A Call for Discipleship: A Review of “The Forge”


Alex and Stephen Kendrick are the producers of popular Christian movies such as “Fireproof”, “Overcomer”, and “War Room” (which reached number one at the box office in 2015). This past Thursday, I saw their latest release “The Forge.” Webster’s Dictionary defines a forge as “a furnace or a shop with its furnace where metal is heated and wrought” and “a workshop where wrought iron is produced or where iron is made malleable.”

The main character in “The Forge” is Isaiah Wright, a 19-year-old African-American (played by Aspen Kennedy). His mother Cynthia (Priscilla Shirer) is tired of him doing nothing except play basketball and video games. She instructs her son to find a job and come up with rent money within one month or move out. Isaiah eventually lands a position with a manufacturer of fitness products. Owner Joshua Moore (Cameron Arnett) helps his new employee find direction and witnesses to him. In a private moment in his bedroom, Isaiah reads a “Romans Road” tract and asks Jesus into his heart.


By this time, Isaiah has taken more responsibility for his life. He starts attending a men’s group with Joshua and realizes what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Joshua revealed to him that golf had been his idol and mostly laid that aside. Isaiah soon gets rid of his video games. He puts them in a box to sell at a pawn shop. Isaiah also learns he must forgive his estranged father for leaving the family and making broken promises. 


“The Forge” is like a spin-off of “War Room.” Some of its characters return including elderly prayer warrior Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie) and Tony Jordan (T. C. Stallings). Priscilla even played Cynthia’s twin sister Elizabeth Jordan. They both appear in one scene with some clever editing.


A couple of statements in the movie caught my attention. In his office, Joshua advised Isaiah, “You need to be a fountain, not a drain.” In other words, we should seek to give to people instead of taking from them.


Another statement at the end paraphrased something I’ve heard from those critical of my evangelism methods. It’s often been said, “We are to make disciples, not converts.” Sadly, many Christians use that as an excuse to avoid sharing the gospel with individuals they might not see again. No one becomes a disciple unless they first become saved. Because of my travels, I mostly disciple believers through my online writings and videos.


“The Forge” is an excellent movie I recommend seeing. Hopefully, it will inspire more Christians to look for opportunities to mentor others in the things of God and to take their relationship with Him seriously. Jesus is supposed to be our Lord as well as our Savior. 


“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” - Luke 14:27

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