After a huge and surprising endorsement by many popular Faith-based organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom, American Heritage Girls, Faith Driven Consumer, Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, Trevecca Nazarene University, The Dove Foundation, and Ratio Christi, the film “God’s Not Dead” caught the eye of many and a made a huge success in the box office.
The franchise continued to impact many lives especially non-Christians who converted to Christians when they saw this movie in the theatre and on their screens. In its continuity, Pure Flix Entertainment produced a sequel, God’s Not Dead 2, with a release date of April 1, 2016, a second sequel, God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness, was released on March 30, 2018.
The movie is purely based on how the ration man-made law and philosophy fighting and bargaining on the fundamental faith of Christianity worldwide. In the first sequel, we saw the life of Josh Wheaton, a college student, and Evangelical Christian enrolls in a philosophy class taught by Professor Jeffrey Radisson, an atheist. Radisson demands his students sign a declaration that “God is dead” to pass. Josh is the only student who refuses. Radisson requires Josh to debate the topic with him but agrees to let his other students decide the winner.
In the first two debates, Radisson has counter-arguments for all of Josh’s points. Josh’s girlfriend Kara demands Josh either sign the statement or drop Radisson’s class because standing up to Radisson will jeopardize their academic future. When Josh refuses, Kara breaks up with him. The last debate was when these students being much influence by the mysteries in the Word of God through Josh, made a final decision by voting that God’s Not Dead.
The second sequel which was released in the year 2016 witnessed that AP History teacher Grace Wesley, a devout evangelical Christian, notices that one of her students, Brooke Thawley, is withdrawn following the recent accidental death of her brother. Involved in little more than her studies, Brooke notices Grace’s hope-filled attitude and asks where Grace finds her optimism. Grace replies “Jesus”, and Brooke begins to read the Bible for herself. As Grace lectures on Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Brooke asks whether their peaceful teachings relate to the biblical account of the Sermon on the Mount. Grace responds in the affirmative and relates parts of scripture to his teachings.
One student immediately texts his parents about the class, and the ensuing backlash draws the ire of Principal Kinney. She reprimands Grace, saying that the teacher’s faith clouded her judgment. Grace is subsequently brought before the School Board, which landed her in court. The case drew much attention till the end where she was declared the winner.
God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness was released in 2018 as the third sequel which was written and directed by Michael Mason. As the third installment of the God’s Not Dead series, following the 2014 film God’s Not Dead and its 2016 sequel. It stars David A. R. White, John Corbett, Shane Harper, Benjamin Onyango, Ted McGinley, Jennifer Taylor, Tatum O’Neal, Shwayze, and Cissy Houston. The film follows the trilogy’s Christian persecution complex theme and is loosely based on the story of five pastors in Texas who were issued subpoenas for sermons due to the potential violation of the Johnson Amendment.
This great franchise continues to unfold Christian excitement in God’s Not Dead 4: We the People. The fourth sequel is slated to be released in theatres on October 4th, 5th, and 6th.
The movie follows Reverend Dave [White] is called to defend a group of Christian homeschooling families. He finds himself taken aback by the interference of the government, and believing that their right to educate their own child is a freedom worth fighting for, Rev. Dave is called to Washington DC to testify in a landmark congressional hearing that will determine the future of the Christian-faith freedom in the country for years to come.
To experience such a powerful sequel, you can go and grab your ticket at www.GodsNotDead.com. Know that there is a limited engagement.
God’s Not Dead, “the Teacher is always silent during the test”.