Everything I have read about the making and purpose of this film has indicated the main purpose is to motivate and inspire Christian teens to notice the lost, hurting and lonely kids on the fringes in our schools. The movie's slogan is: "Some people are just dying to be heard." There are countless Rogers everywhere in every school who are living in isolation, deeply depressed and lonely. They are crying out in ways that go unnoticed -- until it's too late. This film pushes us to take a bold first step out of our comfort zones and established peer groups reach out to those who have no one. In other words, viewers are urged to be Jesus with skin. This message came across clear and powerful, but...

If this was as overtly Christian as the film intended to get, then it would have been successful in making it's point. Still -- and this is important -- this film clearly had potential to go much deeper into the cultural world of the church, mainstream Christianity and youth ministry. This was exciting to me. We saw youth pastor Chris step into a teenager's life and begin to dialogue about what it means to be a Christian. We saw a non-religious skeptic in Jake inquire as to what Christianity means and what it costs to follow after Christ. We heard more than one sermon from Chris. We saw teens worshiping at youth group. We saw Jake getting baptized in the ocean surrounded by friends. We saw and heard Jake kneeling and praying by his bedside about his future.

When a film is bold enough to wade honestly into these overtly Christian issues, I believe it opens itself up to be critiqued in how faithful it represented the gospel, the nature of repentance and discipleship, the meaning of baptism, the core message of Christianity, etc. If you're going to go there, then bring it home accurately so viewers are not being sold a shallow, cross-less, Jesus-less, generic brand of "you can make a difference in the world" type Christianity. This film handled teen issues brilliantly and accurately; but when it came to representing the true nature of Christian discipleship and the gospel, it wimped out.

How so?

• Why was the name of Jesus always avoided (except for the prayer at the funeral)? Watch the film again and notice how the youth pastor always talks generically of "God" but avoids talking specifically about Jesus.

• In a conversation with Chris, Jake says he doesn't want to just become a "just another Christian." Chris says, "I wouldn't want you to." Here I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for the youth pastor to offer a counter challenge and invite him to become a serious, committed Jesus-follower who "takes up his cross daily" or something substantial; but the scene just ended and left us wondering exactly what Chris was inviting Jake to become.

• I fear this film reinforces a sort of watered-down Christianity that is merely about "loving one another" and has little to do with being born again of the Spirit, true repentance, understanding the holiness of God, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the rest. Let me be clear: The filmmakers probably believe these things, but why sweep them under the rug if they're going to get as honest as they did in this film?