Malcolm X and Spirituality

I watched Malcolm X this week for one of my classes at York. Cool flick. Long. Anyways, he converts to Islam in prison. When he gets out, his life mission is to unify black Americans and fight for their rights in the name and power of Islam and the teachings of "the honorable" Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm was a good Muslim. He said his prayers. He acknowledged the sovereignty and providence of Allah and also lived like he believed it. He made the Haj. Later, close to the end of his life (at least in the movie) his dedication to Islam and to his cause led to his betrayal and assassination by those exploiting the cause for cash and cars.

Usually, when I think of Islam, it makes me say, "ew, icky. Works righteousness and legalism." The other night, I watched the 2 1/2 hour film again. This time something struck me. He had it right. Or, half right. He understood that serving the almighty creator requires no less than your whole life. His mistake was rejecting Jesus Christ. But do I have it only half right? Am I half-heartedly serving the King of Kings and withholding due praise from the sovereign of all things, visible and invisible?