River Phoenix

I was on Facebook today and stumbled upon a group entitled “You know you grew up in the 90’s if…” or something like that. One of the “ifs” was you remember when River Phoenix, Tu Pac, and Selena died. Well, I grew up in the 90’s and I don’t remember when any of them died. However, I have heard of River Phoenix before and his name caught my eye. So I googled his name.

His story is a sad one for sure. He was the oldest of five children. Joaquin Phoenix, who played the evil Caesar in “Gladiator,” is his younger brother. River’s parents were involved in a cult called Children of God: The Family. It is rumored that for a time, the group promoted sexual conduct between adults and children. It is also supposed, based on brief comments made by River Phoenix, that he was sexually abused when he was a child and most likely by a person belonging to this cult. Now, please keep in mind, that everything I am telling you here is based on what I have read off the internet and of course, could all be not true. However, I believe it is true and I will tell you why.

River Phoenix led a pretty clean life up until the point where he overdosed on drugs at the age of 23, I believe it was. Family and friends began to notice changes in Phoenix. I don’t remember what the website said those were, but it seemed to indicate that they were for the worse. Phoenix had always been a humble sort of person and reserved and deeply devoted to such things as saving the rainforest. Not long after his conservative countenance changed found him doing drugs in the bathroom of Johnny Depp’s nightclub called The Viper. He was in the bathroom with other drug users and drug dealers and his overdose was due to an intake of multiple drugs including heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines.

As I read this man’s biography, a feeling of depression and dark gloom settled over me. What happened to River Phoenix was a tragedy for sure and one of the darkest kinds. This young man was most likely abused when he was but a young child. This affected him in such a way as left great cracks in his healthy human heart. No human being could respond well to such abuse—it is the flaw of our flesh. Someone, involved in a cult (that very much resembles fundamental Christianity), by sexually abusing a young child put a major stumbling block in his path. What’s that verse? “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6

This sexual abuse left deep cracks in the heart of this young man that may not have been readily seen due to his “squeaky clean” rep; however, his demise reflects the gross emptiness inside. And I can assure you (and would even be willing to bet money) that demonic forces were at work in the belly of Johnny Depp’s club that night. I could easily picture the numerous demons whispering into Mr. Phoenix’s ears through the tongues of drug dealers and his own thoughts rooting him on toward death. The heart of God was grieved deeply that night as one of His creation was lost to the spiritual forces darkness.

Now you may think that I am being wildly exuberant and overly liberal in my rendition of what happened to this young man. While all my facts may not be entirely accurate as it is hard to know for sure if the information that online websites present is as such, it does not matter. There was a deep hurting in the heart of River Phoenix and God Himself will see to it that justice is paid to the one who caused it. “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!” Matthew 18:7