Sharon told me about the movie and suggested we watch it. Amazon Prime members can watch the movie at no added cost.
The trailer for the movie sounds like a Focused Free Grace presentation: The pastor asks the boy, “Do you believe in Jesus?” The boy responds, “Yes, I believe.” You can see the trailer here.
In the movie, the pastor tells the boy’s father that whoever believes in Jesus will live with God forever. The father responds that that’s too easy.
The movie is well-acted by all involved. Wilford Brimley (the pastor), Jeremy London, and Tom Sizemore have significant parts. You might also recognize Matt Lindquist (the father), William McNamara, and Thomas Silcott. The young boy in the movie, Rowan Smyth (playing Brian), does a great job.
It is an overcomer story. Brian is undersized and picked on at school, and his atheist parents oppose his sudden interest in the Bible.
There are several miracle scenes in the movie. They don’t come off as promoting faith healers but instead promoting the idea that God heals directly, without faith healers. However, Brian receives miraculous knowledge from God. The miracles are moving, but the suggestion that God gives special revelation today is disappointing.
An evangelistic message near the movie’s end comes during an Easter sermon. Unfortunately, that message is different from the one presented earlier in the movie to Brian and his father:
“If you want a personal relationship with Him, just pray this prayer with me: ‘Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross. Thank you for shedding Your blood for my sin. I turn from it now. Come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. And be my friend. I choose to follow You. From this moment forward, I choose to follow You, Jesus. And in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.’”
Despite the Lordship Salvation prayer at the end, I recommend this movie to well-grounded believers. It is highly entertaining.
