I Believe

Produced and directed by Jurgen Peretzki and Stacey Peretzki

The Plot

Experience faith through the eyes of a child! A 9 year old boy experiences God's power in a supernatural way. With God all things are possible!

9-year-old Brian has a supernatural encounter with God, an experience that sends him on an adventurous quest to “find out more about what Christians believe.” He faces heavy opposition from the world around him, especially from his own father Simon, an atheist TV newscaster. Brian finds allies in the pastor of a local church and a wounded U.S. Marine. Brian’s pure and innocent faith brings about manifestations of God’s extraordinary power that quickly become breaking news. Don’t miss out on this miracle packed adventure!

Review Questions

Does the plot glorify God? All the way through! This film is packed with references to the Bible, testimonies and the way of the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Does the film content glorify God through His Word: Use of Bible verses and adhere to His commandments?

• The film starts out with John 14:6,7, 10,12-14,16,17.

  • 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

  • 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

  • 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

  • 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

• The young boy, Brian, reads part of a plaque outside the church taken from John 14:12.

• Brian promotes being obedient to God to his parents after he starts to read scripture, in preparation for a school project.

• Brian speaks to his teacher about believing in Jesus and the Bible’s accounts of Jesus’ great works. He questions his teacher’s rational and definition of religious fanaticism, which puts Christians in a bad light.

• There is a scene that shows Brians internet search on the great works of Jesus. For example: the miracles Jesus did, links to information on the fruit of the spirit, the power of God, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead as well as other links relating to the Bible. You get to glance at verses from Mark 2:11-12 (Jesus healing a man who could not walk), Luke 18:42-43 (Jesus healing the blind), John 21:25 the abundance of Jesus' miracles were too many to be recorded), an article about Jesus walking on water, and many other accounts from the Bible, as the camera sweeps across Brian’s computer screen.

Promotes God as the only God

• There is a scene with Brian praying to the Lord to have him do His will

• Brian promotes God, the Father and Jesus to his parents throughout the film

• Brian’s conversation with a man in a church about prayer

• Brian’s faith that God would work out his parent’s lack of faith

• The film is based on the miracles of God, and God is thanked and given the glory for each miracle

Promotes being free from idols or refrain from promoting idols

• While idols were not promoted, there was some focus on a statue that was supposed to depict Jesus. Brian mentions during the film that it is “just a statue.”

Promote the Sabbath or refrain from promoting Sunday as the day of worship?

• Sunday worship was mentioned but not promoted as the holy day set aside by God.

Speaks against murder or refrains from promoting murder?

• There is a scene where Brian speaks of God being against murder.

What Christian standards does the film convey?

Brian’s mother made a comment about Christians trying to tell other people how to live their lives and how their goal as a family was to avoid Christians. But Brian points out that Christians just want to obey God and the world would be a better place if people did what God wanted them to do.

Scripture alone

• The pastor is shown reading his Bible when the Brian enters the church and walks down the aisle.

• A man is in the church building collecting his Bible.

• Brian’s conversation with the book shop owner about what he had read in the Bible. For example, that Jesus is risen.

• Brian’s desire to own a Bible of his own.

• Brian and the Pastor’s references to many verses from scripture throughout the film.

Salvation through Christ alone (does not promote good works)

• Brian’s comments about people being spiritually blind, and comparing them to people who are physically blind. He mentioned that God wanted us to see Him.

• The Pastor’s comments about how God planned for us to be reconnected to Him through Jesus Christ, referred to as the Good News. Brian’s father mentioned he was a good person, and the pastor mentioned that we have all fallen short of the glory of God -this verse was taken from Romans 3:23.

Does the film give glory and honour and thanks to God?

All the way through, by comments from the young boy, Brian, the pastor, the people that were healed, as well as other characters.

Did the film encourage my faith?

This film reminds me of the verse about needing to be as humble and trusting as a child to have access to the kingdom of God. “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-3.

What actions did I do, as a result of seeing the film?

I have seen the film twice and have plans to watch it again. There is a lot packed into this film and you truly see the wonder of faith in God, through Jesus Christ, through the eyes of a child. I am also reminded of Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Would I change anything about the film?

The statue outside the church, that drew Brian’s attention. I once saw a tall statue, many years ago, that was supposed to be Jesus, and I was mesmorized. Now I can’t even remember where I saw it. But I know, since reading the Bible, that no statue, made by man, could ever represent the Lord Jesus Christ, in any way. So I would have left out the statue in the film.

SUMMARY

There are many testimonies and scripture-based lines in this film. More than any film I have reviewed so far. And the closing song was about belief in Jesus Christ and the love and power of the Father. I Believe, is a wonderful film about having true faith in the Lord, with the innocence and trust that we mostly see in children.

Thank you for reading this review. Until next time, peace be with you.

Resource Information

Film Source: www.christiancinema.com

NB! The links I reference for my films is the source I used, but it is not an endorsement of the entire film streaming company. I am sure this particular film can be found on various digital streaming companies.

Question or comment: info@renewedfaithmedia.com

Film review request: review@renewedfaithmedia.com

Source for film thumbnail: www.christiancinema.com