God’s Not Dead 2 Opens, and Opens Eyes to Legal Persecution of Christians

By Al Perrotta Published on April 4, 2016

God’s Not Dead 2, the sequel to the surprise 2014 hit God’s Not Dead, opened this weekend in theaters across the country, bringing to light the legal battles people of faith are facing in cities and towns nationwide.

Starring Melissa Joan Hart and Jesse Metcalf, the movie tells the story of Grace, a high school history teacher who runs afoul of her school after answering a student’s question about Jesus. After refusing to apologize, she is suspended by her school board, and threatened with the loss of teaching certificate. Grace is forced to stand trial to save her career.

Here’s one of the official trailers:

 

God’s Not Dead 2 at the Box Office

The film is not performing at the box office as well as God’s Not Dead. The sequel earned $8.1 million its opening weekend, less than its predecessor did and less than industry projections, even though God’s Not Dead 2 opened on 1,639 more movie screens. Its take was still good enough for fourth place at the box office, just in front of the faith-based hit Miracles from Heaven. Also, God’s Not Dead has already recouped its modest $5 million budget.

As expected, most film critics hate the movie, panning it with a venom traditionally reserved for terrorists and child molesters, with the film currently scoring a 14% at RottenTomatoes.com. The first God’s Not Dead scored a 15% with critics. However, God’s Not Dead scored a 77% with actual audiencesCurrently, God’s Not Dead 2 has been enjoyed by just under 60% of movie-goers.

What God’s Not Dead 2 may lack in art and commerce, it makes up for in the awareness it can bring to what is happening on our schools and campuses.

The Stories Behind the Fictional Story

Teacher Grace Wesley may be fictional, but her experience is far from it.

At the end of the movie, 25 real-life cases defended by the Alliance Defending Freedom are highlighted. Erik Stanley is a senior legal counsel for ADF. The film “certainly does illustrate a lot of the cases that we at ADF see every day,” he tells the Christian Post, “We’ve represented a number of different students, teachers and other Christians who have found that their ability to simply live their faith and share their faith is under attack.”

Some examples cited in the movie:

  • Dr. Mike Adams was denied a promotion at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington after becoming a Christian and conservative writer.
  • The University of Illinois fired Dr. Kenneth Howell after one of his students was “offended” by his description of Catholic teachings on sexual behavior.
  • Professor June Sheldon at San Jose City College was fired for answering a question about heredity and homosexual behavior from the class textbook, and a student claimed to be “offended.”
  • Emily Brooker, a student at Missouri State University, was assigned to write a letter to the state legislature in favor of adoption by same-sex couples. She refused based on her religious beliefs, and was charged with an ethics violation.
  • A.P., a senior at Tomah High School, drew a picture for his art class that depicted a road, a cross and the words “John 3:16 – a sign of love.” His art teacher gave him a zero when he refused to remove the biblical reference.
  • J.A., a first grade student, made Valentine’s Day cards for his classmates that read “God Loves You,” quoting John 3:16. The principal refused to allow J.A. to distribute them.

Fortunately, in each one of these cases, the Alliance Defending Freedom was able to help reverse these attacks on religious liberty. However, Stanley thinks the legal battles are just beginning. “I think we’re only going to see more of these (cases),” he said. “I believe that the next great battle for religious liberties are going to be fought in the courtrooms of this country for the next decade or so.”

“If We Sit By And Do Nothing … “

In God’s Not Dead,  the character Rev. Dave provided comic relief. In this film, he finds himself among a group of pastors whose sermons are subpoenaed.

God's Not Dead 2 - Rev Dave - 900

In God’s Not Dead 2, the character Rev. Dave is led away in handcuffs. He’s played by David A.R. White, whose company, Pure Flix, produced the film. (Image Courtesy of Pure Flix)

Again, there is a factual basis for this plotline, in the ordeal endured last year by a group of pastors in Houston who were fighting the city’s now overturned “bathroom bill.” As Time magazine reported:

The city subpoenaed sermons of several pastors who oppose a recently passed equal rights ordinance for gay and transgender residents. The subpoenas are an attempt by city officials to determine how the preachers instructed their congregants in their push to get the law repealed.

Erik Stanley was part of the legal team assisting the Houston pastors:

They found themselves in the crosshairs of an intimidation tactic by the city that was really meant to silence them. It sent a message of punishment that if you stand up and you speak your beliefs then we will intimidate and silence you,” Stanley told the Christian Post. “Now these pastors weren’t intimidated and I think that’s the other flip side of this. The teacher in the movie did stand up for her faith and we see that every day with our clients who stand for their faith.

Do Christians have a choice? “If we sit by and do nothing,” Rev. Dave says in the sequel, “the pressure that we’re feeling today means persecution tomorrow. We’re at war.”

Teacher Grace put it another way: “I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God.”

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