Rocky Balboa

Posted by Brian Tubbs Dec 17, 2006

Rocky Balboa is, by no means, a Christian movie. Nor are any of the Rocky films. (Not that they're anti-Christian either). But the Rocky movies embrace a theme that people of all faiths and value systems can appreciate. Rocky Balboa, the character, embodies thequality of perserverance - a quality that has gone out of style with many in our society. Not so with Rocky. The simple, uneducated Rocky - a character developed and played perfectly by Sylvester Stallone - understands that the key to success in life is to "go the distance." Even if the odds are incredibly against you, do not accept defeat. Do not quit. If you fall down, get back up. Never surrender.

Some may argue that, in real life, a Rocky type character could never succeed to such a high level. That such things only happen in the movies. This kind of thinking has poisoned our society - and contributed to the wastefulness of so many lives. The fact of the matter is that the United States of America itself is a Rocky-like story. And, returning to the theme of this section here at Suite101, the story of Christianity is one of success against the odds. Critics of Christianity often argue that Constantine and the Roman Empire made the rise of Christianity possible. Nonsense. Christianity was spreading well before it was legalized. In fact, it spread in spite of intense persecution against it. It was only after the Romans took a "If you can't beat'em, join'em" approach that they embraced Christianity.

I don't know about you, but I will definitely be seeing Rocky Balboa. Yes, the franchise has been around for a while. Yes, this is Rocky movie number six. But, quite frankly, you can never really tire of the story - the story of one man succeeding against the odds because he believes in himself and never quits. It's a story that resonates with all of us - and it should.