The Case for Christ (Movie Reflection Pt. 2) - Responding to the Gospel
As we continue our reflections on The Case for Christ, we now turn our attention to Lee Strobel’s determined pursuit of truth. In this part of the story, we see his relentless effort to investigate Christianity—not out of faith, but out of skepticism. What began as a reaction to his wife’s growing faith became a full-scale mission to disprove it.
Lee’s intensity reminds us that many people wrestle deeply with questions about God. For some of us who grew up in the church, faith may have felt natural, but for others, like Lee, the journey is filled with conflict, study, and resistance. And yet, behind that struggle is a universal truth: God has placed eternity in every human heart.
The Pursuit of Truth
In Luke 8, Jesus tells the parable of the sower—a story of seeds falling on different kinds of soil. It illustrates the many ways people respond to the word of God. Some hear but quickly forget; some receive with joy but fall away under pressure; others let the thorns of life choke their faith. But some receive the word in good soil, where it grows and produces lasting fruit.
Lee’s relentless search shows us that even hardened skepticism can still be a sign of pursuit. Beneath his arguments and resistance was a yearning for something more. As believers, we must not underestimate the seriousness of people’s search for meaning. Even when someone claims to reject God, they often wrestle with the deep questions of life—questions only Jesus can truly answer.
The Power of Love
Another theme we see is the role of love. Scripture tells us that love does not insist on its own way. That means God, though offering eternal life, does not force it on anyone. Love always sows a seed, but it never coerces the response.
This is both beautiful and dangerous. The gospel is powerful enough to save, yet gentle enough to let us choose. God presents us with life in Christ, but the choice is ours. As John 3:16 reminds us, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Love compels us to share the gospel, but it also calls us to patience. Like Leslie in the movie, we may wonder why those we love don’t “get it” right away. But we must remember our own journeys—how long it took us to understand, how much grace we needed. Love sows faithfully, trusting God with the harvest.
Responding to the Gospel
The parable of the sower also reminds us that people respond differently. Some may reject the message outright, some may seem to believe but quickly fall away, and others may even grow hostile when confronted with truth—just as Lee initially did. But God is at work in ways we cannot always see.
Think of Saul, who once persecuted Christians but became Paul, one of the greatest apostles. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation—it transforms hearts that seem furthest away.
That’s why our role is not to control the outcome, but to faithfully sow the seed. Our conduct, our words, and our willingness to speak openly about Jesus all matter. Transformation is God’s work, but sharing the gospel is ours.
Our Call
As we reflect on this part of The Case for Christ, we are invited to embrace two truths:
Pursuit is a sign of hunger. Even skeptics are seeking answers that only Jesus can give. Let’s extend grace to those wrestling with doubt.
Love always sows. We cannot force anyone to believe, but we can faithfully plant seeds of truth and trust God for the growth.
For those of us who believe, the question is: Is the love of Christ compelling us to grow—to share our faith, to serve with grace, to boldly point others to Jesus?
And for those still searching: What will your response be? The gospel is not just another opinion; it is the power of God to save. The choice, as always, is ours.