Steve Taylor is a powerful visual communicator. In the same way his music never smacked of Christianese (and probably smacked a few Christians across their consciences), his movies look at spiritual and church life in all of it’s gritty reality.
Much is being written about Blue Like Jazz, the fictionalized motion picture account of Don Miller‘s disruptive and honest biography of the same name. I’m grateful I played a small role in the early days of its publishing. As a representative of Thomas Nelson, I helped Cru put thousands of copies in the hands of college freshman across the country. I haven’t seen Blue Like Jazz yet but intend to. I won’t make any pronouncements here until I do.
Taylor’s first movie, The Second Chance, is nearly forgotten and overlooked. It released the same year as Facing the Giants. Sherwood Pictures captured the mindshare of Christian moviegoers that year. The Second Chance ruffled a few feathers.
Megachurch meets innercity mission church. Evangelical superstar meets humble servant. Suburban life meets street reality.
Ethan Jenkins (Michael W. Smith) is a former rock star who comes home like the Prodigal Son to serve under his father, megachurch pastor Jeremiah Jenkins (J. Don Ferguson, Remember the Titans, My Cousin Vinny). Jenkins’ church, The Rock, planted The Second Chance in the inner city under pro-basketball-player-turned-pastor Jake Sanders (Jeff Obafemi Carr, Blue Like Jazz).
Sanders is tired of being used by Jenkins’ to raise money, ease his racist guilt, or both. On “Second Chance Sunday” when The Rock raises money for their inner city daughter church, Sanders stands in the pulpit looking at Jenkins’ congregation and says:
If you aren’t willing to come down and get a little gravy on your shoes, just keep your damn money.
Leadership at The Rock grows incensed and sends Ethan in. Some just want Ethan out of their hair. Others think it will be a growing opportunity.
At the beginning, Ethan works at The Second Chance with a small chip on his shoulder. Plus his prejudices and fears stand out like a clown in full costume and make-up in the middle of a choir dressed in robes. The chip is knocked off quickly and he shifts his attitude to service, but his prejudices still wear a red clown’s nose.
Ethan’s pride butts heads with Jake’s pride. Will either man learn anything? Will anyone in either congregation be shepherded?
Here are the three reasons I urge you to cue up The Second Chance on Netflix tonight. Just make sure to leave time for discussion after the final scene fades to black.
- It is often said the most segregated hour in America is during church on Sunday. The Second Chance takes this painful fact and makes it my problem… and yours. So we all live with prejudice. What are you going to do about it.
- Much ink is spilled (and pixels energized) over the poor quality of Christian cinema. The Second Chance is powerful shot by seasoned photographer Ben Pearson who easily transitions from behind a still camera to a movie camera. The acting is genuine and emotive (even Michael W. Smith’s). Pros like the late Don Ferguson, Kenda Benward, and others move the story. And although Taylor was a freshman director on this film, his commitment to excellence and detail present a finished product. In my opinion, The Second Chance is the finest Christian movie next to The Hiding Place [IMDB|Amazon].
- We all need to be reminded of the power of our salvation. We are both saved from our pasts and saved to an abundant life. While you watch, you will be engaged in the master plot, but you will be moved by several of the subplots. At the end of the movie, you will be encouraged.
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