne Movie Bible Study

Lesson 1: The Badman	Click To Enlarge The John Wayne Movie Bible Study	Lesson 3: The Law or the Lawless
Lesson 2: The Angel	Click To Enlarge The John Wayne Movie Bible Study	Lesson 4: This Pilgrim’s Progress

The Badman

The Biblical principle is Vice, and the key scripture is
Mark 7:21-23 “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”

Quirt Evans (John Wayne) is a former lawman turned vicious gunslinger. When this bad man falls wounded near a Quaker farm, he is taken in by the Worth family, including pretty daughter Penny. However, the Worths soon discover that Quirt’s physical wounds pale in comparison to his spiritual wounds, having scarred himself with vice in his chosen Life of violence, theft and lust.

The Angel

The Biblical principle is Virtue, and the key scripture is
Romans 12:11-13: Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Penny Worth (Gail Russell) is drawn to Quirt, even as her virtue begins to heal his vices. After a ruffian arrives, Quirt is forced to respond without force, an empty gun in hand. Then, while he had left lustful women behind, here Quirt stays, feeling love for Penny. Next, when a neighbor dams up the water, rather than taking, Quirt tries asking—marking the third time he acts with a virtue instead of a vice.

The Law or the Lawless

The Biblical theme is Decision, and the key scripture is
Joshua 24:15: “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Quirt comes to a crossroads and must make a decision. At first, Quirt promises Penny he won’t fight the ruffian Laredo Stevens. But as Quirt attends a Quaker meeting, he bolts with an old outlaw buddy. After stealing cattle from Laredo, he finds himself dissatisfied with vice. Finally, Quirt heads back to Penny, resuming his ride on the path to virtue.

This Pilgrim’s Progress

The Biblical theme is Redemption, and the key scripture is
Titus 2:11-14: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope…Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us…

Quirt heads down a rocky trail to be redeemed. After Quirt commits to marry Penny, the two are ambushed by Laredo. With Penny near death, Quirt sets out to kill their attacker. After he leaves, Penny makes a miraculous recovery. As Quirt and Laredo prepare to draw guns, Penny races to stop the showdown—and keep Quirt from forsaking his ride to redemption.