God's Not Dead 2 (2016)

Paul Kwo: Martin Yip

Photos 

Quotes 

• Martin Yip : Are you Pastor Dave?

  Rev. Dave : I am.

  Martin Yip : I'm Martin Yip.

  Rev. Dave : Nice to meet you.

  Martin Yip : My friend Josh Wheaton said you might be able to answer my questions about God.

  Rev. Dave : Well, that definitely falls within my job description.

  [Martin takes out a notebook] 

  Rev. Dave : How many questions have you got?

  Martin Yip : So far, 147.

  [Dave starts to laugh] 

  Martin Yip : I-Is something wrong?

  Rev. Dave : No.

  Martin Yip : Josh encouraged me to write them down and be as comprehensive as possible.

  Rev. Dave : Of course he did. Well, I'll have to thank him next time I see him. Come on. So, what's your first question?

• Martin Yip : [conversing in Chinese]  Father! What are you doing here?

  Martin's Father : You have disgraced your family. You think you have chosen reason... but this is foolishness. I've come to take you home. You speak of this god as though he is real!

  Martin Yip : He is, Father! Everywhere I look, I see evidence of God's existence. If you would only open your eyes, you would see.

  Martin's Father : [slapping him]  How dare you! What I see is a foolish boy who has thrown away the sacrifices that this family has made.

  Martin Yip : I've done what I had to do. God has spoken to me, Father, and I have listened.

  Martin's Father : So you would disobey? You will throw everything away for him?

  Martin Yip : Father... I would.

  Martin's Father : Then... you are no longer my son.

• Rev. Dave : Hey, Martin. How's it going?

  Martin Yip : [standing up]  Very good, Pastor Dave.

  Rev. Dave : [gesturing for him to sit back down]  Oh, please.

  [he does] 

  Rev. Dave : You sure?

  Martin Yip : Well, it seems that for every question you answered, three or four more questions spring up.

  Rev. Dave : Yeah, but that's a good thing, right? It's like what Einstein said about science. Picture what you know like the light of a candle. As the circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness around it.

  Martin Yip : So, I'm actually learning, even though it might not feel like it.

  Rev. Dave : Yes, exactly.

  Martin Yip : Well, I've been studying the Beatitudes. They're very hard, one might say impossible, to follow completely. Here in Luke's account, Jesus says, "Do unto others as you have them do unto you." But how is that possible? How can I react to the needs of everyone else the same as my own, even for one day, let alone my whole life? And how can I reconcile my inability to do so with Scripture?

  Rev. Dave : Yeah, those are good questions.

  [taking out his own Bible] 

  Rev. Dave : Okay, scoot over. What is that, Luke?

• Brooke Thawley : He just had so many notes written in the margins that for the first time, I felt like I was truly getting to know my brother. Like God gave me the extra five minutes that I so desperately needed with him. I just don't understand why he never told me about his faith.

  Martin Yip : Sharing one's faith with family, especially not knowing how they will react, can be difficult.

  Brooke Thawley : Count our struggles as blessings, right?

  Martin Yip : That is exactly right. There are more than five minutes awaiting you and your brother. John 11:25-26 says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Do you believe this?

  Brooke Thawley : I do.

  Martin Yip : Then invite him into your heart and make him the Lord of your life.

  Brooke Thawley : [closing her eyes]  Dear Lord, I'm not quite sure what to say, but thank you for dying on the cross for me. Please forgive me of my sin. Jesus, please come into my life, and I will follow you as my Lord and Savior.

  Martin Yip : Amen.

  Brooke Thawley : [wiping tears from her eyes]  Thank you.

• Brooke Thawley : [listening to Martin play the piano at church]  That was beautiful.

  Martin Yip : [jumping in surprise]  Forgive me, but I did not know anyone was here.

  Brooke Thawley : Oh, no. Please don't apologize. I didn't mean to interrupt. I just didn't know where else to go.

  Martin Yip : I'm Martin.

  Brooke Thawley : I'm Brooke. Do you think I could ask you a few questions?

  Martin Yip : That would be fine.

  Brooke Thawley : Good, 'cause I have a lot.