by MATT BROWN
If you haven’t already heard of the book The Case for Christ, it tells the story of Lee Strobel, who was an award-winning legal editor at the Chicago Tribune in the 1980s. Lee was an avowed atheist, but one day his wife came home to tell him she had decided to believe in Jesus. This was difficult news for him, and set him on a journey to investigate the claims of Christianity in order to prove it false and save his wife from what he considered to be a cult.
After nearly two years of meeting with experts and weighing the evidence, Lee concluded, as an atheist, that there was an avalanche of evidence pointing to the truth of Jesus Christ, and Lee chose to put his faith in Christ. In 1998, he shared the story of his journey in the book The Case for Christ, which has gone on, along with follow-up books, to be read by more than 14 million people worldwide.
It is my great hope that you will see the film as soon as possible and take a few friends along with you. Consider buying group tickets for your church or doing a theater buyout in your city. And share your excitement about the film with everyone you know. Let’s all mobilize behind this film to help it have the biggest impact possible.
Here Are 4 Reasons You Should See The Case for Christ Movie:
1. Lee’s story is iconic and unforgettable. There are just some stories in the Christian world that you can’t get out of your mind. Lee’s story is one of those. Several years ago, we spent time with Elizabeth Sherrill, who was the ghostwriter of The Cross and the Switchblade for David Wilkerson, The Hiding Place for Corrie Ten Boom, God’s Smuggler for Brother Andrew and others. It amazes me that she played such a role in telling stories that lived on in the church. Lee’s story reminds me of these iconic and unforgettable stories—his story is such a God-story that needs to be told to more people.
2. Lee’s story helps us see the logic behind our faith. Not many of us are as qualified as Lee to investigate the claims of Christianity with the keen mind of a journalist. Lee was trained by the best and was an award-winning journalist. He took these investigative skills and applied them to Christianity in a way few could do. Lee believes Christianity is an investigable faith, in the way journalists investigate their stories and weigh the evidence. He started out as a hardened atheist who thought faith was ridiculous and a crutch for the weak, and gradually realized “it would take more faith for him to maintain his atheism than to put his trust in Christ.” The Case for Christ movie gives some of this rock-solid evidence in an entertaining story format.
3. Lee’s story gives us a long view of what God can do in a person’s life. From spiritual skeptic to dedicated believer, Lee’s life shows us with crystal clarity that Jesus changes everything. We all know Christians are not perfect. Christians are nowhere near perfect, but yet Jesus changes everything. Jesus changes the trajectory of our lives. And with Lee, we see the dramatic difference that Christ can make. People in our culture need to see the impact that Christ can make on a person’s life.
4. Lee’s story will have your friends and your neighbors talking. It is not often that such a powerful, well-done, solid Christian film plays in our local theaters. We need to treasure these opportunities.
The Case for Christ movie is releasing in theaters nationwide, and will have multiplied thousands talking about faith and the reality of Jesus. This is an easy inroad to talk about faith with your friends and neighbors who need the Lord, and I hope and pray you won’t let it pass you by.