Our college group watched the movie, God’s Not Dead, this week. Wow, there’s a lot to unpack from this movie! So many stories. So many lessons.
The basic premise is a confrontation between a Christian college freshman and an atheistic philosophy professor. The prof instructed all of the students to write the words “God is dead.” on a piece of paper and sign it. When the freshman refused, he was tasked with proving that God exists.
The end of the movie shows three columns and several minutes of similar actual instances on college campuses all over the country which inspired the story. It’s a situation Christians can easily get angry about.
I believe, though, that the professors truly think they are releasing the students from childhood “mythology” in order to help them choose their system of belief for themselves, without the constraints of family, parents, or background. And Christians getting angry doesn’t help. Moreover, our poor reactions tend to prove their point.
See the professor in the movie didn’t have everything he needed to make a completely enlightened decision. He had worldly knowledge, reason, and experience, but that was’t enough. He didn’t have the Holy Spirit within him whispering the amen when he heard the truth. The Spirit is only given to believers. Without the Spirit’s sway or urging, the tenants of faith – particularly Christian faith – seem foolishness. But then God knew that it would. “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
Another scripture that had a profound effect on the story: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9. This particular verse provided a foundations for the main plot of the story. We can’t always explain what God is doing or why things happen the way they do. We can only follow, and trust that He is working His plan.
Another quote repeated through the movie is, “God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.” That works hand in hand with that verse from Isaiah. Knowing that, being convinced of that truth, can draw us closer to Him, especially when the path we’re walking is challenging.
Your Turn: What is God doing in your life, right now, right where you are?
Marji Laine 