Is Paul speaking about random displays of healing and supernatural signs and wonders? No. He is actually speaking about sound doctrine! He is delineating between his own words of plausible wisdom and the Spiritual power of the Gospel! Jesus Christ and Him crucified; not melt the metal in his wrist Lord! The next interview snippet is from Kim Walker-Smith who claims the only way to learn the voice of the Holy Spirit from her own is to take risks and give it a shot! This from a woman that claims the God the Father ripped out a piece of His own heart and molded a miniature Kim Walker to dance for Him in a music box during a waking visitation. She is the poster child for why it is dangerous to "give it a shot." The way to differentiate between the voice of the Holy Spirit and our own is to hold up what is being said to the Bible. Period.
This sets the pattern for the remainder of the film. They travel to Monte Carlo where they heal a man's knee and then claim he accepted Christ. They pray for a woman at the docks to accept Christ. They then meet a woman who owns a restaurant who they also lead back to the Lord. Interspersed through this are interview snippets with the likes of Michael W. Smith, Banning Liebscher of Jesus Culture, and even the father of the director. All of which continue this false narrative of the need to take risks, how the church has no courage, how we have not affected culture and how we need to change the world. Never mind that Liebscher is a teacher of dominionist theology, which explains the "changing the world meme. Never mind that we are not supposed to change the culture but rather preach the Gospel. Another recurring theme is the focus on the Book of Acts because there were many recorded miracles in it. Yes, people were healed by napkins that touched Paul and by merely walking through the shadow of Peter but what they fail to realize is why. It is because Paul and Peter preached the Gospel! They continue to focus on the miracle instead of the Miracle Worker.
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. - Mark 16: 20 (ESV)
It is not signs to prove Jesus is real, then a five sentence prayer and voila! Salvation! This is not a magic trick. After Monte Carlo the film switches to a Korn concert. Here we see the two saved Korn band mates and another evangelist start to engage the crowd as they were heading into the show and asking them if they needed healing and if they wanted to have Jesus come into their hearts. Besides the obvious fan motivation, this entire set up is done by the evangelist saying over and over again that it literally does not matter what you believe in. They even sat an atheist down to heal his leg which was allegedly shorter than the other leg. This is a routine scan in faith healing ministries. Don't believe me. Go to you tube and search for "shorter leg healing scam." The evangelist proudly declares that "it doesn't matter - you can unbelieve all you want and God is going to grow your leg out and heal your back. Regardless of where someone's heart is, His love is bigger." During the group prayer with fans for "salvation"; the evangelist calls the fans over by asking who wants to pray with Brian and Fieldy (the two band members). What fan is going to turn that down? He then proceeds to tell them they are going to pray for Jesus to "possess us." You may think these are just minor details but they are not. Leading 20 heavy metal fans in a prayer they do not understand and probably will never follow through on, is not preaching the Gospel. It is not saving the lost. It is not driven by the Holy Ghost.
The final stop is in India, where we get to see many Buddha statues and watch as they play guitar through the impoverished streets. They gathered large groups to themselves and tried to pray with some of the people there as well. One such person was named Akil. Because he liked the music, he allowed the "evangelist" to pray for him. No discussion of sin and repentance and yet here was the prayer; "Father, I thank you for Akil. I just invite Your presence to come. Just ask you touch Akil. Fill him with Your Holy Spirit. Fill him with your presence." He then looks at this clearly unsaved man and says; "Do you feel God's presence? It's wonderful isn't it?" God's presence is wonderful beloved but Akil still does not know that.
He does not know that because the Gospel was not preached to him. The forgiveness of his sins was not preached to him. The need for repentance and a Savior was not preached to him. Beloved, I understand the desire to want to believe things like this. It tickles the ears and astonishes the eyes but there is no substance behind it. Towards the end of the movie we see the author of The Shack. This is a book that eliminates hell, judgment, and wrath from doctrine. Yet for some reason, this supposed Christian movie allows William P. Young to offer us this little nugget before the credits roll:
"Doctrine and theology is where we go and hide instead of taking risks."
No Mr. Young. Taking risks is what you feel compelled to do when you abandon doctrine and theology. You are forced to take risks because you no longer care to know the truth. You see the Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. That truth is not referring to a boatyard in Monte Carlo or a Shiva Temple in India. It is referring to the Word of God. It is referring to doctrine and theology; things you so casually dismiss. Things the movie Holy Ghost so casually dismiss. Beloved, do not fall for this shtick. This movie was best described by the director himself when he said he knew it appeared as if they were reducing the Holy Spirit to some experiential oddity that can be put on display through some cheap parlor tricks. The problem is that the Gospel gets pushed aside. Without the Gospel, no one really gets saved. You can make a movie; but no one gets saved. Do not dare think you can say you were not warned. Jesus told us all things before hand. Be on guard beloved. Be on guard.
Reverend Anthony Wade - September 8, 2014
