‘I had to hold onto faith’ The Christian faith of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

Going to the cinema is not what it used to be. Given the prominence of streaming platforms that invite us to view blockbusters from the comfort of our sofas, a trip to the pictures has lost its charm for some.

But not for a group of schoolchildren in Colchester, whose trip to the cinema to see the new Moana live-action movie gave them an experience that watching it from home never could.

Students from St Gregory Primary School thought they were going on a typical school trip, only to discover that Dwayne Johnson had hired out an entire nine-screen cinema for 700 children and their families to watch the film. Goodies were put on each seat, including a poster signed by The Rock - with the actor also appearing on screen to deliver a personal message.

The heartwarming gesture came after the star saw an online video of the students urging him to persuade their head teacher to take them to see Moana.

Those familiar with The Rock might be unsurprised at this, given his habit of enacting random acts of kindness. He’s clearly an inspirational figure, someone people look up to not just for his acting and wrestling. But to what extent is this example inspired by Jesus?

Hold onto faith

While Johnson isn’t as forthcoming about his faith as other Hollywood actors such as Denzel Washington, he has alluded to it.

He grew up in a Christian home and initially hoped to be a professional footballer. However, aged 23, he was overlooked by the NFL and cut from the Calgary Stampeders. With $7 to his name, he returned to living with his parents and battled depression.

In a 2015 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he said that while he wished someone had told him he’d be OK, he did draw on his faith. “Hold onto that fundamental quality of faith,” he said. “Have faith that on the other side of your pain is something good.”

In another interview, he explained how uncertainty about his future led him to depend on God: “I was a little unsure of what was actually going to happen, so I just have to put my faith in God and continue to work hard and hopefully good things will happen. I have my own special relationship with God, and I certainly feel very blessed. I count my blessings every day.”

Johnson has also revealed that he’s suffered “three bouts of depression” – the others being in 2008, following the end of his first marriage and again in 2017. He has shared openly about the need to lean on others and urges others to do the same. “Asking for help is not a weakness,” he said. “It’s our superpower, and men especially, we fall into this trap of being really averse to vulnerability, because we always want to be strong and feel like we can take on the world.”

For someone whose persona seems to embody masculine strength, the words are particularly powerful. In using his experiences to help others, he’s also demonstrating what helped him through his struggles as a young man – that “on the other side of pain is something good”.

Compassion and humility

This mantra emerges elsewhere. There’s a lovely story of The Rock and his wife visiting a homeless ministry at Angelus Temple, a megachurch in Los Angeles, to donate gifts to a pregnant woman.

“Not only did he treat her like the most important person in the world, he stayed and listened with a heart of extraordinary compassion to her,” shared pastor Matthew Barnett. “I realised that this man not only cares about people’s immediate needs, but he cares about their potential. I’m still in awe of his extraordinary humility and the spark of hope that he brings to the world.”

The Rock’s YouTube channel also features some beautiful encounters, including with a UFC Fighter whose tweet about having $7 in his account – the amount Johnson was left with in 1995 – caught the actor’s eye, prompting him to fly to Miami to give him the surprise of a lifetime.

While filming in Hawaii, Johnson – who supports many causes, including the American Red Cross – helped a local charity and promoted their work on social media. “He took time out of his busy schedule to help us with our flood relief work as our island had experienced its largest natural disaster in years,” said the charity’s executive director.

Proverbs 3:27 says: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Given his influence and wealth, The Rock is in a wonderful position to help a lot of people – and, inspired his Christian faith, he is doing just that.