The Faith Like Potatoes Theology Religion Essay

It has been the first Christian and one of the best movies I have ever seen. The biographical drama Faith like Potatoes has very deep meaning and inspirational power. Also, many Christian films not only lack a compelling story line and too easily slip into sentimentalism but the story of Angus Buchan is told beautifully in this visual art form and the message of prayer and faith.

To begin with, I would say that the drama reveals much of what nowadays people face to- the crisis of faith. Angus is like portrayal of nowadays humanity. Even if he lives in South Africa where it seems that time should be less rapid and a person would have time for himself, Angus faces to the same problem as people living in a fast moving world. I am not sure whether I could call it a problem or obstacle that Angus and many other people face to- a frustrating mode of life. As a result it causes anger, loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, and stress and depression. My point is that, ordinary people and the character in a movie face to the problem which is the lack of time, causing frustration and leading to abundance of oneself inner voice. The result is that people start looking for help which is a true relationship with God.

Still, it is said that when people face to personal crises, they try to find help through faith and then changes occur, which usually are spiritual growth. The same happened with the character in the movie. As a result, changes started with Angus personality, attitude toward his family, faith, and work, too. Here I could say that work and faith are very closely related and important. Work is essential for Angus and his family. Farming is the only way that helps tem to live on. Later in the movie, I could say that farming become as a mean to express faith and as a way to glorify God. At the point, theological argument occurs whether God created man to glorify him? If people say they are created for God’s glorification, then implicitly people deny His aseity, implying some sort of lack or need in God. The aseity of God is a doctrine which says God is without any need. 

One of the religious expressions in the workplace from the movie is, “Faith is a day-to-day lifestyle and experience of Jesus Christ. That’s what we are experiencing at Shalom, when we plant in faith – even in the dust – and trust in him for the miracles of his love.” It means that faith cannot be apart from our daily life situations. I suppose, work should be done faithfully and diligently because God provided us with it as a gift. There are many cases in the Bible written about work for the purpose readers to be aware of its essentiality. Many emphasizes on the theological point that people bring glory to God by working industriously, demonstrating what He is like, and serving others by cooperating with God to meet their needs. In serving others, they serve God and that is why people work matters to Him. Moreover, farming comes up various times in scripture when Jesus used many farming situations in His parables like Matthew 13:1-23 and Paul discussed the parallels between farming and the development of believers as in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. Also, fir instance 2 Timothy 2:6 readers get to see themselves as farmers and has meaning as in the movie,too. With that privilege comes responsibility and If people going to “enjoy the fruit” of our labors, then they better be “hardworking.” The farmer who is not hardworking will reap what he sows-little or nothing.

Continuously, the movie presents the audience the first missionary thoughts of Angus. It is believed that mission needs to take a central part in the church. Of course, God needs to be in the center, but whatever people do in the church needs to be built around God’s heart for the world which He loves so much. Nowadays there are many churches that mission is still something that exists as one of many projects being run in the church. The Angus made huge contributions in revealing community’s faith and making the local church to be visible place. It leads to the theological assumption of Jesus not coming to be served but to serve, so the church does not exist to be served but to serve.

In addition, the film depicts some incredible miracles that God accomplishes through and around Angus. Perhaps, the most inspiring part of the film is the point when, through the prayer of Angus, God raises to life a farm worker who had been struck dead by lightning. While the heart of the Gospel, that man is a sinner and can only be changed because of Christ’s redeeming work on the cross, is neglected, the message that God can transform lives comes through clearly in the film.

Moreover, there are manay contraversal points in the movie. Buchan makes it clear that he has never heard the audible voice of God, and he qualifies his account of the woman being raised to life. The fact that God cannot be seen does not mean He cannot be known. Some men have chosen not to know God as they have denied Him by claiming that the world evolved randomly and naturally. But, if one were to look at the order of things as being held constant by the Creator, who created all things, one can begin to see the God who was and is powerful enough to create such a beautiful place even though He cannot be seen directly.

In short, what makes Angus’ story such an inspirational is that it makes to consider one’s own life. It inspires to be a better person, to believe more, and to have unwavering faith in the power of God. Moreover, the movie has many theological points to be brought up and discussed.