THE MOVIE MAN

They said that he came into his own as a producer, writer, and director of the 2011 movie, “The Way,” which told a story of death, faith, and family. A critic said that the movie was different--"It had no massive special effects, no parade of gore or bedroom scenes with nudity."

Back in 2011, the man who made the movie was quoted as saying, "Hollywood is a very difficult place to be earnest and be heartfelt. I'm not interested in making films that are anything but. There’s a lot of vulgarity in films. There’s a lot of violence, casual sex – things that make me uncomfortable watching – and I’m not interested in perpetuating that message.” [That sounds different.]

The movie man continues: "[My kind of film is] one that shows simple human relationships. I think we have a responsibility as artists, and if we live in that community, and we work in that community, we have a responsibility to lift it up and to raise the bar and to reject all that [mentioned above].”

His movie, "The Way," contains a subtle pro-life message, about which he says, "We give voice to the unborn, and again, that is another thing Hollywood doesn’t necessarily celebrate.” [That’s putting it mildly.]

Who is this movie man, this producer, writer, and director? Why, he's none other than the guy who played the hockey coach in "The Mighty Duck" films. So now you know the rest of the story, he's Emilio Estevez. Or do you really know the rest of the story? He's also the brother of Charlie Sheen.

THAT GUY?

Charlie Sheen? Yes, that Charlie Sheen. That Charlie Sheen who, according to reports, "has allegedly assaulted, threatened, harassed, abused, and—in one incident—shot women. Although his long history of violence toward women has been reported in the media, it seems to have taken a back seat to the actor's partying, wild lifestyle, and battles with addiction."

That Charlie Sheen who's been in and out of rehab, and by his own admission, has paid millions to blackmailers, is currently threatened with lawsuits, has suffered cluster headaches and night sweats, and has heard what he calls, "The hard letters, H, I, and V."

Yet, it was that brother America's press and people celebrated during all those years of his drugs, carousing, and rehab sessions. It was that brother who the press quoted in all his nonsensical glory. Things like: "I got tiger blood, man. My brain...fires in a way that is - I don't know, maybe not from this particular terrestrial realm." "I am on a drug. It's called Charlie Sheen. It's not available because if you try it, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body." Although his words were certified nonsense, the public ate it up. They couldn't get enough of him.

It was that brother who should have been embarrassed that his father and brother got on national TV to plead with him to come to his senses and get some help. 

It was that brother that we knew all about. It was that brother who was smiling at us from the covers of one magazine after another. We saw him, whether we wanted to or not, grinning at us from too many magazine covers as we stood in the checkout lines.

THE GRIN IS GONE

It's that brother isn't smiling today. It's that brother who's grown serious; the wages of sin have caught up with him, even as he cruised through life in his own fast lane, and it's no fun anymore. The payday someday is today, tomorrow, and for the rest of his days, a fact he may not realize yet.

The other brother? Emilio hasn't had cluster headaches, night sweats, paid 10 million in blackmail, isn't addicted to drugs, hasn't made moronic statements for all to hear and read, hasn't been a complete embarrassment, isn't threatened with lawsuits, nor heard the hard letters. No ambulance has rushed him to the Los Robles Medical Center because he overdosed on cocaine and alcohol. Emilio didn't get into drugs at age 11, nor did his high school expel him at 17. Emilio didn't turn into a "crazy, chain-smoking, who-cares-about-the-consequences dervish, claiming to be fueled by 'tiger blood' and 'Adonis DNA,' waving a sword at the 'clowns' and 'trolls' who had supposedly enslaved him." (from"Vanity Fair, 2011" Mark Seal)

Why not? Because Emilio, whether he knows it or not, has lived close to what Paul calls the morality God has written in every human heart. Then, when we look at the book of Proverbs, with its admonition, "The fear of the Lord (a positive response to God) is the beginning of wisdom," we realize that one book could have saved Charlie Sheen from a life of financial, moral, and physical chaos that hasn't stopped yet.

But there's more. Assuming that neither brother is saved, we might paraphrase the jailer's question to Paul to be, "What must they do to be saved?"

First, we must recognize that both brothers are equally lost, equally, as the Bible says, "In Adam." Secondly, we must realize that Christ died for all their sins, Charlie's and Emilio's (I John 2:2). Charlie Sheen's sins were all paid for on the cross 2,000 years ago, as were Emilio's. To be saved and have the benefits of Christ's death on the cross applied to each of them, what they need to do is to trust Christ, trust Him that He is the Son of God; trust Him that His payment for their sins is finished, complete, and done; trust Him that He rose from the dead; and trust Him that He alone can save them.

"Trust Him alone" means that neither Charlie nor Emilio must beg God to save them, neither must feel sorry for their sins, neither must resolve to live for Christ, neither must put Christ on the throne of their lives, neither must  forsake their sins. That's what John 3:16 means--salvation is conditioned on faith alone in Christ alone. That's what grace is--neither has to earn salvation; it's a gift.

But wait! Charlie Sheen doesn't deserve a salvation provided without cost. Surely, he must do something; he has to do something! You're right; Charlie doesn't deserve the gift of a without-cost-salvation.

Neither does Emilio. Neither do you.