This documentary comes from the church of California pastor John MacArthur and devotes most of its attention to their fight against Covid-related overreach.
With the worst of the Coronavirus and its shots, masks, social distancing and other safety measures receding into history, some may be tempted to leave all the unpleasantness in the deep recesses of their memory. The Believers at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA, however, are not among them; on the contrary, they are coming out with a feature-length documentary about the excesses that flowed from government.
Called The Essential Church, it tracks oppression of Christians from the foundation of the Faith, but focuses particular attention on the struggle that played out in 2020 and 2021, as local churches in America and around the world were ordered to close their doors during the pandemic, or face fines and even arrest.
Jon MacArthur, the 84-year-old lead pastor at Grace Community Church, publicly defied the efforts of authorities in California to stop his congregation from meeting, eventually prevailing in lawsuits against both local and state government. In a video statement promoting the documentary, he calls the wins a "monumental victory" attributable to "God's sovereignty."
"The Essential Church traces the history of government assaults on the Church, both ancient and modern. As we face this opposition today, this film will strengthen and encourage us to stand courageously as the Body of Christ."
The film is currently scheduled for a limited release in just 20 states, starting on July 28th. You can check theater locations and purchase tickets via this link to the website of The Essential Church, and the trailer below will give you a better sense of what to expect from the film.