Our vision here at The Summit is to REACH those far from God, RAISE them up in Christ, and RELEASE them for His mission. Which one of those things do you think we’re focusing on with our At The Movies series? That’s right—reach! Most people in our culture can relate to movies. Hacksaw Ridge is a story of passion, conviction, and a man who made it his mission to reach others and honor God. In real life and in the story, Desmond Doss has an amazing amount of courage and faith. He grows up in Virginia in the late 1920s, and like all of us, he is shaped by his upbringing and his experiences.
Of all the powerful things in your life, God’s Word is the most powerful. What principles do YOU have in your life that you’re passionate about? Social justice? Protecting people or animals? Some people are really passionate about financial stability or going on grand adventures! Too many people put their greatest passion and momentum into medium level causes that won’t have a lasting impact. Some even put their top efforts into bottom causes. Whatever your passion is, I can guarantee you it was developed in you through your upbringing. In this movie, Desmond has a conviction to never touch a gun. In one of the scenes, Desmond is seen as a young boy fighting with his brother. Without thinking, he picks up a brick and hits his brother. Realizing that he could have killed him and that murder is not of God, he decides to never be violent and to never touch a gun.
In another scene in the movie, Desmond has voluntarily signed up for the army as a medic in the midst of World War II. But what makes him stand out is his refusal to touch a gun. This is only the beginning of a long, tough battle for him as he tries to stand up for his convictions. Because he won’t touch a gun, his sergeant and his platoon do not trust him. They do everything they can think of to make him quit. They give him extra work—cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen. His platoon even gets so mad that they beat him in the middle of the night. But Desmond won’t quit because he doesn’t want to be labeled a coward or compromise his principles. After the commanding officer accuses him of disobeying orders by not touching a gun, he’s thrown into jail until he can stand trial.
With the help of his father, Desmond is able to get his charges dismissed and continue working for the army. But he risks a lot, all because of his convictions. I want you to think about how willing you are to stay on mission when God convicts you. What are you willing to lose, to go through, for what you think is right?