The Essential Church

Wow! Just wow! Grace Productions drove it home, revealing truth that the whole world obliviously ignored. Jesus is going to use this documentary to change lives, however small or large the group of people impacted, it will be used. And already is. Delivering truth about the "pandemic", and revealing the necessity of having church. The Church will bow only to Christ, not the State, not a king, not any governing authority. It has helped my understanding on Church gathering, and the need for fellowship, no matter the circumstance, because the Church has always been essential. Christ, not caesar, is the Head of the Church! Believers must be ready to give everything up for the Lord, the Gospel, and the Church. Thank you! This documentary was well made, with an amazing intro, an amazing concept and it brought truth together so powerfully that you just know the Hand of God was involved in this. May people see and hear the truth.

The cinematography of the documentary was quite astonishing, but this is not the most compelling part of the film. There was wonderful research that was clearly elucidated throughout the entire film.

This film was emotional, taking the viewer through many turns of the essential church story and other historical stories. Anyone who has not seen this movie must watch this movie for many reasons, especially those that are against the decisions that Grace Community Church and other similar churches made during the Covid-19 pandemic. This movie made biblical arguments that were wonderfully sound and encouraging to all Christians.

Before you see this movie that paints one church as being under siege during the pandemic, think about the thousands of other churches that didn't feel threatened by the health mandates. Think about the churches that still managed to deal with the situation via virtual services and even community outreach programs. Think about the movie's bias in favor of John MacArthur and his church.

Jim Hinch, senior editor of the Christian Guideposts magazine, wrote an excellent article "How the Pandemic Radicalized Evangelicals" (Los Angeles Review of Books, August 15, 2021). He points out that John MacArthur had a long history well before the pandemic of wanting to maintain absolute control over Grace Community Church and its seminary. A former seminary administrator said that MacArthur ""does not like anyone telling him what he can or cannot do." A former deacon described the church as a toxic environment. MacArthur's responses to the pandemic were just another episode of his wanting to hold on to power.

Hinch also described how other churches, including Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, dealt with the pandemic without defying the health restrictions.

The movie is a propaganda piece that contains no information that would refute MacArthur's claims.

I never understood why they just didn't do everything they could to protect the body of Christ. Why was it so hard to just put a mask on and distancing? It seems that would be showing care for each other. We are to be salt and light. How much damage was done to the unsaved who watched this whole thing unwind. What I heard from folks was why can't we all work together on this. Millions of lives are being lost. That is extremely concerning. The blatant refusal to not work with local authorities only tells me that this was more about control than a godly approach, how can we work together to keep everyone safe.

People scoring this with 1's or low reviews are doing so because they're the Covid maniacs that are still wearing a mask today, while they drive alone and probably when they shower. It's been scientifically and medically proven (a simple google search will show you) that masks, social distancing and lockdowns not only were ineffective but had negative impacts. And the jab, well, another simple google search will show you that these big corps are getting sued through the nose. This documentary is fantastic and a must watch and only exemplifies truth and it does it in an engaging way. Well done Grace Community Church! One of the best documentaries I've ever seen.