I'M NOT ASHAMED - the movie

The movie I’M NOT ASHAMED tells the real life story of Columbine victor Rachel Joy Scott.  Yes, “victor” is a more appropriate term than “victim,” when one realizes the magnitude of how God was able to use the life and death of this teenage Christian to touch the world in such a positive way that the impact will echo through eternity.  Using journal entries and real life accounts, her story was first told in the book Rachel’s Tears.  Now, under the blessing and guidance of her mother, Beth Nimmo, the world gets to experience Rachel’s story in movie format, available on DVD, PureFlix, and Amazon.

 

Actress Masey McLain, a devout Christian in real life, has a striking resemblance to Rachel Joy Scott, mirroring Rachel so well that it almost feels as if Rachel was radiating through Masey, from Heaven, during the making of this film.  It is easy for the viewers to forget that who they are seeing on the screen is not the actual Rachel Joy Scott, but one of the millions of lives who, by God’s grace, was touched by Rachel’s life. 

Rachel has a very inviting wholesomely innocent smile, a genuine kindness and sweetness about her, the type that draws people to her.   At the same time, she struggles with wanting to be noticed, occasional disobedience to her mother, initial hesitation in openly expressing her Christian faith, and even with deep depression at one point.  These flaws make her real and relatable, while her strength in overcoming makes her inspirational, especially seeing that Jesus is the source of her strength.  Rachel becomes the type of person who people want to be like and know. 

 

Actor Ben Davies, also a real life Christian, gives a strong performance playing Nathan Ballard, a fictional name given to someone real from Rachel’s life.  Rachel reaches out to Nathan, even buying him items that he was intending to otherwise steal.  The positive changes in Nathan are influenced by Rachel’s refusal to give up on him.  It is a beautiful demonstration of how loving actions backing loving words help transform hearts to become more loving, by God’s grace.

 



The movie shows some examples of bullying in the high school.  Ironically, beyond Rachel and the victims, the only students who seem to take issue with the bullying are the infamous Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the perpetrators of the Columbine massacre.  While Rachel tried to lead and encourage a chain reaction of kindness, hoping it would ripple throughout the school, Eric and Dylan acted upon a very different idea on how to stop the bullying.  During the time that Jesus walked on Earth, pagan Rome was oppressing the Jewish people.  A man named Barabbas was an insurrectionist, while Jesus overcame evil for good, by the love He showed us on the cross.  This is a fascinating parallel, but one that should make us stop and pray about our own ideas of how to best remedy injustice, with faith that Rachel has risen, in the newness of life in Heaven.

 

Not merely accepting others for who they are, but loving them for who they are characterized Rachel’s life.  Reaching out to a hurting friend, forgiving a friend who betrayed her, asking an awkward classmate out on his first date, being a source of comfort for a classmate going through a rough time, eating lunch with an unjustly ostracized classmate, encouraging others to perform acts of kindness, and ultimately openly proclaiming Jesus as her inspiration are all actions that show what makes Rachel the type of Christian who by God’s grace, draws people to Christ.

 

Like with the book Rachel’s Tears, this movie accurately shows what it truly means to be a Christian, in an inviting manner that many people may have never experienced before, even if they grew up in the Church.  It does not hit people over the head with Scripture, and takes no political stance on anything.  Rather, it shows someone choosing to live her life for Christ, and what that truly looks like, in a relatable high school setting.  If you only watch one faith-based movie this decade, let it be this one, as you’ll gain more understanding about true Christianity from this less than two hour movie than many people get by faithfully attending church every week for decades.  This is an absolute must see for teenagers and young adults, regardless of their religion.  I highly recommend this movie for all audiences over the age of twelve, and with parental discretion, a younger audience, too.