Denzel Washington is getting honest about his faith. As a devoted Christian, Washington has been outspoken about the role religion plays in his life.
Washington was the son of a Pentecostal minister but did not enter the faith until after he became famous in the 1980s.
“I went to church with Robert Townsend, and when it came time to come down to the altar, I said, ‘You know this time, I’m just going to go down there and give it up and see what happens.’ I went in the prayer room and gave it up and let go and experienced something I’ve never experienced in my life.”
Afterwards, Washington told his mother, “I felt like I was going up in the air, and my cheeks were filled.” To which his mother said: “‘Oh no, that’s the devil you’re purging.’”
“I was filled with the Holy Ghost, and it scared me. I said, ‘Wait a minute, I didn’t want to go this deep, I want to party,’” Washington went on.
Washington’s faith was a topic of discussion shortly after the infamous Oscar’s slap, as Will Smith explained in his Best Actor speech that the other actor counseled him.
“Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, he said, ‘At your highest moment, be careful— that’s when the devil comes for you.’”
Washington holds his faith in mind in all regards, as he has been quoted saying that he believes that society is drifting away from his personally practiced values. “The enemy is the inner me. The Bible says in the last days – I don’t know if it’s the last days, it’s not my place to know – but it says we’ll be lovers of ourselves. The number one photograph today is a selfie, ‘Oh, me at the protest.’ ‘Me with the fire.’ ‘Follow me.’ ‘Listen to me.'”
Sources:
https://www.beliefnet.com/celebrity-faith-database/w/denzel-washington.aspx
