Columbo And The Gospel

Coming from the tradition started by Dostoevsky in Crime and Punishment, the television series Columbo, in its own fashion, followed Dostoevsky in becoming a vehicle not only to show the worst elements of humanity, but the means by which humanity can also be redeemed.  While probably unintentional, this aspect of the series might serve as one of the many unconscious reasons why the series is so effective despite being mysteries with a format which contradicts conventional detective stories by having the audience know in advance who committed the crime and how they did it.  The greater truth lies not in who committed the crime, but in the psychology of the murder, as well as in the critical judgment of Columbo as he ascertains how and why the crime was committed.

The relationships which Columbo makes with many of the murderers allows him to see them not as evil, unredeemable murderers who have no redeeming features, but as good men and women who have much to be liked and respected despite what they have done. No matter the level of evil done by someone, their inherent goodness given to them by God is not entirely destroyed, and through the light of grace, that good can still be found.

Columbo is able to pick up on this goodness, and use it to his own advantage – and possibly to the murderer’s advantage as well. Often, they have done evil despite their better nature, sometimes on the spur of the moment, sometime for rash reasons, but yet, once they have done evil, they can either commit themselves and their will to that evil and perish or they can let the light of truth reveal their evil and give them a chance for redemption.  Certainly, they need to make restitution for what they have done, but this does not entirely destroy their good qualities, qualities which Columbo appreciates as he sees them in his suspects even as he knows he would have to work for justice and find the evidence which will allow for an arrest.

In the story, Catch Me If You Can, Columbo gives one of his greatest speeches, a speech which explains his relationship with the criminals he investigates along these lines:

And about my work being dark and frightening, I’ll tell you the truth, I’m not sure about that, either. I like my job. Oh, I like it a lot. And I’m not depressed by it. And I don’t think the world is full of criminals and full of murderers. Because it isn’t. It’s full of nice people just like you. And if it wasn’t for my job, I wouldn’t be getting to meet you like this. And I’ll tell you something else. Even with some of the murderers that I meet, I even like them, too. Sometimes. Like them and even respect them. Not for what they did, certainly not for that. But for that part of them which is intelligent or funny or just nice. Because there’s niceness in everyone, a little bit, anyhow. You can take a cop’s word for it. Thank you, ladies.

Columbo certainly is known for the way he hounds his suspects with his line, “Just one more thing,” but as is revealed in this speech, the cozy relationship he often forms with his suspects is not an act. He truly respects many he has to arrest. Sometimes, he is almost apologetic when he has to arrest them, or at other times, he gives and shows his token of respect, as when he gave a final drink to a man who killed his half-brother out of desperation, trying to save his family winery (in which, rare for a Columbo episode, the criminal does not get frustrated with Columbo but seems to like him as well).

Columbo is honest in his speech. He truly respects many of his suspects, and so when he is showing them admiration, it is not entirely an act. Because he respects them, he finds it that much easier to interact with them, to join in with them in their celebrations and joys eve as he remains a master detective who knows how to follow through with his clues. Often, his suspects confuse him to be a bumbling fool, and so in his time with them, they make simple mistakes which he is able to use to gather evidence and prove their guilt.

Thus, it is because he is able to see the good in his suspects, that he is able to find something in them to like, Columbo is able to integrate himself with them, justify his presence with them when they become suspicious, and find the evidence he needs to make an arrest. Sometimes, depending upon the person, there is indication of guilt and shame and almost an acceptance of justice so that they can pay for their crimes, confirming Columbo’s belief in their innate goodness or niceness, but other times, there is only anger and resentment, so there is not an indication of God’s miraculous grace reforming everyone. There is, nonetheless, hope, because some certainly show that reform is possible for them, and the rest, even those who seem the least remorseful, we do not know how they will continue after conviction, so that their final fate must rest, as with most people, in the eschatological edge of hope and fear, hope for their reform and salvation, and fear that their goodness will not take over and instead they will confirm themselves in their evil will and perish.

Through Columbo, therefore, the light of grace is able to shine on sinners, to let them be seen not only their sins, but also to be seen for the good which remains even in the midst of great evil. That good which is not extinguished gives hope for some future redemption. As Christians, we can add that the good is given to them by God, as all that he makes and gives life, is good in accordance to their nature, so the goodness which Columbo is able to see is not some Pelagian goodness apart from grace, but is the remnant of God’s grace in all fallen sinners.  Columbo, then, can be seen to act similar to Jesus Christ, who comes to all sinners, loves all sinners despite their sin, because of the goodness of God which remains in them is worthy of honor and love. The question, which is rarely answered in the series, is whether or not a criminal will see that goodness in themselves, accept it, and follow through to conversion. As with the ending of Columbo, so we can see in the ending of the life of every sinner. Will they admit their guilt and accept God’s saving grace?  Most of the time, we will not be able to give an answer this side of the last judgment, but we can hope that the goodness will prevail.

This is also true for ourselves. Insofar as we sin, let us all hope we can see the light within and affirm it before it is too late and snuffed out by the darkness of our sin. Let us hope we can sign, with Johnny Cash, we have seen the light:

 

 

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