American Gospel: Christ Alone

Let's be clear about my position before watching this film: I've been a part of very Pentacostal churches in the past and still have links with good friends there - including people who are a part of BSSM. I have all the Finger of God films on DVD and watched them with friends - many of which I was waiting for on release day. I have been to a conference where Todd White was preaching and enjoyed large parts of it. I have an entire playlist of Bethel Music - which I listen to almost every day. I've read Steven Furtick's book 'Unqualified' from cover to cover. I always knew that there were elements of what they said that I disagreed with. But I've always assumed it was still the same gospel. So when I heard about this film I thought it would be the other end of the fanatical spectrum. I always thought painting these people to be false teachers in an extremely radical way and disrupting church unity unnecessarily. Essentially, I anticipated that the film would be way too condeming on too little evidence. I was wrong on so many counts. Firstly, this film is *primarily* an amazingly succinct, clear cut and gentle presentation of the gospel. It explains it so well that I had to rewind and pause large parts of it. This point alone is worth the full price of the film. Secondly, it doesn't bash, speak ill of or rage against particular speakers. It isn't a name-calling attack on a parituclar group or individuals. It simply holds up what Jesus says in scripture in contrast to video clips of teachers who seem to be speaking something entirely different. Thirdly, this isn't about the difference between cessationism and charismatic. Far from it. A lot of the people in the film *do* believe in supernatural spiritual gifting today. This film *is* about the authority of the Bible in light of those things. Asking the question of: What have we made essential gospel doctrine? And finally, I don't think this film misrepresents the alternative viewpoint or distorts it. I can only speak from personal experience here. From what I know of the talks I've been to and from the things I've watched and read - and from the people I know who do wholeheartedly believe in Bethel and Todd White's teaching. This film's accurately presents it using thier own words. And what they are teaching is not a little bit wrong. Or slightly off key. It is completely wrong. If you are a Christian, even if you have *always* been a part of a solid Bible believing church, none of this should be a comfortable experience to watch. You won't get to the end of this feeling self-righteous and justified. You will feel punched in the gut, humbled and deeply convicted - because that is *exactly* what our response to the gospel should always be. Brought to our knees and remembering who it is we are really following.