God's Not Dead 3: A Movie Review
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32 - 33)
Spoiler Alert: some elements of the movie are discussed in this review. If you would like to watch it, it is available on Pureflix.
God’s Not Dead is an American movie released in 2014, directed by Harold Cronk. It stars David A.R. White (The Encounter, Faith in our Father) in the evangelical drama. He shares the screen with Shane Harper (Good Luck Charlie, Dirty Dancing) and Benjamin A. Onyango (Freshman Year, God’s Not Dead) in this hour and six minute story about the ability to profess the name of the Lord, even in the darkest of times.
The story of God’s Not Dead 3 is the most streamlined of the entire series, with few minor story lines. After the imprisonment of Reverend David Hill (David A.R. White), the university begins the steps to remove the church from their grounds. The church is burned down by an atheist; the fire kills Reverend Hill’s friend Jude (Benjamin A. Onyango). This, combined with suing the school to keep the school on the grounds, leads the preacher on a dark path in which he must find the light of Christ in his troubles.
While the movie was critically panned by many different reviewers, the message that is found within the movie is very practical and useful: letting God fight your battles. One of the Reverend’s major problems throughout the entire story is that he did not confide in the Father, preferring to act in His name without consulting Him. It’s only when He truly removes himself from his high horse and humbles himself in prayer that he is able to hear the Father speak to Him and tell him what he has to do. The story of his biblical namesake, David, is proof of how important it is:
In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.
The Lord said, “Go up.”
David asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
- 2 Samuel 2:1
David inquired and waited for Him to answer. There is never a time when the voice of the Father, YHWH, should not be in your ears and His word n your heart. They give you direction and life.
In the end, the movie is a powerful lesson, teaching true believers must be willing to listen to the Father at all times, for He knows all and knows what is best for His plans. We must remember what Proverbs 2:1 - 5 says: “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”