Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
FLOW: ‘The Best Treatment of Faith & Culture Ever Put on a Screen’
FLOW: ‘The Best Treatment of Faith & Culture Ever Put on a Screen’
Feb 11, 2026 6:57 AM

Word is continuing to spread about For the Life of the World: Letters to the Exiles, the latest film series from the Acton Institute, which seeks to expand the Christian imagination when es to whole-lifestewardship and cultural engagement.

With screenings and appearances at places likeQ Nashville, Flourish San Diego, Acton U, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Regent University, to name just a few, Christians from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives are getting a taste of the series and responding with enthusiastic praise.

Andy Crouch offers the following:

"For the Life of the World" (@LetterstoExiles) is the best treatment of faith & culture ever put on a screen. Just outstanding.

— Andy Crouch (@ahc) August 2, 2014

Daniel Melvill Jones calls it “outstanding for its cohesive use of creativity and imagination”:

Every episode features at least one visual illustration that later es an analogy for the teaching. A Rube Goldberg machine that attempts to cook Evan’s breakfast backfires and e an example of the banality of utilitarian work. A ruined paper lantern that lands in Evan’s front yard is later used as a moving visual illustration of how our lives in the world are offered up to God as a prayer. A punk motorcyclist arrives on Evan’s front porch and uses puppets to tell a illustrating the importance of a believers call to hospitality…

…Anyone who watches the series will be introduced or reminded of these doctrines, but Evan is not content to let such truths sit dormant on the view’s mental shelf. He brings them home by closing every episode with a “letter to exiles”, a hand written monologue. In these letters encourages us with the reminder that we carry these truths into our lives as the redeemed children of God, not through our own power but through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Wilderness Crier calls it “one-third hipster, one-third fairy tale, and one-third practical theology for life”:

For the Life of the Worldis pretty darn amazing. That’s simply the best way to describe it. It boasts some phenomenal production value and strikes a perfect balance between whimsy and thought-provoking. The episode on wonder took my breath away. Four times. It is, without a doubt, the only series of practical, theological videos I would ever turn on and watch just for the fun of it. And I would. In a heartbeat. Because very few things can encourage, challenge, and entertain you like a good fairy tale, even a theological one.

My advice is that you take a chance and follow Mr. Koons down the rabbit-hole.For the Life of the Worldis something the church wants (quality entertainment) and needs (practical advice on how to live out our salvation). Do yourself and munity a favor and check this one out.

At Capital Commentary, Byron Borger calls it “artfully expressed” and “thoughtfully inspiring”:

The teaching interviews and bold cinematography are so artfully expressed, though, that the blend of neo-Calvinist and conservative Catholic social theories that form some of the theoretical/theological background of the films are hardly noticeable; they are what Calvin Seerveld would call “suggestion-rich” and allusive. And they are often illustrated, not preached, with curious narratives and fantastic footage in settings as diverse as Makoto Fujimura’s art studio and Dr. Tim Royer’s Neurocore clinic which studies brain-related neurological issues…

…I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a visually enjoyable Christian educational video curriculum, and I know I’ve never seen one so thoughtfully inspiring about a foundational Christian view of creation, culture, social life, and redemption.

Heard enough?

Watch it for yourself today at Flannel.org, or order it on DVD and Blu-ray.

[product sku=”1440”]

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on 1 Peter 5:5-9   (Read 1 Peter 5:5-9)   Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian churches and societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness. To be humble, and subject to our reconciled God, will bring greater comfort to the soul than the gratification...
Verse of the Day
  Jeremiah 32:17 In-Context   15 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.'   16 After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:   17 Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your...
Verse of the Day
  Matthew 7:24-27 In-Context   22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'   23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'   24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:9-17   (Read Ecclesiastes 5:9-17)   The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on James 1:1-11   (Read James 1:1-11)   Christianity teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now, and our crown at last. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work...
Verse of the Day
  Romans 8:6-8 In-Context   4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.   5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their...
Verse of the Day
  Daniel 4:34-35 In-Context   32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.   33 Immediately what had been said about...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Acts 20:17-27   (Read Acts 20:17-27)   The elders knew that Paul was no designing, self-seeking man. Those who would in any office serve the Lord acceptably, and profitably to others, must do it with humility. He was a plain preacher, one that spoke his message so as to be understood. He was a powerful preacher;...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on 1 John 4:7-13   (Read 1 John 4:7-13)   The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Psalm 27:1-6   (Read Psalm 27:1-6)   The Lord, who is the believer's light, is the strength of his life; not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves. In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved