God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness Page #8

---

that this is

the Son of God."

And then he got locked up

in Herod's little jail cell,

and the doubts started

messing with his head.

"What if I'm wrong

about this Jesus guy?

What if all the stories I've heard

about him healing people...

What if

it's just ridiculous?"

So John sent some of his friends

to watch Jesus and report back.

And Jesus told them, "Tell John

what you've seen and heard.

The blind receive their sight.

The lame walk.

The lepers are cleansed.

The deaf hear."

John needed to doubt.

Why, though?

Because uncertainty led

to the pursuit of truth.

I know it hurts...

to be in the fire.

And as painful and confusing

as all of this is...

it just might be exactly

where God wants you right now.

[scoffs]

Well, it ain't good.

Public opinion, your reputation...

It's all gonna take a hit.

I guess we're gonna

have to wait and see.

The kid confessed,

so that helps.

I just wanna know

what you were thinking.

I wasn't thinking,

obviously.

You get an anonymous text,

then you go nuts on somebody?

I'm not interested

in rehashing this, okay?

Sorry, folks.

[alarm beeping]

[alarm stops]

- What's going on with you?

- I'm a mess!

I don't know what I'm doing. I don't

know what God wants me to do.

And I don't know why any

of this is even happening!

- First, you gotta settle down.

- Oh, I'm sure this is fun for you.

You get a front-row seat to watch your

little brother, Dave, just self-destruct.

That's probably why you drove

down here in the first place.

- Where are you going?

- Oh, I'm walking.

- You can't.

- Watch me.

Pearce.

What?

You have the car keys.

[keys jingle]

- Dave.

- Hey, Roland.

- How you doing?

- Doing all right.

You're sure on TV a lot

for someone doing all right.

All this business with Tom

Ellsworth, and now the boy.

Well, I didn't ask

for this fight.

That's a fact, but here it is.

Keep your eye on

what's important.

I think what's important

is that Christians stop

rolling over all the time.

When is it

our right to fight?

I'm tired of being

pushed around.

I'm tired of turning

the other cheek.

Oh, so now you're tired.

A minute ago,

you were doing all right.

I'm just saying, I think it's time that

Christians stand up for themselves.

Mmm. Well...

People were drawn to Jesus

because of his... his love.

His patience and kindness.

He managed to preach

the truth

without losing himself

in the bargain.

He was gentle with the meek and

hard as a rock with the arrogant.

And when he talked

to the foolish,

he was patient

and never became

a fool himself.

And he was never proud,

David.

This has nothing to do

with pride, Roland.

And no offense, but maybe you'd

understand a little better

if you were the one

being attacked.

Brother, who do you think

you're talking to?

I'm a black preacher

in the Deep South.

I could build you a church with all the

bricks been thrown through my windows.

You're right. I'm sorry.

You gotta work through the pain.

We cannot respond to hate

with more hate.

And don't forget...

we are called to be a light

in the darkness.

I miss Jude.

[sniffles]

And I miss you too, Lord.

I'm trying to do the right thing.

I just...

I don't know

what that is anymore.

Hey there.

Just checking on you.

I saw the news. I can't

imagine what you're feeling.

I'd like to see you.

How about a little adventure?

I'm gonna send you

a dropped pin.

I'll meet you there

in an hour?

It's my church away from church.

It's where I come

to be alone with God.

I can see why.

What do you got there?

I light a candle

for people I'm praying for.

Folks I meet at the restaurant,

friends from AA.

You.

I just love the way he uses

other people in our lives to...

to bring us comfort, to...

remind us that we're loved.

I think you need

to be reminded right now.

God is here.

I'm here.

And you're loved.

[door opens, closes]

I thought you were out

with Meg.

You screw that up too?

What are you doing?

Listen, I'm gonna fly

back to Chicago tonight.

I left you the name and number

of an attorney friend of mine.

She'll take good care

of you. My treat.

Why? Just because

we had an argument?

- It's just time.

- Pearce, are you kidding me?

[scoffs]

You know what? Go ahead.

Oh, I haven't done enough

for you, huh?

Come down here,

put my life on hold.

What, I'm the bad guy now

'cause I'm bailing? Is that it?

Let's not get into it.

It's not worth it.

No, I-I think it's worth it.

Let's get into it.

It's water under the bridge.

I forgave you years ago.

You forgave me? For what exactly?

For leaving?

You forced me out. You and Mom and Dad.

All you.

- Give me a break. No one forced you out.

- Oh, yes, you did!

I wasn't welcome in this house once

I started asking tough questions.

Is that what they were?

Tough questions?

"Oh, why does God allow bad

things to happen to good people?"

Or, "How do we even know

God exists?" Really?

Just back off,

little brother.

Maybe you were just

trying to impress a coed

with how worldly and

forward thinking you were.

I guess your Christian

roots were too provincial.

At least I know what's happening in the

world five miles outside the county line!

You're right,

I don't know!

And I don't know why

you left me

to take care of Mom and

Dad when they were sick!

Why did you leave me to take care

of everything after they were gone?

Do you have any idea what

you did to Mom and Dad?

You broke their hearts!

You're the one

that broke my heart!

You really don't get that,

do you?

You didn't take the time to

understand what I was going through.

I was trying to sort out

my own faith!

My own sense of God!

I was changing, and you

all hated me for it.

And that's the truth, David.

[panting]

What am I doing wrong?

Just show me.

Please.

[panting]

[car door opens]

[newscaster on TV] As the battle

rages on in Hope Springs,

police say they're expecting

hundreds of students and locals

for a protest outside

Saint James Church.

- Some showing support for the church...

- [knocking]

Keaton.

Did you ever even stop to ask

why Adam threw that brick?

He's tired of feeling

judged and rejected

by the people who should

be loving and accepting.

You want to know why our

generation's leaving the church?

It's because the whole world

knows what the church is against

but it's getting harder and

harder to know what it's for.

You're right.

There's something I need to do.

Will you come with me?

[Keaton] Pastor Dave is here to see you...

if you want.

Sure.

Okay.

[lock clicks]

[door closes]

I'm the one

that sent you that message.

I needed you to know.

I guess I was hoping

that you'd...

Forgive.

This is, uh...

This is Jude's Bible.

He'd want you

to have it.

I'm so sorry.

[sobbing]

About Jude,

I am so... sorry.

We want to plead

for leniency for Adam.

I'm the only witness

the state has.

I'll tell the DA

what I saw,

that Jude's death couldn't

have been premeditated.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes