The movie Time Changer,by Rich Christiano, by all appearances looks like your ordinary “B” science fiction movie you might find at any video store. To my shock and appreciation this move is anything but ordinary.

     Set in the 1890’s, the main character, Dr. Thomas Carlisle is a professor at Grace Bible Seminary. After writing a book which advocates that teaching Jesus’ moral principles alone in order to bring about social reform, Carlisle seeks the endorsement of the Seminary faculty. Just as approval seems to be unanimous, an older professor, played by Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubbing of the old TV show The Love Boat) challenges the book’s premise that even without teaching people about Jesus the world would be better if Jesus’ morals were taught. In a discussion that one might expect to hear in a Bible class rather than in a SciFi video, a debate proceeds regarding the absolute authority of Jesus, the worthlessness of good morals without Jesus and the effects that morals without Jesus could have upon the world. Although the faculty, led by the dean, Hal Linden (Barney Miller, from the TV series Barney Miller) favors endorsement, the decision is delayed the two can reconcile their views.

     What has led the the older professor to his objection is an invention he has perfected which had allowed him to travel 100 years into the future. In doing so he witnesses our own generation living without respect for the authority of Jesus. When Carlisle himself is taken into the future, he witnesses apathetic believers, unbelief in Jesus and rampant immorality. After four days in the future he realizes the error of his book’ premise. Carlisle returns to his own time and in an almost “Ebenezer Scrooge-like” epiphany changes his book, his teachings and his beliefs.

     The video is obviously Calvinistic and Premillinialistic in its religious leanings. Carlisle refers to man’s “sinful nature,” the Jesus’ “coming earthly kingdom” and “the rapture,” false doctrines falsely taught in much of the religious world. The movie also portrays an overly idealized view of the 1800’s, as if this era was the ideal of godliness. Even so, it was quite refreshing to see the movie portray Carlisle’s disgust with blasphemous speech, immodest apparel and children showing disrespect to their elders. This was the first movie I have ever seen that unashamedly referred to the teaching of Malachi 2:16 that the Lord “hates divorce!”

     The movie was also interesting because historically the 1800’s saw the beginnings of the the “Social Gospel” movement, in which the denominational world sought to “save” man through moral and social improvement. Jesus was set aside and man’s social needs were emphasized over his spiritual needs. Time Changer portrays the denominational world’s reevaluation of its own faulty notions. While the movie doesn’t go far enough in that baptism, church organization and scriptural worship are ignored, it is a refreshing change from what is generally available. Jesus Christ does have all authority. To teach Jesus’ teachings without teaching Jesus is no more valuable to someone’s soul than if we taught them nothing at all. Time Changer. Producer Rich Christiano. Five & Two Pictures, 2001.