FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1. Why American Gospel?
A: We believe American culture's influence on the gospel is a problem, so an "American Gospel" is a distorted, corrupted gospel. That distortion happens when you add to the gospel (promises of "the American dream" of health, wealth, & prosperity), or when you subtract from the gospel (due to the influence of postmodernism, relativism, religious pluralism, etc.).
Q2. Why aren't these films free? Aren’t you selling the gospel? Aren’t you being hypocrites and being like the prosperity preachers that you criticize?
A: First, we have provided a free chapter of “AG1: Christ Alone” which contains the gospel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocHm18wUAGU
We've also released a free chapter of "AG2: Christ Crucified" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9QVz-iFZp8
On our streaming service (AGTV) you can watch the AG films for free if you sign up for the free trial:
https://www.watchagtv.com/
Secondly, Transition Studios is not a non-profit Christian ministry that can accept donations. We are a small video production company that produces documentary films. Most ministries that provide “free” films are only able to do so because they have monthly donors who are supporting the film financially on the front end of production (so they aren’t really free). Since we are unable to accept donations, we ask for your support on the back end of production, by purchasing our films. When you buy our films you help us offset the costs of producing a film (cost of travel, filming, editing, animation, music composition, legal fees, etc.) and you help support the production of future projects. We believe that it’s biblical that people should be paid for their work. For those who still think it’s wrong to sell a film about the gospel, have you ever made the same objection to your Christian bookstore when you purchased your Bible?
Finally, there’s nothing inherently wrong with wealth. What prosperity preachers do is prey on the poor and the sick, making them promises of health and wealth if they sow financial seeds into their ministry. They then take your money and live in excess and luxury. We aren’t making those unbiblical promises, nor are we living in luxury because of this work. We only ask that if you appreciate these films, that you please support us through the purchasing of our films. If you are having financial difficulty, please contact us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocHm18wUAGU
We've also released a free chapter of "AG2: Christ Crucified" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9QVz-iFZp8
On our streaming service (AGTV) you can watch the AG films for free if you sign up for the free trial:
https://www.watchagtv.com/
Secondly, Transition Studios is not a non-profit Christian ministry that can accept donations. We are a small video production company that produces documentary films. Most ministries that provide “free” films are only able to do so because they have monthly donors who are supporting the film financially on the front end of production (so they aren’t really free). Since we are unable to accept donations, we ask for your support on the back end of production, by purchasing our films. When you buy our films you help us offset the costs of producing a film (cost of travel, filming, editing, animation, music composition, legal fees, etc.) and you help support the production of future projects. We believe that it’s biblical that people should be paid for their work. For those who still think it’s wrong to sell a film about the gospel, have you ever made the same objection to your Christian bookstore when you purchased your Bible?
Finally, there’s nothing inherently wrong with wealth. What prosperity preachers do is prey on the poor and the sick, making them promises of health and wealth if they sow financial seeds into their ministry. They then take your money and live in excess and luxury. We aren’t making those unbiblical promises, nor are we living in luxury because of this work. We only ask that if you appreciate these films, that you please support us through the purchasing of our films. If you are having financial difficulty, please contact us.
Q3. Why did you include President Trump in the film? He is not a religious leader or prosperity teacher. Why didn't you criticize other Presidents or politicians?
A: One does not have to be a religious leader or teacher to have a theological influence on American culture and its understanding of the Christian gospel, which is why we decided to include clips from people like President Trump, Oprah, etc. President Trump was included in the film because of his direct connections to the false moralistic and prosperity gospels that are critiqued in the film, and at the time of this film’s release (2018), he represented the United States of America. Trump was never directly criticized in the film (no one interviewed ever mentioned his name), but we used two clips to let him speak for himself, so that you can be informed in what he believes, and how to pray for him.
In the first clip, during the campaign for the 2016 election, Donald Trump questioned his need for repentance and forgiveness of sin, because he felt he was a good person who didn't make mistakes. This was compared the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22.
"Why do I have to repent? Why do I have to ask for forgiveness if you’re not making mistakes? I work hard. I’m an honorable person." - Donald Trump
In the second clip, Trump says that his pastor was Norman Vincent Peale, who wrote “The Power of Positive Thinking,” which is a book that essentially teaches the prosperity gospel view of using your positive thoughts/words to create your reality. Trump’s spiritual advisor is Paula White, a Word of Faith televangelist who is featured in the film asking for seed money.
In a film about the “American Gospel” we felt it was relevant to make the connection to America’s President so that you can understand how his theological views shape his decision making as President. Using Trump was not a politically motivated decision, as some have suggested. In our second film, “Christ Crucified” we use other Presidents and politicians (Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, etc.) to illustrate points related to progressive Christianity.
In the first clip, during the campaign for the 2016 election, Donald Trump questioned his need for repentance and forgiveness of sin, because he felt he was a good person who didn't make mistakes. This was compared the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22.
"Why do I have to repent? Why do I have to ask for forgiveness if you’re not making mistakes? I work hard. I’m an honorable person." - Donald Trump
In the second clip, Trump says that his pastor was Norman Vincent Peale, who wrote “The Power of Positive Thinking,” which is a book that essentially teaches the prosperity gospel view of using your positive thoughts/words to create your reality. Trump’s spiritual advisor is Paula White, a Word of Faith televangelist who is featured in the film asking for seed money.
In a film about the “American Gospel” we felt it was relevant to make the connection to America’s President so that you can understand how his theological views shape his decision making as President. Using Trump was not a politically motivated decision, as some have suggested. In our second film, “Christ Crucified” we use other Presidents and politicians (Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, etc.) to illustrate points related to progressive Christianity.
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