I have a strict, “No Angel Studios” rule in my house. Mainly because I don’t want to participate in the blurring of the lines in the faith-based media space that the Harmon brothers are accomplishing.  

Mormonism is a cult and they blur lines to make converts.  

There.  I said it.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that a long time Facebook friend, David Helling, wrote, directed, edited, did wardrobe, the modeling and was probably the snake wrangler in the film.

When I saw him at the National Religious Broadcaster’s Convention in Orlando, I congratulated him for his excellent film.  

When he asked me if I have seen it, I said, “Well, I heard it’s good” and then invoked my “No Angel” rule.  

But he pointed out it’s on Apple TV.  

My conscience assuaged, I watched it.  

I am glad I did.  

I watched it with my family and can say, unequivocally, that it’s the best Biblically themed film I have ever seen.

Yes, it’s better than The Chosen.  Easily better.  The acting, the writing, the production values, the writing, the wardrobe, the writing…did I mention the writing?  

The writing wasn’t cute like it sometimes is in The Chosen.  While it’s not quoting Scripture, it is thoroughly acquainted with the text of Genesis and the teaching of the New Testament on Abraham.  Like The Chosen, the dialogue is not directly from the Bible. Unlike The Chosen, the writing honors the Bible and reveres the Deity of Christ.

Think on that. A movie on the Old Testament had a better representation of Christ than an entire series on the life of Christ.

You won’t need YouTube videos of Helling telling you he has great respect for the text of the Bible.  Just watch the film.  He doesn’t hire theologians to check the script—he IS the theologian.

There’s a lesson here for all faith-based filmmakers.  If you want to do a Biblically themed film, you had better darn well know the text and its connection to the true Gospel.  The director had better know it. The writer had better know it. The editor had better know it. Everyone shaping the story should know it. If you don’t, it’s OK to make some other film.  There are a lot of stories to be told. Better to make one up than fudge on the Word of God.  Stay in your lane.

Here’s part of my text to David after I watched His Only Son…

“It’s such a beautiful portrayal of the gospel and you helped me understand better the gospel that was preached to Abraham…You’ve done something truly remarkable—made a gospel saturated film without being preachy and extremely accurate without sounding like the KJV.”  

Galatians 3:8 to your momma.  

He also did it without a sinner’s prayer.  

Now if only the Mormons will watch it.