This is basically my first venture into a movie review. I sat for just under two hours to watch one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. God’s Not Dead is a fantastic portrayal of the struggle that a Christian encounter’s when defending their faith.
Our main character comes face to face with his Professor in his psychology class that has already come to the conclusion that God is dead. He wants to dispense with covering the subject of a higher power and would like his students to agree with him. He instructs them to write down three words on a piece of paper and sign it. Those three words are God is dead.
“I can’t do what you ask, I’m a Christian” our defender of the faith tells his teacher. “Well why don’t you just go ahead and sign it and then you can go back to your dorm room and get down on your knees and ask for forgiveness”.
“I can’t do that “he repeats.
“Then you will have to defend your belief that your God is alive, in front of the class.” And so that’s where our story begins.
As the story unfolds it does so masterfully. It’s a story that deals with the personal struggles of not just our main character but also takes us through the lives of different people who may believe, but struggle with the outcome. It does not hit the viewer over the head with religion. It’s done in a very simple way and yet with strong conviction, that at some point we will have to make a choice. That choice is freely ours and that is also brought out beautifully in the movie.
The struggle of finding out that cancer has once again created havoc and fear, and the selfish desire’s that because of that invasion, that relationship comes to an abrupt end. The choosing to believe in God and being thrown out of your home because of that decision. A mother with dementia who miraculously shares with her son the danger of a life lived selfishly.
Our main character even has a girlfriend that tells him he needs to make a choice. It’s either defending his faith or it’s her. Fortunately he decides to defend his faith. It is a choice we all at some point may have to make. The movie is not as predictable as I thought it would be. In fact I was totally shocked at one point that left me in an emotional state.
It is a must see for everyone and will answer questions for some, embolden others and as some characters in the movie, not convince them at all. But it does glorify God and at several moments in the movie He gets all the Glory. You should see this movie!
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