“This is my god,” he said, pointing emphatically to the marquee below him.
“This” was the Midtown Cinema – Mobile’s downtown porn theater in the 1970s.
It was a Friday night, and a group of us had met to do street ministry in downtown Mobile. We left the church parking lot armed with tracts – little booklets that explain the facts of the gospel – and hearts filled with boldness and expectancy. The people I joined on that particular night were a who’s who of influence and friendship during my high school and early college days – Terry, Wayne, Greg, Pat, Pam, among others. We spent some time at the bus station, as well as the sidewalks beneath the majestic oaks that line Government Boulevard. We gave literature to anybody who would take it, and talked to anybody who would stop. I remember that several people prayed to receive Christ that night. Most didn’t.
As part of our intentional wandering, I made my way over to Dauphin Street. Just around the corner from the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Midtown Cinema blighted the night with a call at once inviting and repulsive. Built in 1911 as the Crown Theater, this historic structure had been converted to an adult theater in response to the development of hardcore film pornography. Just over the marquee, announcing the triple-x double-feature, a young man about my age stood on the balcony overlooking Dauphin Street.
“Can you come down?” I hollered from across the street. “I have something I’d like to give you to read.”
“What’s it about?” he asked, suspiciously.
“It’s about God,” I said cheerfully.
“This is my god,” he said, pointing.
“Oh well, Jesus loves you!” I said, in my most pleasant voice.
“Yeah, right,” he muttered cynically.
I never knew his name, where he came from or whatever became of him. I just met him the one time, and even that was from the opposite side of the street. And at least on this night, that’s where we’d remain.
Some things change; others remain forever. The Midtown is no more, though the Crown Theater building remains as a local night club. Pornography has become a multi-billion-dollar business that has moved into homes and computers – a dubious celebration of that choicest of American values – the right to privacy.
Maybe this cynical stranger has also changed over the years. Maybe he’s a loving dad or grandfather, a Christian businessman or pastor or something. Maybe he’s dead. God (my God, that is) only knows. But some things never change.
“This is my god.” At least he was honest about it. Porn still calls disciples and worshippers by the millions. It is no respecter of persons, age, religious background, or economic situation. Like every false god in history, it promises pleasure – the illusion of something exchange for nothing. It lies. It destroys. It enslaves. All in the name of freedom.
People still need to know God loves them. That, too, hasn’t changed. In my complete loss for what to say to Midtown Man that night, I clung to the Primary Truth – the first and last conscious contact with God I’ll ever know: Jesus loves me. Loves you, too.
Even when you’re standing on the balcony of a pagan temple.
Even when you’re cynical and angry.
Even when you defy or defile His name.
Even when you’re stupidly proud or desperately broken.
That night on Dauphin Street, I was young and idealistic and generally clueless. But I knew the one thing that both he and I could run to, cling to, even from opposite sides of the street - Jesus loves me.
It was sad I didn’t lead Midtown Man to Christ. It was heartrending that I walked away from someone so scornful about the real source of love. But I walked away in hope, fully convinced that Jesus loved him just as much as he loved me. Little did I know how desperately I would have to clutch that truth in the years to come. Or how much like Midtown Man I was capable of being. Or like that old building, how easily I could oscillate
from Crown
to Midtown
and back again.
But always, regardless, beneath the marquee of God’s limitless love.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
wow, this was really well written and thoughtful. thanks!
carissas last blog post..Why I love John Piper.
Andy, as someone who has bowed down to Midtown Man’s god, I can appreciate this post. I can’t drive past an adult bookstore without praying for the men whose cars are parked out front. I can’t help but wonder how many brothers I see at church are struggling with this false god in their homes and offices. I had a friend call to me, just like you did to Midtown Man, and praise God, I came down and opened up about the struggle, and have been walking in freedom ever since. In grace.
Tree Newts last blog post..Specifically Unspecific Prayer