God’s Not Dead 2, the highly anticipated sequel is here and it is well worth the wait.
God’s Not Dead 2, takes place in the same hometown as the first film but the action shifts from a college campus to a courtroom. The film follows Grace Wesley, a Christian teacher who is dragged before a judge for answering a student’s question about the similarities of Jesus’ teachings to those of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. Her career is on the line as a civil-liberties group with an anti-God agenda looks to make an example of her that will remove God from the public square for good.
Even though God’s Not Dead 2 is a sequel, it is also a stand alone film, some of the characters and their story lines continue in this film such as Reverend Dave whose situation brings a bit of comedy to the film, Martin with his many questions, and journalist Amy who is on a faith journey. But you don’t have to have seen the first film to follow this one. God’s Not Dead 2 is actually stronger and a lot more gripping, engaging and dramatic than the first film.
God’s Not Dead 2 continues with the apologetics aspect and in this film it focuses on the historical evidence of Jesus, did Jesus really exist? The exploration of this in the film is absolutely fantastic, with the appearance of Lee Strobel author of The Case for Christ and J. Warner Wallace the author of Cold-Case Christianity, both who were atheists became Christians looking into the evidence of Jesus and became convinced of the truth, they both share evidence in the courtroom that Jesus existed and bring a real authority to God’s Not Dead 2.
Melissa Joan Hart’s performance is exceptional, she really brings her character Grace to life and makes her character and the situation she is going through believable, you really feel for her and what she is going through, wanting to stand with her, shocked at the injustice of what has happened to her. Another stand out performance is from Jesse Metcalfe who is fantastic as Grace’s lawyer, showing determination, grit and compassion, and its during the courtroom scenes where he excels in his performance and its in those courtroom scenes where the film really hots up!
God’s Not Dead 2 is a well produced and extremely relevant film, we have seen stories in the US and in the UK of similar situations happening, while God’s Not Dead 2 is a fictional story it is based upon many real life stories which are referenced at the end of the film. Even non Christians will find this film interesting, especially those that are wanting to know more about the proof that Jesus existed.
God’s Not Dead 2 encourages Christians to take a stand for our faith, to be bold and to stand strong even if our faith is put on trail in the words of Grace from the film lets rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God.
Oh and stay around till after the credits for a final scene which perhaps sets up God’s Not Dead 3.
God’s Not Dead 2 is an exciting, dramatic and powerful must see film.