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INTRODUCTION TO GOD’S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST (2024)
“God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust” is the 5th and latest entry in the popular God’s Not Dead franchise. A franchise that has come to identify itself with its thematic messages of faith, freedom, and morality in society.
The franchise of Christian drama started with God’s Not Dead, where, in 2014, a college freshman Josh Wheaten defended his belief in God against the professor who declared “God is dead.” Each subsequent film takes up similar themes regarding religious freedom, faith in education, and struggles pertinent to the Christian community.
The series began to grow with God’s Not Dead 2 in 2016, which involved a high school teacher who was taken to task by the legal system after answering a class question about Jesus.
God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness, released in 2018, focuses on a fire that rips through St. James Church and Reverend Dave’s efforts to unite a fractured community.
In God’s Not Dead: We the People, which came out in 2021, Reverend Dave finds himself defending some homeschooling families against government intrusion into their mode of education.
The latest in the series, God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust, written by Tommy Blaze and directed by Vance Null. In God We Trust (2024) is a sequel to We the People. It follows in the vein of the franchise, exploring faith’s place in the modern world while tackling timely religious liberty and community values concerns.
The movie features many famous faces: Samaire Armstrong, Dean Cain, Ray Wise, and Dean Cain among the most recognizable faces in faith-based movies.
God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust was released on September 12, 2024. The length is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The movie is rated PG; however, it can still contain some mild content, including substance use and other minor questionable behaviors, which may be appropriate for family viewing, particularly for those interested in content with a Christian foundation.
GOD’S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST (2024) OFFICIAL TRAILER
WHAT IS GOD’S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST ABOUT?
When the very fabric of politics, civil government, and spirituality seems torn, Reverend David Hill comes to a crossroads in life, battling with a profound question: Does God still belong in politics? Reverend David Hill had always been known for his unwavering faith and leadership in his community but never had aspirations to hold a political office.
But when an admired congressional incumbent dies suddenly, he is yanked into an unexpected race, believing a divine call to step forward and lead.
His opponent, state senator Peter Kane, is an accomplished and cunning politician who seeks to eliminate every vestige of faith from government, dividing and fanning cynicism into the culture.
As David’s campaign gets underway, the media hounds him relentlessly, political opponents attack with unforgiving ferocity, and the public doubts his seriousness.
And yet, in all of this, a presidential campaign becomes a cause celebre for millions of Americans who feel starved of spiritual and moral leadership, a beacon of hope for those who believe faith can guide governance.
With every debate and public appearance, David conveys his message of compassion, justice, and the resonance of religious values with voters who have become dislocated from the soulless character of modern politics.
But David’s road is in no way an easy journey to tread: with his massive political connections and media help, Kane will stop at nothing to destroy David’s character and malign the contribution that faith can make to the public square.
The campaign soon becomes a clash of titans over the soul of the country, as arguments over religious freedom, separation of church and state, and the nation’s moral condition surge to the fore.
As the election draws near, David will be confronted with the enormous personal cost of entering such a competition. His religion will be tested beyond anything he has ever gone through in the foul, power-hungry world of politics.
Will David stand firm to his principles, or will the pressure to compromise with the system shatter his spirit? The stakes are high, not only for David and his family but also for the nation that stands at the edge of moral collapse.
MY THOUGHTS ON GOD’S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST (2024)
God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust is the third in the God’s Not Dead film series. The movie tackles sensitive areas around religion and freedom and even the role of faith in society. Being a movie, it has its audience; however, for me, this movie was somewhat of a mixed experience. It was good in some ways but then again could have been better in others.
In this review, I will go over the key parts of the movie so that it will give a better idea of what worked for me and what didn’t.
GOD’S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST (2024) FILM REVIEW
CHARACTER PERFORMANCE
The performances in God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust are decent but could have been so much stronger. The characters felt a bit too scripted; a lot of times, it was hard to connect with them on an emotional level. Quite clearly, the actors are passionate about the story, but in many instances, it lacked the emotional depth I was expecting.
David A.R. White as Pastor Dave is likable enough, but the character isn’t multi-dimensional at all. He is a very ‘good guy’ type of character, wherein, though easy to cheer for, his struggles are predictable and somewhat one-dimensional.
You do not see as much internal conflict or complexity as you might expect from someone in this position.
The rest of the cast does their jobs serviceably, but sometimes feels like the movie leans a bit too much on delivering a message rather than allowing the actors to bring their characters more fully to life.
Some of the supporting cast-in particular, legal figures, and figures from the world of politics-tend to come off a little one-dimensionally, mostly as antagonists.
Overall, the performances could be a lot more emotionally deeper to further help the audience be more emotionally invested in the personal journey that the characters embark on.
VISUAL DESIGN AND CINEMATOGRAPHY
The visual design and cinematography of God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust are simple, yet effective. This isn’t some blockbuster movie with high-profile sets or high-end visual effects; in large part, the movie focuses on the characters and their conversations.
Realistic settings, such as the courtroom and the church, help place the movie in reality, but there is just not much cinematic artistry with the camerawork. The lighting and the angles are simple, yet get the job done.
It may be a little flat because no visual ambition was expected; some viewers would think that there should at least have been some cinematic creativity with the camera work.
For a faith-based movie on a relatively mediocre budget, this visual design does its job without interference to distract from the film.
Having said that, I think there was room for more striking visuals to make the story pop. Sometimes it’s a bit too static, with long stretches of dialogue that fall in rooms without action bit monotonous to imagine.
WRITING STYLE AND STORY
Of the many impactful aspects of God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust, perhaps the most important has to do with its writing. The movie attempts to make a robust argument for belief in the existence of God in the wake of increasingly skeptical times and under the attack of complex jurisprudence.
At the film’s center is Pastor Dave, who stands up for Christians and their right to express faith in public areas and educational settings.
The movie touches on some relevant topics, like religious freedom, but the writing itself is very preachy. The dialogue seems primarily to say what the movie is trying to tell the audience rather than what the characters might be saying.
This made parts of the movie feel less like a story and more like a sermon. I believe most viewers would find the lack of subtlety in the writing a bit overwhelming.
There are moments where the film seems to manipulate the storyline, and this is no different if the scenarios are just contrived to evoke an emotional response. While inspirational messaging in faith-based films is fairly par for the course, I would have loved more organic storytelling where the themes came out instead of being so on the nose.
THEMES OF GOD’S NOT DEAD: IN GOD WE TRUST
Perhaps the strongest theme within the movie God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust is religious freedom, most in terms of practicing faith in the Christian world. There is an increased persecution and targeting of Christians for their faith within this movie, and one case after another was made so people of faith do not need to bend or be afraid to express themselves.
The other leading themes are tension between faith and the law, legal systems should not silence religious expression. The other one is personal conviction, whereby the characters grapple with the role they play in defending their faith.
Gray areas are washed into black and white. Those who legally oppose faith come off as antagonistic and sometimes even immoral, which feels a little heavy-handed. These themes are important, and I feel they would hold so much more water in this movie if it leaned into nuance and showed how these issues are affecting everyday people across the divide.
CONCLUSION
God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust will probably please its targeted audience those who want confirmation of their Christian faith. This movie speaks right to its target audience with a message of faith and religious freedom. For viewers who look for a story that strongly reinforces the need to stand up for what one believes in, here it is.
Others may, however, find this film lacks subtlety, with a rather predictable plot and sometimes even a preachy tone. This is one of those films that have an agenda and do not hide the fact; thus, for people who are not in its target audience, it would be less interesting to them. The themes, performances, and cinematography are all merely sufficient and not particularly original.
In the end, God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust works to remind believers to hold fast to their conviction, perhaps failing to engage or even challenge viewers looking for a more substantive discussion of faith and its standing in society.
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