Denzel Washington says ‘I don’t want more… I want God’ in candid spiritual revelation

“Hey, why do not we begin with a prayer?” These are often the phrases of a pastor once they sit down to debate religion with somebody. However they weren’t my phrases – they have been Denzel Washington’s after we began an interview about his religious life. The dialog was a part of a set of 12 interviews that I held for my upcoming ebook, “Witness to faith: conversations about faith and meaning“(Church Publishing, October 2025). It might seem to be a small gesture, however it set the tone: the divine, not the person, is the place to start out.

I began the ebook across the time I retired after greater than 30 years of ministry as a episcopal priest. We had spoken just a few instances on the cellphone for our first assembly, who began with a savory: “Name me Denzel and are available on, man, give me a hug!”

I knew about listening to his public speeches and interviews that he was open about his religion. I needed to study extra and develop extra – and Denzel helped this ordered pilgrim a bit of additional in my very own religion.

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On the age of 20, a buyer named Ruth Inexperienced wrote a prophecy for him on a bit of paper whereas working in his mom’s magnificence salon: “Tjonge, you’ll journey the world and preach to hundreds of thousands of individuals.” Mrs. Inexperienced didn’t know how you can spell ‘prophecy’, so Denzel’s mom helped her and added the phrase ‘pastor’.

Denzel Washington attends the “highest 2 lowest” crimson carpet on the 78th annual Cannes Movie Pageant at Palais des Festivals on Might 19, 2025, in Cannes, France. (Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty pictures)

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In our dialogue he remembered this second 50 years in the past and stated, “I believed,” Who is that this loopy lady? ” However now I perceive.

To my benefit, and hopefully for readers of the ebook, that’s precisely what we have been doing-as I used to be at school of an Academy Award and Golden Globe-Profitable actor and director who informed me: “The older I get, the less complicated life is not mandatory.

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Let me lean on that phrase ‘want’. It’s not an exaggeration to say that we reside in a chaotic, divided and disturbing world. Some of the seductive escape belonging is to imagine that “extra” will give a deeper that means – more cash, energy, affect, fame, success.

Denzel Washington with spouse Paulette Washington and mom Lennis Washington in the course of the 62nd Academy Awards Ceremony March 26, 1990 in Los Angeles. Washington acquired an Oscar for one of the best actor in a supporting position for his efficiency as a visit in “Glory”. (Ralph Dominguez/Mediapunch by way of Getty pictures)

However Denzel hit the nail on the top. As Amy Grant, who was additionally interviewed for my new ebook, informed me in our dialog, extra of these issues “is just not the reply to a deeper connection or aim. It is no totally different than the dopamine hits that individuals get from a thumb up on social media and it takes so lengthy.”

So what does it take? My brief time within the college of Denzel jogged my memory {that a} life within the divine weighs heavier than the whole lot that this world can provide.

At first he resisted once I requested how he needed to be remembered, however then stated: “A person of God. Simply as vital as saying {that a} man of God is the method, the event that comes from God – who doesn’t come from wealth, fame, by the church, the pastor. It comes from private dialog with God; it comes out of your encounters with God.”

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And that’s what one of the crucial well-known males on the earth is searching for day by day. He prays and reads his Bible. He attends worship faithfully. However not as a approach to better information – somewhat, to a deeper relationship with God. As he stated about his journey of religion: “It isn’t what you already know, it is who you already know.”

Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington on the premiere of “Gladiator II” Los Angeles within the TCL Chinese language theater on November 18, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Gilbert Flores/Selection by way of Getty Photographs)

Though I retired on the day by day ministry, I nonetheless need to study. Denzel jogged my memory why I used to be known as to the priesthood within the first place and why I’ve to carry on to that calling till the tip.

Attending to know God in such a private approach has introduced him peace within the midst of our complicated and disturbing world. As he stated 5 months after our dialog at his baptism: “God has performed quite a bit for me, however he’ll do quite a bit for everybody who trusts him.”

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Do you want a reminder of what’s most vital in 2025 and afterwards? I invite you to take part with me in 12 conversations that reveal that reality. Let’s pay attention and study from Denzel collectively, Dr. Jane Goodall, who simply died this week, Dr. Condolezza Rice, Dr. Francis Collins, Gary Sinise, Sam Waterston, ambassador Nikki Haley, Amy Grant, sports activities commentator Jim Nantz, former secretary of State James A. Baker III, Adm. William Mcraven and Fox Information’ Brit Hume.

My premonition is that you’ll agree with Denzel by the tip: “I do not need anymore … I need God.”

Click on right here to learn extra from Rev. Dr. Russell Leson, jr.