An observation regarding Passion critics....

All things considered, aren't we supposed to feel sick to our stomach at our OWN sins in order to repent and be saved, rather than being sick to the stomach at gore on the screen?

People are not saved due to emotional reactions to gore.

People are saved when they realize what rot they themselves are and turn to Christ to be rescued from that rot. The extent of the brutalization of Christ is not indicative of the extent of the salvation offered.

From everything we have heard about this film, it is far more conducive to talking about it and one's emotional reactions than it is conducive to a little self-examination, disgust with oneself, and repentance.

 

No matter how good or accurate a movie is. No matter how many it leads to Christ, there will be those who criticize and pick appart anything that doesnt fit into their view of the way things ought to be done. I would not deny anyone a personall opinion, but,Can those of you who are so critical of the film at least admit that if a person is lead to Christ, or a believer comes to a better appreciation of what Jesus did for us, that it is a good thing?
Can I get a simple yes or no answer to this question?

 

Elijah:

I would not deny anyone a personall opinion, but,Can those of you who are so critical of the film at least admit that if a person is lead to Christ, or a believer comes to a better appreciation of what Jesus did for us, that it is a good thing?
Can I get a simple yes or no answer to this question?

S&T:

People were probably saved by watching the Christians fed to the lions. Should we use that as an evangelizing tool. Some people are saved by a car wreck. Should we go on the freeway and cause a few hoping that someone might get saved? We are commanded to preach the Gospel, not show a film with the corrupted Word presented in many areas.

 

Absolutely! There is nothing that would lead a person to conviction of their own sinful state in this movie. There is nothing in this movie that even attempts to connect the purpose of Jesus' sacrifice with sin. There is not even the slightest suggestion that Jesus' true sacrifice, His true suffering, came when He took on the sins of the world and was separated from God the father in a single moment. The movie is completely void of these things, which is why I am so baffled that it has been almost universally embraced.


We are not saved by the events depicted in "The Passion". This movie does not contain the Gospel, and there is nothing in it that would lead anyone to an understanding of the importance of Christ's real sacrifice, in fact it does the opposite. By focusing exclusively on the physical torture of Jesus, His true purpose is completely ignored.

 

Although, if it came right down to doing it, if it took being thrown into a lion's den to lead someone to Christ, I would hope that I had the strength to do that. When in actuality I probably don't have the guts it would require. At least Mel had the guts to go against his hollywood friends and make a movie that wasn't politically correct. I am happy for him if God allows the movie to do well.

I do know for a fact that this movie has been used successfully by churches to lead people to Christ, I have seen it in our own church and you can't get any more conservative than our pastor. After previewing the movie his only complaint was the Christians grabbing up the tickets and not letting the lost folks see it while it is popular.

Yes, Helen, you are right about looking inward, but I would rather see Mel make a movie about Christ Jesus than a movie about a monster from mars. How many of us are actually OUT THERE showing people the way to Christ? THAT is the question...

 

Okay, yes I agree that there are differences between the Bible and the movie AFTER ALL it is a movie!!! Did you say the same thing when the Ten Commandments was played? Besides, for example, where the woman took the cloth that Jesus wiped his face, and a few other little Catholic leanings; Where does the film vary so far from what we believe that it is so doctrinally inaccurate as to cause the viewer problems with the gospel of Christ?

 

Tell me a little bit about this A.C. Emmerich thing. I am not familiar with what you are referring to, Vas.

 

Uh, did you go to the rest-room or get some pop-corn when Satan kept telling Jesus that he could not save man of his sin and bear all of the sin of the world on his shoulders?

 

How many people here, gripping about the movie, have not seen it?

 

Read my objection on page 3 and in the other "passion" thread here. Read the same exact objections of others here who express themselves much better than I do. The problem is precisely a doctrinal one.

 

Excerts from her vision contained in the Passion movie

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/dolorouspassion.html

The full vision

http://www.emmerich1.com/DOLOROUS_PASSION_OF_OUR_LORD_JESUS_CHRIST.htm

 

Saw it twice

 

Haven't seen it and after reading the words of Billy Graham at the top of this page, I am thankful to have been spared the viewing of this imagery.


Bro. Dallas

 

Saw it twice </font>[/QUOTE]Its kinda like voting--donnA--you can gripe all you want.....

 

Read my objection on page 3 and in the other "passion" thread here. Read the same exact objections of others here who express themselves much better than I do. The problem is precisely a doctrinal one. </font>[/QUOTE]Okay, I read your post on page 3, it is your opinion. I disagree with your opinion. Soooooo, I ask again, were you getting pop-corn when Satan asked Jesus how one person (Jesus) could bear the weight of the sin of the world on His shoulders?

Were you getting a coke when he DIED?

Were you throwing away your trash when he walked from the grave RISEN FROM THE DEAD (which I think only God can do.....)

 

Excerts from her vision contained in the Passion movie

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/dolorouspassion.html

The full vision

http://www.emmerich1.com/DOLOROUS_PASSION_OF_OUR_LORD_JESUS_CHRIST.htm </font>[/QUOTE]Okay, okay, so Mel was a Catholic, I agree. okay, okay, so Mel may have used some conspiracy stuff. Regardless of how he filled in the details, the film still tracks the gospel in general.

If we Christians, MYSELF INCLUDED, would quit spending our time on conspiracy theories and maybe use this movie (who almost everybody has seen and will discuss now) to tell others WHY Christ suffered like he did, I think we could both use the film (good or bad) for a rightful purpose. Why can we not look at the positive side rather than complaining among ourselves and letting the world see that even Christians don't agree with what Christians believe in. Hey, there is nothing in the film that DAMAGES YOUR TESTIMONY and if you can talk to a lost person who saw that film, it just might open an opportunity to talk about Jesus that you never had before. Or, you can sit at your computer and keep whining about the movie that is being seen by millions. Your choice--how you use it.......

 

You make good points Brother Phillip. But still I have to wonder why it is accepted so readily among Christians that the word of God cannot do what your points and those of others are claiming for such a confused representation of the gospel message.

Why have so many bought into agreement that something of this scale can be and even is being used in greater degree than the ordained word of God?

Is it because of the mixture of mysticism? Is this element enough to remove the viewer (considering the lost viewer here) to not have to deal with an issue but instead can place hopes upon the imagery presented. This is heresy of the worst kind.

Bro. Dallas

 

Funny you should mention car wrecks. When I was in high school our drivers ed. class would show us footage of car wrecks to get the point across that driving carelessly was dangerous. If a movie can cause some to come to more of an appreciation of what Christ did for them, then, wonderful!

 

In fact, people viewing the martyrdom of others did sometimes join them in their testimony, however, this is a representation of their possession of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and not an indication they were being regenerated as a result of the images they were witnessing.

Bro. Dallas

 

Excerts from her vision contained in the Passion movie

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/dolorouspassion.html

The full vision

http://www.emmerich1.com/DOLOROUS_PASSION_OF_OUR_LORD_JESUS_CHRIST.htm </font>[/QUOTE]Okay, okay, so Mel was a Catholic, I agree. okay, okay, so Mel may have used some conspiracy stuff. Regardless of how he filled in the details, the film still tracks the gospel in general.

If we Christians, MYSELF INCLUDED, would quit spending our time on conspiracy theories and maybe use this movie (who almost everybody has seen and will discuss now) to tell others WHY Christ suffered like he did, I think we could both use the film (good or bad) for a rightful purpose. Why can we not look at the positive side rather than complaining among ourselves and letting the world see that even Christians don't agree with what Christians believe in. Hey, there is nothing in the film that DAMAGES YOUR TESTIMONY and if you can talk to a lost person who saw that film, it just might open an opportunity to talk about Jesus that you never had before. Or, you can sit at your computer and keep whining about the movie that is being seen by millions. Your choice--how you use it....... </font>[/QUOTE]How much error can you mix with truth and it still remain the truth? Even JW literature contains a little truth in as much as it quotes Scripture. No, you are using specious reasoning. Even the Roman Catholics accept the truths of the virgin birth, inspiration of Scripture, etc., but their doctrine is heresy. They lead poor, deluded, lost sinners to Hell. Dr. Frank Sells, a Bible teacher of the previous generation, said: "The most dangerous thing is that closest to the truth but is not the truth." AMEN! This exactly describes this heretical flick. I am very sad that so many well meaning people are deceived by it because they have no Biblical discernment and understanding of the importance of Biblical doctrine. Instead, they operate on their emotions and are moved by the media, not the truth of the message.