God's Not Dead - movie review

For homeschooling yesterday, we watched the movie God’s Not Dead.  For the most part I enjoyed the movie. I agree with the point that God is not dead. I also agree with the explanation about suffering among the good and success among the evil. But there are a couple of points I do not agree with. I don’t agree with the ideology that faith in Jesus automatically grants you salvation and that you go straight to heaven upon your death. There are fundamental truths found in the bible that contradict this ideology. There is something more to faith than just saying, “I believe.” I would like to share this with you.

For anyone who has faith in whatever religion they practice, the first thing to have is a genuine belief that your God is very much alive. Without such a belief then you have no basis for your faith. As a Jehovah’s Witness, for me Jehovah is very much alive.  There is no doubt in my mind that He exists and that because of Him we have all come to exist. (Revelation 4:11) There was never any doubt in my mind about His existence.  Mind you at times in my life I questioned if he was listening to me or if he cared about me. But I know the answer to those questions were, and have always been, “yes.” I have also learned that it was during my most difficult times that He carried me and helped me through.  The scriptures confirm this. In Psalm 34:18 we read, “Jehovah is close to the broken-hearted; He saves those who are crushed in spirit.” As my relationship grows more and more with Jehovah, I’ve come to see Him as my father, my God and my friend. For Him to be all those things to me, He has to be alive.

But life doesn’t always run smoothly. We face trials sometimes that seem unbearable. It makes us wonder why we suffer while others always seem to prosper. This movie makes a valid point in regards to suffering.  It is during the scene when Marc (Dean Cain) goes to visit his mom who is in a nursing home. The scene starts off with him sitting and questioning why he is even visiting her. He goes on to say, “You prayed and believed your whole life. Never did anything wrong and here you are. You’re the nicest person I know. I’m the meanest. You have dementia. My life is perfect. Explain that to me?” Her response to him is straightforward, clear and to the point, bang on! She says to him, “Sometimes the Devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn’t want them turning to God. His sin is like a jail cell expect it’s all nice and comfy and there doesn’t seem to be a need to leave. The door is wide open. Then one day time runs out the cell door slams shut and suddenly it’s too late.” Then to drive the point home she says, “Who are you again?” Because in the end, to Satan, we are nothing. Nobodies. Worthless tools used by him to promote his perverse agenda. The bible says that it’s Satan who rules this world, (1 John 5:19) and it’s him that is misleading the world, (Revelation 12:9). There is a movie on the JW broadcasting website entitled, “Young People Ask – What Will I Do With My Life?” There is one line that is powerful.  It’s delivered by the grandmother of the main character, Andre. She says to him when he asks if it is wrong to be a track star, “If you want to be a star in Satan’s wold, don’t you think he’s going to want something from you?” Isn’t that so true? Give him your hand and he will take your whole arm! Once he has a hold of you, then your faith is what he will go after.

Which leads me to the topic about faith. The movie implies that simply having faith in Jesus gives you automatic salvation. That is a wonderful idea. But it isn’t as simple as saying, “I believe in Jesus,” that will grant you salvation. In the movie Reverend Dave is helping Professor Radisson make peace within himself moments before he dies. Reverend Dave says, “God is willing to forgive you of your sins, all of them if you accept His son and ask him into your life. That’s all you have to do… is just accept his son, accept his love and receive his forgiveness right now. Do you accept him as lord and saviour?” There is a belief that having faith assures you salvation. But no one is guaranteed automatic salvation. Yes because of Jesus’ sacrificial death we were all given the hope of our sins to be forgiven. But that doesn’t mean we are saved as a people destined for heaven. (More on this point later) In Acts 10:43 it states, “To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone putting faith in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” In order to have faith there must be some work to prove it. It’s like telling someone you love them but never truly showing or demonstrating that love for them. There are several scriptures found in the book of James that states this very fact. (James 2: 17, 18, 20. And 26) Even Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in the day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’” So you need to do more than sing praises at a concert, more than contest with an atheist professor, more than help someone moments before he dies…there is more! Faith in Jesus becomes a total way of life. In the previous verses before the ones I just cited, Jesus says, “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise, every good tree produces find fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit. A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men.” In the movie, there was a character name Ayisha who was raised as a Muslim but had hid her new belief in Jesus for over a year. She knew this would be dangerous in her family, yet she continued to put faith in Jesus. When her very traditional Muslim father discovered her secret, he threw her out of the house. There are many Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world that face the same, if not worse, persecution in their homes and countries. The reason being is that their “fruits” are looked down upon. Preaching. Meetings. Bible study. Not following the worldly holidays that stem from pagan origins. No political alliance. No war. No compromising whatsoever! Even if death by persecution is imminent…no compromise. Ever!

This unwavering faith is because we have faith in the promises found in the bible. We know for certain that everything Jehovah has said, whether through the prophets or through His son Jesus, will come true. This leads me to the topic about heaven. Reverend Dave tells a dying Professor Radisson that, “In a few minutes you are going to know more about God than I do and anyone else does.” Here he is implying that Professor Radisson would soon join God in heaven because moments ago he accepted Jesus as saviour. It’s this ideology that I find a real disagreement with. In the book of Revelation it clearly states who will be in heaven as co-rulers with Jesus. (Rev. 14: 1, 3) Let’s think about this idea for a moment. If everyone who died that believed in Jesus were to go into heaven and became a co-ruler with Jesus, then who are they ruling over? Themselves? If that is the case, how would the hierarchy work? Would God agree with some being more superior then others? Would that not lead to further possible rebellion? How unrealistic! The reality of it all is that Jesus set a covenant – an agreement – with only a chosen few. He established this agreement the night of his last meal. (For more information on this visit the JW website) In John 14:3, Jesus says, “ Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” So you may ask yourself, what about the rest of us? In John 5: 28, 29 it says, “Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.” Even the man Job believed in the resurrection years before Jesus declared it. Job said in Job 14:14, 15, “If a man dies, can he live again?  I willl wait all the days of my compulsory service until my relief comes. You will call, and I will answer you. You will long for the work of your hands.” Jehovah created man to live on earth in a paradise on earth. He didn’t create the earth for it to be destroyed and barren one day. He created it for us. For our use. For our enjoyment. (Isaiah 45:18) He didn’t create man to live only for a moment of time and then die. How unloving of God would that be? He wants us to live! He wants us to live on the beautiful earth He created. He went so far as to send His only-begotten son for us. (John 3:16)

So in conclusion, the premise of the movie is great. It’s wonderful to see so many young ones searching for God and wanting to put faith in Jesus. But the reality of it all is that there needs to be an exercising of faith, a following of all Jesus’ commands that are in agreement with Jehovah’s will, no compromising even in the small things. Jehovah God is not dead! He is very much alive and yearns for all mankind to return to Him in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)  He wants us to exercise faith in His son. He wants us to acknowledge Him as sovereign ruler. He wants us to shun what is bad and love what is good. He wants us to attain to everlasting life. (John 17:3) He wants us to draw close to Him so He can become to everyone a Father, a God and a Friend.