I can’t wait until March 21 gets here. That’s the day a new movie comes to the theaters. “God’s Not Dead” is a movie in which a young college student must choose between his faith and his future. A young college freshman is confronted by his philosophy professor informs the entire class that they will need to disavow, in writing, the existence of God or face a failing grade. Other students in the class begin scribbling the words, “god is dead” on pieces of paper as instructed. Except for one young man whose name is Josh.
The movie is based on an actual event in which one student refuses the professor’s request. The professor responds by assigning him a daunting task: Josh must prove God’s existence through evidence and arguments and by engaging the professor in a head-to-head debate in front of the class. I remember when this happened several years ago. It received some press coverage, but not to the level the Academy Awards receives.
I’m anxious to see this movie for a number of reasons. It will serve as a reminder of the real-life challenges believers face. It will spur me to question myself of what risk am I willing to take for Jesus. Lastly, it will offer the evidence Christians need to defend their faith today. In a culture where God is more a hobby than a King, Jesus is looking for someone who will “deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
There’s a story about a group of Christians in Russia who were meeting in secret. Suddenly a band of soldiers broke through the door, rifles at their shoulders. They herded the believers against a wall and ordered them to deny their faith. Those who renounced Christ could leave, but those who remained would be shot. Most of the group chose to save their lives; only a handful stood against the wall, ready to die for Jesus. The soldiers herded the others out, locked the door behind them, dropped their weapons, and embraced the shocked believers. “We have been looking for genuine Christians,” they explained. “We want to join you.”
There’s an old saying: “If you were on trial for your faith, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” What price are you willing to pay for Jesus today? I ask myself the same question.
