Expected more

Absolutely the worst movie.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

One question for Carlton Pearson: If everyone gets to heaven, why did Jesus Christ have to die on the cross for our sins?

I suspect that most people will evaluate this movie based on their personal belief systems. Fundamentalist Christians will hate it because it portrays a high profile Christian leader moving away from fundamentalism and into a universalist theological perspective. More progressive types will likely rate it higher for that same reason. The theology contained within it (such as Hollywood can really portray theology) is interesting. Certainly, the point gets made that the Bible can be used to defend either a fundamentalist (salvation through Jesus alone) perspective or a universalist (God saves everyone regardless of what they believe) perspective. I'll choose not to wade into the theological debate. Suffice to say that as a pastor I am neither fundamentalist nor universalist; I believe both perspectives (which make determinations about a person's eternal destiny) defy Jesus' instructions not to judge. I believe the gospel is intended to provide assurance in Christ without judgement on those outside Christ. I'll leave it at that.As for the movie itself, it's the story of the faith journey of Carlton Pearson (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.) A protege of Oral Roberts (Martin Sheen), Pearson was ordained by the Church of God in Christ (a fundamentalist, pentecostal-type denomination) and eventually became pastor of a mega-church of more than 5000 members in Tulsa, Oklahoma. But over the course of his ministry there, his theology began to change and he started to struggle with the concept of hell and divine punishment, eventually becoming a believer in universalism (or, universal reconciliation.) That led to a major split in his church and ultimately his being declared a heretic by the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops.I disagree with where Pearson's theology took him, but I can nevertheless admire his willingness to stand for what he believed in the face of the incredible pressure that was brought to bear on him to recant. It certainly showed how difficult both theologically and personally it would be for a pastor to radically change his or her views. It not only caused problems within the church and had repercussions for Pearson's career, it also ended relationships and turned friends into enemies. It's interesting to trace Pearson's theological journey, but there's no real "excitement" to the story. It's simply biographical. If I were to hazard a guess I would say that the perspective of those who made the movie (it's a Netflix production) is sympathetic to Pearson, although the portrayal of Oral Roberts was, I thought fair and balanced.This will probably be of most interest to those who have a theological interest in universalism. (6/10)

Only a person that is born in a country (Italy) where, at the time, you had no choice or saying in what to believe, can fully understand this movie. Unfortunately the screenplay is a mess, and the director is not doing justice to an oscar worthy performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, (this men is on another level), Lakeith Stanfield and Danny Glover. STILL, they are able to absorb you into the Via Crucix of not only pastor Pearson, but of those who clinged to his words in hope of salvation and are suddenly casted into chaos instead. This was a very courageous movie to produce BUT (like I did in Italy to break the chains by showing up to my confimation with short hair, bright green lima pants and matching pullover) sometimes you need to use firerworks to be seen. This movies FAILED to emphatized the magnitude and enormity of an African American pastor standing up against these "corporate", ANCIENT, religious organizations. Best part of the movie are the dialogue about being born gay and not going to hell, and the speech at the end in this new Hope church: because after all those years of Cathechism, the only thing I'm certain about the Bible is that Jesus is LOVE. He even wrote it in his scroll. It's just that fear it's a much easier feeling to handle.

Come Sunday is a powerful film delivering an even powerful message 'What if GOD allowed you, now, to understand a meaning of the Message that was contradictory to what others as well as yourself previously believed?' This is not a crisis of faith, but that of interpretation and understanding. Come Sunday will resonate with Believers and will really hit home who have discovered the true understanding of the Word years after it's first reading. If you believe that GOD will only allow you to see when GOD feels that you are ready, you will find Come Sunday a most wonderful film.