Priest (1994): When God Spoke Through an Unexpected Movie

There are moments in life when God speaks from places we least expect.

As Christians, we believe God speaks through Scripture. Over the years, I have also discovered that God often uses books, music, conversations, works of art, and even movies to challenge our assumptions and deepen our faith.

During my studies at Memphis Theological Seminary, each student was assigned an ethics project. My topic was, “Should gays and lesbians be ordained as pastors and elders?” As part of my research, my professor asked me to watch the 1994 film Priest.

To be honest, I expected to complete an assignment.

I did not expect a spiritual encounter.

The film tells the story of a Roman Catholic priest struggling with difficult questions about truth, compassion, forgiveness, and integrity. As I watched, I realized the movie was asking questions far deeper than the issue I had been assigned to study. It challenged me to think about the tension between doctrine and mercy, between justice and compassion, and between institutional rules and the lives of real people.

More importantly, it challenged me.

Growing up in the church, I had often been taught that faith was about having the right answers. Seminary was teaching me something equally important—that faithful discipleship also requires asking honest questions and being willing to let God reshape our understanding.

That experience did not instantly answer every question I had. It did something better.

It reminded me that God is not threatened by sincere questions.

Throughout Scripture, God meets people who are searching—Abraham, Moses, Job, Nicodemus, Thomas, and so many others. Their questions became part of their journey of faith.

Mine did too.

Looking back, I realize the movie itself was not the point.

The point was that God used an unexpected place to open my heart a little wider.

Since then, I have found God speaking through many unexpected places: a song on the radio, a novel, a conversation over coffee, a walk in the woods, the Daily Office, and the stories of people whose lives are different from my own.

Being a curious pilgrim has taught me that God is always speaking.

The question is not whether God is speaking.

The question is whether I am willing to listen.