Opinion: God’s Not Dead Movie Review
I know what you’re thinking, “Oh jeez, not another movie about Jesus, no one but bible-thumpers is even going to watch it.”
Not to degrade this arguable point, as there are an unusual two movies about religion currently in theaters, but the movie God’s Not Dead was an extraordinarily good movie about religion. Set on a current-day college campus, freshman Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper) is forced to defend something that holds a very dear spot in his heart and life; his religion as a devout Christian. On his first day in his psychology class Wheaton’s beliefs are threatened head-on by self-proclaimed atheist Professor Radisson (Kevin Sorbo), and over the course of the semester he must convince the class through a series of lectures and debates with Radisson that God is not dead; contrary to the professor’s publicized opinion.
But not only is this movie a debate between a seasoned college professor and a seemingly naive freshie, it also follows the lives of four other men and women in their personal discoveries and journeys in their faith. Situations such as a Muslim woman, an atheist woman who is given a terminal cancer diagnosis, a faithful woman whose mother is dying from dementia, that woman’s cold hearted, workaholic, non-believing brother, and a pastor and his African missionary friend are all profiled. Through multiple characters who face death head-on, the idea that everyone that accepts The Lord into their life is loved by Him, thus granted eternal salvation, is a prominent theme. The popular belief that one has until the second they die to give themselves up to God is exemplified perfectly with an unexpected ending revolving around an atheist being killed almost instantaneously – but not quickly enough to lose the opportunity of being saved by faith.
Despite the tragic event that death inevitably is, the redemption of a non-believer is such a beautiful thing to watch; reminding myself, along with other viewers, that anyone, no matter how far they have strayed from their religion, can always be redeemed.
God’s Not Dead was immensely more than an authentication of God’s existence; it was an inspiration as someone of faith. With the final scene consisting of the different characters all at a Newsboys concert singing the praise song “God’s Not Dead”, the band instructed all people in the crowd and watching the movie to pick up their phones and text three words to every person in their contacts; God’s not dead. And let me tell you, after seeing such an exhilarating movie such as this, you’ll want to.
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