Question: What does the message of Divided the movie have to do with the gospel?

To answer this question, you must consider two other questions. First, how important is the gospel? Second, how important is the method of the communication of the gospel to youth (because the Bible speaks specifically about how to communicate the gospel to youth – not simply the message of the gospel)?

So, first: how important is the gospel? The gospel is the central matter that stands as the highest priority of all. Without true conversion, there can be no sanctification in any area. The preaching of the true gospel and genuine conversion is the beginning of all transformation.

Second, you must ask, with such a precious treasure to communicate, does it matter how you communicate it to youth? Divided and A Weed in the Church contend that the Bible spells out specific ways to communicate the treasure of the gospel. There is a biblical methodology for the discipleship of youth. The Bible not only talks about the content of the message but how the message is delivered. We should care deeply about what that methodology looks like. If we don’t care or we think we have a better idea, we are acting like unbelievers.

We must understand that the same thing that gets you a false gospel is what gets you age segregation. You get a false gospel by not taking seriously everything God has said about the gospel. If you leave out one detail, you have lost the gospel. If you leave out repentance, you have a false gospel. If you leave out grace and replace it with works, you have a false gospel. It you leave out propitiation, you have a false gospel. If you leave out… The same goes with adding: If you add anything else, you have a false gospel – if you add certain spiritual gifts, a sinner’s prayer, spiritual disciplines. Man is converted by faith alone, grace alone, and Christ alone. Similarly, if you leave out critical elements of biblical discipleship of youth, you end up with a false methodology. If you do not take Scripture seriously, you will end up promoting something that is unbiblical – like age-segregated youth ministry.

Does it matter if you add or subtract to the methods the Bible presents for the communication of the gospel? We maintain that man sins by adding or subtracting to the ways that the Bible says that youth are to be evangelized and discipled. Further, we maintain that man sins by adding or subtracting anything from the Word of God in his thinking and in his practices. This means that the Bible speaks to every area of life. It contains all that is necessary for life and godliness (2 Pet. 2:3).