It is with a shred of surprise that one of the top posts attracting attention on 2 Worlds Collide is ‘Facing the Giants‘. The implicit theology of Facing the Giants is a theology of glory, in particular, that of the “prosperity gospel” (if you really, really have faith, then God will bless you with success and material prosperity). I’ve noted previously this film lacks true Christian theology, the theology of the cross. Despite this movie being produced by a church within my denomination and others within my denomination speaking favorably of this movie, I detest it. I was chided by a commentator, who declared, “This film was not about prosperity faith! It was about honoring God and being blessed for showing honor to him. All God did was grant the coach the desires of His heart as well as His wife’s. This was probably one of the greatest films ever made!!!! Pay more attention to the message next time brother!” Nonetheless, I saw and heard more than enough of the “prosperity gospel” growing up to know exactly what it is.
In the film, the coach can’t afford to replace his broken down car because he and his wife only make $30,000 a year between them; they can’t have children because of his medical condition; and their house has a foul odor that won’t go away. It is only after the coach finds a newfound faith after praying in the woods that his team is inspired and begins to win; revival breaks out at the school; the kids are getting good grades; one of the most disgruntled parents is now one of the most delighted and buys the coach a new truck and his wife a new SUV; the coach gets a raise; the foul odor in the house is found – a dead rat that had been stuck inside a wall; and the coach’s wife is pregnant. Everything is just peachy in Georgia for Coach Taylor and Shiloh Christian Academy, especially after they win the state championship football game.
Does God ever bless His people with material prosperity? Yes. Does God at times change circumstances or impairments, even medical conditions? Yes. But not always. In the movie, is there any possibility that a Christian kid played for the losing team? Did his team lose because he didn’t have enough faith? Life is often very difficult and very painful. Sometimes women of great faith remain barren. Sometimes men of God struggle to provide for their families. Sometimes families who live for God drive around ol’ clunkers. Christians suffer and die from cancer. They experience heartbreak over broken relationships. At times they are plagued with doubts and fears. The majority of Christians across the globe face persecution day in and day out. Is God worth following through difficulty and pain and sorrow; or only if He blesses us with what we think we want?
The Rev. Dr. John Piper answers the question well…
James,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. This is exactly the prosperity gospel: If you follow God, then all of your circumstances will be rosy. Definitely a “feel good” movie. Definitely in line with what is preached in many churches today. But as long as they walk the aisle and sign the card, that’s the most important thing, right? I just wonder why we can’t find them in 6 months . . .
I must confess that your admission that you “detest” this movie surprises me. Can you please explain why Christians are not allowed to have good things happen to them? Why again is it “wrong” for a “feel good” movie about Christianity to be produced? Granted, things to not always turn out like the movie portrays it. However, they occasionally do. I have a young family in our church that has experienced things similar to the movie. The husband got saved… he and his wife got back together… their son got saved… I baptized all 3 of them… he got a new job… they bought a new home… etc. Sometimes God really does show up and show out in peoples lifes.
Even if it doesn’t “always” happen this way, that doesn’t mean that it never does. Besides, people go to the movies to be entertained and escape reality. I see nothing wrong with a Christian movie providing that needed entertainment and escape.
Joe:
I never said Christians aren’t allowed to have good things happen to them. Note my last paragraph. I’m *very* glad to hear about the young family in your church. The thing is, “Sometimes God really does show up and how out in peoples’ lives” when they are in the ER, when the spouse has just left, when the kids aren’t following God, when the car breaks down on the side of the road, and when your team loses the big game.
I think your last sentence is pretty powerful in many respects, “I see nothing wrong with a Christian movie providing that needed entertainment and escape.”
I’m thinking you must’ve made up the chiding “comment” that you quoted in this post. It’s just too perfect: that a guy would tell you the movie isn’t about the properity gospel, and then go on to elucidate the prosperity gospel to correct you. C’mon. No one’s really that thick.
By the way, I rejoice to see that you have repented of the devil-beard thing.
James,
I live a little too close to all of this to comment. The church that produced the movie is in Albany, a town 18 miles away that I go to virtually everyday for the hospital, grocery store, mall, etc. etc.
Anyway, so I won’t comment.
But I found your post very interesting.
But I’m not going to comment.
But the post was very intriguing.
But I can’t comment.
God bless,
Wyman
Maybe you should see the movie Hometown Legend. I liked Facing the Giants, it was uplifting. They movie was almost a reflection of God’s blessing of Abraham for being willing to sacrifice Isaac. The main characters were determined to serve God even in the worst of times and they portrayed Him as blessing them for their faithfulness.
I do not think it has to be all or nothing, but it can be as well. Would the movie have been better if the coach was fired, the wife remained barren, their car died and they became homeless? In “real life” either of these things could happen, but then again it could be somewhere in the middle. This was a movie, for entertainment. It is nice to see the good guys win for a change. (Respectfully, submitted- do not mean to sound antagonistic if this comment sounds that way)
Gordan, I’m really not.
Pregador27, I haven’t seen Hometown Legend. That’s not the Kenneth Copeland one, is it? Just a question…were the main characters really determined to serve God even in the worst of times, or were they just “at the bottom of the barrel” and knew they had “nowhere else to go”?
Would the movie had been better if the coach had been fired, etc., etc.? No. It would have been better had the acting been better and the “success” not so far-fetched.
IMO, a great movie showing God’s blessing upon someone willing to honor God no matter what is ‘Chariots of Fire’. The acting is excellent and the story is believable (especially since it’s based upon historical fact).
Your comments certainly aren’t taken as antagonistic. This blog exists so people can interact with ideas, etc. Thanks for your input! Hope we can still be friends.
James,
I love your blog and plan to keep reading and learning. I can’t stand the prosperity gospel. But I think you barely hitting the target on this one. I agree with you example of why the Christian kid can’t be the one who loses. Although valid, is that point strong enough to carry your big idea? I’m not so sure. I liked the movie. I’ve watched worse. I’ll be interested to see how you feel about “FireProof.”
You’re a theology expert. I’m not sure it worked for you in evaluating this movie where we need to lighten up a little.
All good!!
James
When I was a young lad I overheard a conversation between two adult men discussing their theories of predestination. Their interpretation was that it was based on foreknowledge and gave a weak illustration of how the theory worked. I was too young to join in but I knew in my heart it was a weak interpretation.
As a pentecostal I had heard the great words of theology “omnipotence” “omniscience” and “omnipresence” I knew that the simple word “all” preceded power, knowledge and presence.
I now know that it was not that I was smart but when I heard those adults conversing the Holy Spirit Himself put his big arms around me and said, “don’t believe everything you hear adults say about me.”
It is my belief that the Holy Spirit has been doing this to thousands of young children who now know as adults that God is “all”. They are eager to hear a gospel of grace, which they are not hearing.
The urgency for us is that our youth today do not hear “theology” preached today. They do not know about the “all” God. They know about the “whole” man from the BF&M. Like the theory of evolution they have accepted as fact the theory of “sovereignty” that allows the “whole” man to have his individual freedom to act independently of the Holy Spirit.
We have a young generation of children who have been trained to exegete the Word without the arms of the Holy Spirit guiding the interpretation. “It just seems good to us!”
Having faithful Christian friends who have never been blessed by conception, I would think that this film would be offensive.
Perhaps it would have been a little more biblical if the wife would not have conceived, yet the Lord carried her through such immense pain with a joy that the world cannot offer.
Lance, God has been seen blessing barren women for their faithfulness in the Bible (e.g.- Hannah, Leah)
James, I have no problem with our disagreement here. I liked the movie and that it was one my children can watch. Also, Hometown Legend has nothing to do with Kenneth Copeland- if it did I would burn it. He is a lying, demonic false prophet and teacher of doctrines of demons.
Paz Irmão.
Pete
I thought of Hannah in relation to the issue of barrenness… thought of her long struggle, God’s seeming silence, and then God’s wonderful answer. Again, God does bless His people in wonderful ways…with children, with finances, etc. The key to Christian theology, however, is the blessings we have given to us in Christ, particularly as related to His work at the cross. A theology without the cross, in all its implications is not a Christian theology.
Pregador27 – I’ll have to check into Hometown Legend. We certainly agree on Mr. Copeland.
Alan: I’m glad you’re dropping in to 2WC on a regular basis. I look forward to future discussions.
“He is a lying, demonic false prophet and teacher of doctrines of demons.” I disagree with this emotional statement. However he is an Arminian, freewiller and twister of scripture. He alone with all Arminians claim to be a “Bible believer”.
He calls it “Word of faith”. Many Southern Baptist are followers of Copeland. Prosperity is woven into much of Arminian American theology and as this movie (which I did not like) demonstrates the success of “Word of Faith” influence.
Copeland is not the enemy, Arminianism is! Semi-pelagianism! Now there is a doctrine of demons!
You can also accuse me of emotionalism, Charles, yet I agree that Kenneth Copeland is a “false prophet and teacher of doctrines of demons.” He goes well beyond ‘Arminianism’, teaching the sovereignty of man and the submission of God to man’s will. He goes beyond Pelagianism. He teaches the heresy that individuals are “little gods.” Copeland is the enemy, and he needs our prayers.
All Arminians are in need of our prayers regardless of the degree of their error.
The “little god” teaching is an out growth of free will humanism. Calvinist should reject all forms of “little god” teachings. Starting with total depravity.
I mean total depravity nullifies any form of little god teaching. A little god is only partially depraved
Brother,
THANK YOU for putting in print what I believe many SBC pastors think of this movie. Most of us dare not speak up, because the movie makes our people “feel good” and who wants to rock the boat!. I know I opposed it’s showing in my church (I am a SBC pastor) and was harshly criticized by some for it. The ”
prosperity gospel” is so insidious to our Americanized “gospel” that most don’t recognize it for what it is (as is evident from some of the comments above). Thanks once again for this article!
Granted God has blessed barren women through the Bible (in almost every case, though, it was to carry on His planned promises for His redemption plan, not merely to fulfill the women’s desires for children).
While He still does grant conception to most women, there are times where He does not, even though they might be faithful, godly women.
Again, the movie may have perhaps been more inspirational if the wife’s faith remained steadfast, in spite of infertility. Such a faith would bring great glory to God, just as much as providential conception (which happens with every pregnancy).
Forgot . . . the word “biblical” in my original comment would have been better rendered, “inspirational,” perhaps.
I appreciate the follow-up comments that reminded me that “biblical” was not a proper term.
Charles, not only all ‘Arminians’ but all ‘Calvinists’ are also “in need of our prayers regardless of the degree of their error.”
Thanks for the follow-up, Lance.
Doug, you’re welcome, brother! May the Lord bless you as you continue to shepherd His people.
Pastor Doug said: “The “prosperity gospel” is so insidious to our Americanized “gospel” that most don’t recognize it for what it is (as is evident from some of the comments above).”
The prosperity doctrine is so embedded in the Americanized gospel that the “feel good” people who sit in the pew don’t recognize it when they hear it every Sunday from their pulpit.
The little god says “decision determines destiny” and the sinner saved by grace says decrees determine destiny. “Thank God Jesus saved me from the destruction I deserved.”
The message most SBC members hear every Sunday is insidious, what they hear from Copeland is obvious.
James, I have to disagree with Charles that our opinions of Mr. Copeland are “emotional.” They are factual. I can cite his 1987 “prophecy” in which he claims to be speaking for Jesus saying that Jesus is not God, that only others called Him God. I can point to his lack of repentance in his life and preaching/teaching. This space is too small to go over his anti-Christ teachings. Mr. Copeland is not a brother in Christ. (I believe Ergun Caner, for example, is a brother in Christ despite my total disagreement in his actions and much of his theology)
Pregador 27: I have to agree with you completely…we don’t have enough space to write in the comments section regarding Copeland’s heresies.
predator 27
I have an equal problem with Caner and Copeland,whatever theologically Copeland believes about Christ Caner beleives about the Holy Spirit.(Please give me references for what Copeland said about Christ) The problem compounded by Caner’s theology in compromising the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, he compromises the Father in willing the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a serious and dangerous theology.
I would like for someone to prove to me that Copeland is doing this? I am no fan of Copeland’s theology however I detest Caner’s also. Caner teaches the little gods doctrine also.
I like Caner’s jokes, Copeland has no sense of humor though he makes sloppy efforts at it. I can’t stand Copeland’s arrogant facial expressions. These are emotional criticisms.
pastor Doug
Do you make statements from the pulpit determining who is a brother or not? Since we are brothers by virtue of new birth, can you make that determination? What we can determine is fellowship but not kinship. I could not have fellowship with Caner nor Copeland.
Arno C. Gaebelein, a well-known writer of biblical expositions as well as doctrinal and prophetic books, and for many years the editor of Our Hope magazine, was asked to comment on a question regarding a very pronounced Calvinistic book. The name of the book was The Sovereignty of God by author A. W. Pink. The question was, “Do you think Mr. Pink’s book is scriptural? I recently read this book and it has upset me as no other book I ever read. I was attacked by terrible doubts as to God’s justice and His very Being!” Dr. Gaebelein’s strong reply followed: “Mr. Pink used to be a contributor to our magazine. His articles on Gleanings on Genesis are good, and we had them printed in book form. But when he began to teach his frightful doctrines which make the God of Love a monster we broke fellowship with him. The book you read is totally unscriptural. It is akin to blasphemy. It presents God as a Being of injustice and maligns His holy character. The book denies that our blessed Lord died for the ungodly. According to Pink’s perversions He died for the elect only. You are not the only one who has been led into darkness by this book. Whoever the publisher is, and whoever stands behind the circulation of such a monstrous thing has a grave responsibility. It is just this kind of teaching which makes atheists” (Our Hope, Vol. 37, No. 11, May 1931, p. 684).
When are the people of God are going to stop fighting and pointing fingers. I don’t know about you but I was glad to watch a movie that didn’t curse me out and splat blood all over the screen but we should encourage and expose our youth to something besides violence. We all have tragedies to happen to us in lives but we all agree God gives us the strength to go on. This movie encouraged me and my youth group because God will answer prayer. We are studying about prayer right now in our bible study. God asnwers us in 4 ways. Yes, No, Yes but not right now and Yes but with limitations. It is very important for the people of God to read and study his word and to encourage each other as I am encouraging you.
Arlene: Thanks for working for encouragement. I’m glad to hear about how the youth group is studying about prayer. That is important, no doubt about it. I encourage you to study God’s Word in a way which centers upon the work of Christ Jesus.