God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust (Christian Movie Review) 

A heavy-handed political speech delivered through the vehicle of an uninspiring faith-based film, this movie is unlikely to satisfy anyone beyond those desiring the cheap dopamine jolt of seeing their political ideologies or religious beliefs affirmed.

About the Film 

Unless you’ve been blissfully living under a rock, you know an American presidential election is looming on the horizon. For better or worse (and let’s be honest, it’s definitely for worse), politics has infiltrated all aspects of life, leaving many Christians to wonder how to navigate this new reality. In God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust, Director David A. R. White offers one solution: to become more politically active. The God’s Not Dead movies have always been the most “socially conscious” of the faith-based films, and an opening montage featuring visuals of covid lockdowns, vaccines, and riots establishes that the latest installment also addresses contemporary issues. Unfortunately, the filmmakers are unable to craft a good story along the way. A heavy-handed political speech delivered through the vehicle of an uninspiring faith-based movie, this film is unlikely to satisfy anyone beyond those desiring the cheap dopamine jolt of seeing their political ideologies or religious beliefs affirmed.   

In my review of The Forge, I detailed why faith-based films should not be immune to criticism, regardless of how agreeable their message. I also argued that message-driven films are best approached as two distinct entities (a message and a film). I won’t retread that discussion here, though the same rules apply. But unlike The Forge—a well-meaning but poorly executed film—In God’s We Trust is plagued by issues with both the film and the message.   

Narratively, In God We Trust is derailed by some of the worst writing in any movie released this year, faith-based or otherwise. Nearly all the characters are one-note. In what’s been a recurrent issue throughout the God’s Not Dead series, the script is more interested in giving Christian characters heroic victories then in making those wins feel earned or believable. The antagonists are cartoonishly evil, utterly irredeemable without any characterization beyond their own repugnance. If they had started twirling mustaches and releasing maniacal laughs, it wouldn’t have felt out of place. These dehumanized portrayals of angry, God-hating atheists are starkly contrasted with the flawless hero, whose only real struggle is dealing with just how sinful everyone around him is.   

The film desires to equip and encourage Christians to navigate the divisive, complicated political climate of the real world, but it struggles to offer much insight through a story that is detached from reality. Instead of nuanced discussion, the film presents a series of “strawman” arguments, treating light touches on the cheek as knock-out blows. During the climactic debate, rather than responding to the difficult and valid questions posed by his opponent, the protagonist merely starts preaching the gospel. The entire live audience applauds so loudly that his political adversary simply walks off the stage and accepts defeat. It’s the equivalent of a Christian wish-fulfillment fantasy. Christian viewers may enjoy seeing their political opponents tongue-tied by simple religious rhetoric, but such cheap escapism arguably does more to heap coals on the fire of our emotionally charged political climate than to offer a better alternative.     

If movies like The Forge were more of a sermon than a film, then In God We Trust feels more like a political rally than a cinematic experience. Every element in the film serves to promote the film’s singular message. Apart from Samaire Armstrong, who plays a relatively nuanced role as a campaign manager, the acting is flat and uninspired. The cinematography is uninventive and amateurish. And I cannot recall a single moment of humor or levity to soften the delivery of the film’s message.   

The disproportionate emphasis on the message over the film would be more palatable if the message itself was more inspiring. I will discuss this issue in more detail in the “Beneath the Surface” section below, but the line between “conservative politics” and “Christianity” is difficult to distinguish at times, with Pastor David spending as much time decrying the evils of socialism as declaring the goodness of Christ. There is also a troubling theme that true change in America cannot come through the local church, only through politics.    

In a year that has seen the release of many excellent faith-based films (Sound of Hope, Unsung Hero, Cabrini, etc.), God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust feels like a step backwards. Ironically, despite the characters being reluctant to run a “negative campaign” in which they achieve political victory by pulling their opponents down, the film itself mostly adopts that strategy. This movie may provide the therapeutic experience of watching heroic, politically conservative Christians steamroll their evil opponents, but the lack of nuance and the tendency to dehumanize those who differ ideologically will be of little profit to anyone in the real world this coming election season. God is not dead, but perhaps it’s time for the God’s Not Dead movie franchise to finally be put to rest.     

Change Comes Through Politics, Not the Church

When attempting to recruit Pastor David Hill into running for a political office, campaign manager Lottie remarks, “It’s public service, same as you’re doing now. Except there’s nothing you can do as a pastor that can’t be undone by a politician. If you want to make a real difference, this is how it’s done.” It is not entirely clear whether the audience is supposed to endorse this sentiment or not, as Lottie herself comes to distance herself from her initial hard-nosed political approach. But even if viewers are intended to reject Lottie’s statement, the story itself largely validates it. Despite his good intentions as a local pastor, David’s ministry is repeatedly handicapped by political policy. The center for women he runs is unable to help those in need due to a lack of funding and disagreeable political loopholes, ultimately inspiring the pastor to step aside from his church and enter politics. The only time David is shown acting in a pastoral capacity serves to showcase his ineffectiveness as a pastor against political influence.       

During one political debate, David rejects the label of Christian nationalist by arguing, “Whenever anyone of faith promotes a policy that you don’t like, you label them a Christian nationalist.” I’m prone to agree, and I’m not sure the film endorses Christian nationalism. But it does operate under the same troubling general assumption that power in politics is a more tenable solution to the spiritual decay in America than is service within the church. If America is no longer a God-fearing nation, than the proposed solution to that problem is for Christians to become more politically active, gain power and influence, and legislate Christian morality.  

There are occasional glimpses of the more inspiring message the film may have wanted to convey. When the Christian band Newsboys (making another appearance in the series) encounters David at a venue, they ask if David is there for ministry. When he explains that he is attending for political reasons, they respond. “Oh, your new ministry.” The message of seeing all arenas of culture as a mission field is a good one that Christians can readily affirm. The trouble only emerges when the other mission fields—such as local church ministry—are pushed down to elevate political influence as the solution.    

Fight Darkness with Light, Not Darkness          

While the narrative may be unrealistic and unconvincing, Pastor David’s commitment to demonstrating his Christian faith not just through his proposed policies but also through his character and conduct is admirable. When pushed to adopt the negative campaign tactics of his opponents, he muses, “I know it’s useless to fight dark with darkness.” Instead, he urges, “We have to push the good of our faith into this political process.”  

1 Peter 3:15-16 urges, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” Christians must stand for truth, but we should always maintain a Christ-like demeanor.