Hollywood isn't the easiest place to showcase Christianity, but Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington is defying the norm by praying and reading the Bible every day while filming "Roman J. Israel, Esq." together with producer and writer Dan Gilroy.
"God put us together," Washington told the Gospel Herald about their shared faith on set. "We prayed every day, we read the daily Word every day. Dan and I have been prayer partners in this whole collaboration... We were on the same page from day one. We know Who we work for, and we're just trying to do our best work."
Roman J. Israel, Esq.," which also stars Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo, tells the story of a defense attorney named Roman (Washington) whose beliefs are put to the test when an unexpected series of events gets in the way of his mission of helping the poor.
"He is Old Testament, he knows the law, but, not to say he doesn't have faith, but he has faith in the law," Washington shared about his character. "His conviction was through the law."
The film isn't faith-based, but Washington said it's filled with biblical themes such as sacrifice, honor, and faith in the unseen. The actor is proud that he gets to tell that story and encourage people to dedicate their lives to God. "I speak now and I'm doing what God told me to do from the beginning," Washington said. "It was prophesied that I would travel the world and preach to millions of people. It was prophesied when I was 20. I thought it was through my work and it has been."
"My mother said to me when I was 59, she said, 'Denzel, you do a lot of good. You have to do good the right way and you know what I'm talking about,'" Washington continued. "I don't drink anymore, I don't do any of those things. I'm all about the message, to the degree that I know it, and I'm unashamed and unafraid to share it!"
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with CBN News, Washington said that faith without action amounts to nothing. "So, not everybody has to be an activist," he explained. "A woman prophesied years and years ago that I would travel the world and preach to millions of people. I asked my pastor, 'Does that mean I am supposed to be a preacher?' He says, 'No you already have a pulpit.'"
That pulpit, according to Washington, is filmmaking. "That's what I'm all about now. I'm in the service business," he said.
