The Archives of Andrew Hawkins: Is "God's Not Dead" a soaring, shining, singing sensation?

(originally written on November 14, 2017)

Relying on my dad’s driving technique, I embarked on a journey to the Warren Theater. Once we arrived, my dad and I trotted to the box office to buy tickets to see the astounding, spectacular film “God’s Not Dead.” My family and I took a seat in the auditorium and watched the greatest film ever made. Like the beautiful melody flowing from the lips of the chirping birds, I heard the most musical, melodious masterpiece— God’s Not Dead –from the greatest artist, who was none other than the Newsboys.  The Newsboys' work of art has reached millions of people nationwide in cinemas. Interviewed by the news media, Michael Tait commented, “God’s not dead, let’s worship Him. We serve a living God!” God’s Not Dead exists as a soaring, shining, singing sensation because it has theological, moral, worldly, and encouraging implications.

 Although worship artists primarily sang this song on Easter Sunday, God’s Not Dead has theological implications. Proclaiming from the Bible, this song portrays God as love. 1 John 4:19 says, “God is love.” He is a loving God.  In addition, Galatians 5:1 “For Freedom, Christ has set us free.” These two passages are affirming the song’s credibility. For these Scriptural references, the work of art is theologically defended.

In readiness to decrease the immorality of man, God’s not dead-the pesticide to the Atheists invading bug- has moral implications. First, this song points out that we should love others. We should love others like Christ loves the church.   Showcasing our faith, we will be able to love others. Without works and Christ’s resurrection, our faith is void. Next, we should be bringing the spiritually dead to life by reaching the lost. Eric Metaxas inspiring my family and me to read his works was like the Newsboys inspiring the Christians to proclaim the Gospel's intrinsic worth to the lost through their best song—God’s Not Dead. The gospel message is defined as God sending his one and only son to redeem the lost by dying on the cross; then three days later, He rose from the dead—over 500 witnesses accounted for the resurrection of Jesus. Dying on the cross, Christ has set us free from sexual immorality, violent actions, and slanderous thoughts.  Not only should we be reaching the lost, but we should also be bold and proclaim the same message as the newsboys. I believe everyone should hear the Gospel message; the Newsboys effectively do this by means of singing God’s Not Dead. Therefore, God’s Not Dead has Moral implications.

 Another implication is from a worldly perspective. Atheism seems to be becoming more and more prevalent. As seen by the news recently, a psychopathic atheist sped into a small church unannounced and started killing people because he was angry and vicious towards Christians. Atheists are causing havoc with Christians nationwide, like a blood-sucking mosquito trying to suck the life out of you. Every day, we wake up and hear that the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union, is causing the innocent to be imprisoned just because the Christian Alliance of Teachers (C.A.T) has a different worldview and is teaching Christianity in their public school classrooms. Another example of this group causing havoc is that they are trying to destroy a biblical monument. For the depravity of man, atheists attack the Christian worldview.  For these two reasons, atheism has wreaked havoc and is causing the world to be based on atheism.

In response of atheism combative approach, The Newsboys’ response is arguing for the existence of God which defies the world’s expectation.  First, the Newsboys argue that we should be serving the Living God and proclaim to everyone that God is surely alive.  Second, the framework of the Newsboys argument destroys the atheist’s framework which says God is dead. Finally, the Newsboys encourage people to not be ashamed of the Lord’s Testimony.  Timothy, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, was encouraged “to Fan the Flame, the gift of God which is inside of you.”

We, as Christians, are becoming more familiar with the Gospel and living out of fear rather than proclaiming the Gospel. The Newsboys woke us up and helped us become bold about our faith. As I am sick with bronchitis, a sickness exists within the church, and this internal sickness is Spiritual Apathy.  This disease shouldn’t be spread in a church. The Newsboys are thundering the Word of God everywhere, bringing the light of the gospel, and raining the Truth of the gospel on non-Christians. We should be shining beacons of the Gospel by demonstrating our faith. For these three reasons, God’s Not Dead has worldly implications that are causing strife between atheism and Christianity. 

Lastly, this international living breathing creation has encouraging implications. First, this song encourages the fact that our faith is not in vain. Second, this masterpiece renews our hope in eternal life and that God has, indeed, prepared a place for us. Third, this song, gives us combative strength against the atheists’ groundwork.

For these reasons, I am renewed by the Gospel, have the hope that I serve a Living God, and can say with boldness, “God is surely alive and well!” God’s Not Dead exists as a masterpiece because this song has theological, moral, worldly, and encouraging implications. By not concealing the light of the gospel, Michael Tait has done a superior job of writing this song. This song is truly a soaring shining singing sensation.