Posted by The Certain Ones in Home, MOVIE REVIEWS | 1 Comment
I’M IN LOVE WITH A CHURCH GIRL
Movie Review by Janice Jones
This month’s movie review is on the new movie, I’m In Love with a Church Girl, starring rapper Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins) as Miles Montego and Adrienne Bailon as his love interest, Vanessa Leon. The movie, which hit theatres October 18, 2013, was written and produced by Galley Molina who also has a small role in the film as a flashy but stylish youth pastor. The movie is based on the before Christ life of the writer who says the film initially started out as a book he was writing while in prison. However, Mr. Molina felt the story would be best told and better served on the big screen as spiritual message. Mr. Molina is a former drug lord turned Pastor who teams up with Award winning Gospel artist, Israel Houghton, to form the music/media production company labeled RGM – Reverence Gospel Media.
The title of the film speaks for itself. Miles Montego is a street hustler who falls in love with a young woman who has committed and dedicated her life to Christ. Vanessa works hard throughout the film to convince her new boyfriend to attend church with her and her family. However, Miles, who at first believes God cannot love or accept a sinner like himself, is reticent about stepping foot in the House of the Lord, even though he was raised in a strict church setting. The film’s goal is to tear down those old radically religious and systematic stereotypes of having to be good, pure and darn near perfect in order to be accepted by God. It also goes on to show that you can have a full enjoyable life filled with fun and still serve and revere God. The movie is a bit on the cheesy side, but its powerful message overrides its few shortcomings.
As I stated, I loved the message of this movie and it reminded me of a sermon I once preached titled, God’s Demonstration of Love. The overall message of the sermon was no matter whom you are, no matter where you came from, no matter what you have been through or no matter what you have done, God still loves you. In fact, the message in the movie and the message in the sermon highlight the fact that it is for those who are not perfect and who has made many mistakes that Jesus died. The sermon is based on the text, Romans 5:6-8 which says, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
God loves us even at our raggediest. (Microsoft word says this is not a word, but I’m using it anyway.) He loves us in our disobedience. He loves us while we are rich or poor, healthy or sick, drug addict, drug dealer or doctor. God loves us at our worst. He proved it by giving us His best; His perfect son to be a sacrifice for us.
So let’s drop the piety and get rid of that air that makes others feel they are dis-qualified for God’s love. Let’s help all humanity understand we are all His creation and none of us is any better than the other. No matter what our gift or ability or talent, Jesus died for us all. That is the broad message in this cheesy but great movie with a powerful and life changing message.
Romans 3:10, “As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous–not even one.”
Janice Jones can be contacted at https://www.facebook.com
Yes I saw the trailer and noticed some of the “cheesy” parts already; therefore, I hope to see it this week or so. Movies do not stay in the theaters long and not anticipating this one to.