Movie Review: God's Not Dead

If you have received a text message that God's Not Dead you have a friend who has just seen this compelling movie.  Once again I take a path not traveled by the "professional" reviewers but this low budget Christian movie is taking the industry by storm.  In its first week it was the 5th top grossing movie with a box office take of $8.7 million.  This despite appearing in only 780 theaters while all those than ran ahead of it appeared on over 3,000 screens.

This movie is well written, well researched and well executed.  The two lead characters are a Christian college freshman who aspires to be an attorney and atheist bully Professor Radisson.  Professor Radisson requires his students to disavow God in writing by turning in a paper that says "God is Dead" or face failure in the course.  Josh decides to take on the professor and face failure if he can not convince his classmates in the existence of God.

Both characters put in a commanding performance.  Some say the story line is unbelievable but the script was taken from actual court cases dealing with religious freedom and the points debated are points that have been successfully debated by Christian apologists before.  Therefore, in my opinion the story line is very credible.

The movie reminds us of our duty to share our faith with others. as Josh, the college freshman struggles with his decision to take on his bully professor who demanded his class affirm that God is Dead in writing or face failure. He goes to a local church and seeks the counsel of a local pastor who only tells him to read Matthew 10:32-33 and that should give him the answer.  If that does not convince him of the answer he was told to read Luke 12:38.  I suggest each of you read those two verses before you read the rest of this review and pray that you will have the same courage Josh demonstrated if your faith was ever put to the test.

There are several sub plots which show others struggling with faith and God seemed to be preventing a local minister and his missionary friend from taking a vacation so the minister would be in town to counsel many of the people facing this struggle.

The Newsboys and Duck Dynasty star Willie Robinson made appearances in the movie.  I strongly recommend this movie and I recommend you take a friend who may have questions about their faith.

Watch for reviews of the other Christian movies being released shortly Noah, Exodus and Heaven is Real.