In this piece over at Junction City, Gabriel Hughes responds to questions about a so-called “Christian” movie.
Dear Pastor Hughes: I would like to ask you a few questions regarding this film [Finger of God]. I read your blog, but I cannot find any new information. The Church I attend is planning to show this film. Would you recommend we do? If not, why? Any updated information will help me. Thanks, Mario
Thank you for your e-mail, Mario. In short, no, I would not recommend that your church show this film. The creator of Finger of God, Darren Wilson, is the same creative mind behind Holy Ghost, a documentary film I reviewed here. Holy Ghost is a charismatic propaganda film completely devoid of biblically orthodox Christianity. Before Holy Ghost, he made Finger of God, and it’s just as absurd.
Finger of God begins attempting to qualify some of the more ridiculous “miracles” said to be happening in charismaticism: gold dust falling on worshipers and preachers, perfect and pure gems appearing out of no where, Bibles spontaneously filled with manna (yes, the bread from heaven that fed Israel in the wilderness), and people receiving gold teeth. Wilson even interviews his aunt and uncle who claim God gave them gold teeth during church. Because it happened to someone he knows, it must be true!
None of these tricks have ever been verified as miraculous. In fact, undercover reporters have exposed them as lies. The cut gemstones supposedly showing up at these meetings have even been tested, and they’re nothing but worthless cubic zirconia. The gold dust has likewise been examined and revealed to be gold glitter that you can buy in the craft section at Walmart.
The teachers doing these things are deliberately lying to people. But people want them to be true, so they allow themselves to be duped by such obvious gags. Either Darren Wilson is in on these tricks, or he wants so much to believe that the con is real, he forgets his role as an investigative documentarian.
Regarding the whole gag with the gem stones, Wilson says they’re not cubic zirconia, but he doesn’t take them to a jeweler to confirm that for his viewing audience. Wouldn’t it be pretty incredible to get an expert on camera saying, “I’ve never seen a gem so pure”? No, we just have to take Wilson’s word for it that these fake-looking gems (seriously, they don’t even look real) are perfect and other-worldly.