Reasons Not To See "The Passion"

Jim Ward: What is PBI? Promise Breakers International? Seriously, what is it?

 

If your pastor has been doing this in sermons then it isn't becasue of this movie seeing as how it just came out.
We are God's house(the church is where the house of God meets), He though the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are possesed by Him, we can not be possesed by satan too.
In order for it to be true that someoen is doing these thinsg because they saw this movie then it would have to happen to everyone who sees it, or at least most. From what I have heard frompeople it changes their lives and leaves them with a stronger desier to live obedient to God.
Now satan doesn't do that.

 

donna, yes, it is not that THE PASSION will cause every pastor to start acting nutty and using vile speech.

It's just that it is an odd coincidence. But many things led up to it. Yet he is bullying people not only to see it, but to get up and testify in church about how much they liked it.

I know the dude, this pastor, whom I no longer refer to as "pastor" but only as "mister" or "dude" due to his defiling the house of God, I know he will censor the flock, he will not allow anyone to get up and voice concerns or negative reactions to his beloved film.

Many pastors are seeing pew potatos doing nothing, so they jump on anything, 40 Days of Purpose, A Life God Rewards, The Passion, anything to get people doing something, or perhaps to cover for their lack of leadership and genuine spirituality.

This is not the case universally, but in more cases than we may imagine.

 

So now these things are not usable too?

Diane

 

no, I just mean they seem to be grasping at anything to possibly cover for, or compensate for, their lack of genuine spirituality.

It must be tough to shepherd a flock for many many years, and still come up with fresh material.

But that's what the Holy Spirit and Bible study and private devotions are for.

Maybe we Protestants need some good old fashioned hermitages and monasteries of our own.

 

good description.

 

Pensecola Bible Institute, He must not have gone there... thats a sigh of relief.

 

Pensacola Bible Institute, "school" by Peter Ruckman, guru of the modern "only" sect and self-confessed whoremonger.

Listed in google under "lunatic fringe" </font>[/QUOTE]LOL you beat me to it Dr. Bob. Guess that's what I get for taking my girls to Chick-Fil-A for lunch

 

Those of you who can afford to, I would suggest you visit the Philippines on "Holy" week, whenever that is. Go to this little province called Pampanga, where Clark Air Force Base used to be, and watch the spiritual deadness of man in that he thinks he can atone for his sins by imitating what Christ did.

Self-flagellation, actually being nailed onto a wooden cross using actual nails, being whipped while carrying a cross under the 100F sun of the Philippines, blood, gore, sweat, heat, dust, everywhere, but I don't think those "devotees" belong to the same kind of Catholicism Mel Gibson belongs to.

 

Those of you who can afford to, I would suggest you visit the Philippines on "Holy" week, whenever that is. Go to this little province called Pampanga, where Clark Air Force Base used to be, and watch the spiritual deadness of man in that he thinks he can atone for his sins by imitating what Christ did.

Self-flagellation, actually being nailed onto a wooden cross using actual nails, being whipped while carrying a cross under the 100F sun of the Philippines, blood, gore, sweat, heat, dust, everywhere, but I don't think those "devotees" belong to the same kind of Catholicism Mel Gibson belongs to.

 

Thought this was intersting thought i would pass it on


http://www.focusonjerusalem.com/newsroom.html


FOJ Comments on the Passion of The Christ

Feb. 27….(FOJ) Today’s headline in Israel says that Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger has called upon Pope John Paul II to reaffirm his position that the Jews are not responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. The Chief Rabbi of Israel fears that the movie The Passion of the Christ may rekindle beliefs among some that the Jews were to blame for the death of Jesus. Many in Israel are calling for the movie to be banned in Israel. It seems that nothing ca stir up as much controversy as does Jesus. He is still provocative even today! Is it not ironic to see that Jesus, Israel, the Jews, and Rome are so much in the news today, just as they were 2000 years ago! But there is one new player—The Pope.

I went to see Mel Gibson’s movie yesterday and offer the following comments:

1) The movie portrayal of Jesus agony and suffering through the scourging and Crucifixion were adequately represented, and truly conveyed a deep sense of “passion.” I think the physical, emotional, and personal trauma that Jesus actually endured however cannot possibly be depicted in film. Jesus actually died of a broken heart!



2) The movie subtly carried a continual undertone of Marianism. The Pope-Vatican is considering mandating that Mary was actually the Co-Redemptrix in Christ’s Passion, and I think this movie will promote that agenda. Mary was shown throughout the movie as being more than a loving-caring Mother. She was depicted as being a cooperating partner-participant in the Passion. She is often referred to as “Mother” by Peter, John, and all those who were close to Christ. She is shown as being constantly on the scene throughout the scourging, the trial, the Via Dolorosa, and the crucifixion lending a spiritual hand to Jesus, with Jesus seemingly relying on her. At the end, Jesus words, “Behold thy Mother” were subliminally meant to inspire people to revere the Church of Rome. This is not the Biblical account. (Mel Gibson is a devout Catholic and adheres to strict Catholic doctrine) However, Vatican Rome is flat wrong!

3) In one scene in the scourging courtyard, there is a dramatic view of Satan dressed in a black cape carrying a small child. The child turns to the camera and wryly smiles an ugly smile. The scene may have been intended to be a flashback to Jesus birth and the slaughter of the innocents. However, I gained a sense of it being a flash ahead in time. (seed of the serpent) Roman Catholic eschatology forecasts a coming time of Great Chastisement for the Church. It is the period of time that we as pre-millennial, pre-tribulationists interpret as the Great Tribulation. Rome does not adhere to the event known as the Rapture for the Church. Therefore, the scene enables Rome to forecast the coming Antichrist as the Christ. In a tragic case of role-reversal in prophecy, this aspect of the movie could lend itself to being a valuable tool in enabling the False Prophet to deceive the public a bout the true Christ when he comes back in the near future. But most people will not pick up on this detail.

4) The Passion of Christ’s suffering (movie) focuses on blood and gore. It appeals to the emotions of the viewer.

I can easily see it bringing about an emotional bond between denominations and religions. Considering that we are indeed in the Last Days, I was able to see where the theme of the movie (Mary, passion) could be used for religious unity. Afterall, nothing brings people together like a doting-loving comPASSIONate Mother. Seeing as how this movie was so filled with blood, it is Ironic that the Roman Catholic Church offers an unbloody sacrifice of Christ on a continual basis. Mary is shown sopping up Christ’s blood as if she now is a participant in the sacrifice.

5) The Passion of the Christ movie offered a respite from Rome to avoid anti-Semitism. The movie complies with the Pontifical Council of Inter-religious Dialogue and Harmony. The Vatican has gone to great lengths under Pope John Paul II to reach out to Jews and establish a link of tolerance and acceptance. Such a move should be anticipated in the religious arena before the Antichrist appears on the stage.

Over seven hundred years before Jesus was even born, the prophet Isaiah prophesied of Jesus scourging and Crucifixion. Crucifixion didn’t even exist when Isaiah forecast the evil torture that Christ would be subjected to.

Isaiah 53:1-12 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Jesus allowed himself to endure THE PASSION and the Crucifixion ONE TIME. His single act of self sacrifice is all the price he needed to pay for ALL sin. Have you accepted his payment? If not you need to be reminded that HE is returning the Second Time to destroy the seed of the Serpent!

 

That is actually a direct quote from the Gospel of John 19:27.

 

I shared with our folks on Wed. night, after our Bible study, that I have not seen the movie and do not plan to. I firmly do not believe that Christians should be attending the movie houses.
Yet, I expressed the fact that the movie will get folks to talking; at work; school; among family & friends etc. That will give us an open door to share Christ with folks.

I do not see thousands - millions etc. getting saved by watching this movie....
I do not believe it is an out reach to win folks ...
I do think that it will give us opportunity to share what Christ has done for us when we got saved. etc.

Just like when 9-11 happened; earthquakes etc. & the such .... it gets folks to thinking and to talking and that is where we can listen and then tell them about the Christ of the Bible .... simply ... the plan of salvation.


Should Bible-believing Christians support the movie The Passion of The Christ?

Is it The best evangelical opportunity we’ve had since the death of Christ, as has been proclaimed by so many evangelical preachers?

Some Observations/Objections:

1. The Movie’s Origin & Medium

· It is a Roman Catholic movie – represents a very different doctrine of salvation

· Its stated purposes are to increase Catholic Conversions & Devotion

· Gibson, a conservative dedicated Catholic, It reflects my beliefs

· Pope, It is as it was

· Daily mass was held on the set during filming & resulted in many conversions to
Catholicism

· Yet, it has been called a new & better way to spread the gospel by many
evangelicals

· A popular evangelical preacher: People don’t interact with the lecture on Sunday
morning anymore—modern day techniques are needed to communicate the Bible

What does the Bible say about our responsibility as preachers?

2 Tim. 4.2-4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

· We must preach the Word—this cannot be replaced by any other medium

· 1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe

· It is a sad day indeed when Bible-believing Christians turn to Hollywood and Roman Catholicism to help evangelize a lost world

2. The Script of the Movie

· Said to have been Based entirely on gospel of John — yet, has much extra-
BIBLE dialogue

· If it is an evangelical tool, it should not contain anything not recorded in Bible, or
would be confusing to the seeker

· Languages of Latin & Aramaic are said to give it a feel of authenticity

· BUT, language of Jesus day w/ Hebrew & Greek

· Latin & Aramaic were used for theological reasons: to urge a return to 16th
Century Latin Mass

· Gibson, I wanted to combine the sacrifice of cross with the sacrifice of altar
(Catholic Mass) and languages are part of this for me

This brings us to the theology of the movie:

3. Theology

· Gibson, This movie reflects my beliefs like nothing I’ve ever done before (the
traditional Catholic Latin Mass)

· Basic Catholic belief is that the intense physical suffering of Christ is the most important part of the crucifixion, thus the heavy violence in the movie

· Christian theology places primary importance on Redemption through the Propitiation of the blood of Christ — the blood sacrifice paying for our redemption ONCE FOR ALL

· In Catholic theology—the suffering is repeated constantly—in the Mass, Christ is crucified over and over again (displayed in the crucifix and Catholic icons)

· Catholic theology of salvation is totally dolorous (grief, sorrow, dismal) The emphasis is on physical agony of Christ and is repeated in all the masses, prayers & devotions - again, therefore the movie is very graphically violent

· Paul said, I glory in the cross because of its redemptive power and victory over sin and the grave - Resurrection is the focus, not suffering

· Christ did certainly suffer the agony of the beatings & crucifixion, but those pains are not to be compared with His suffering by becoming SIN for me.

Some Closing Notes

1. The film is not designed to bring people to saving faith in Christ, but for
entertainment & to promote Catholic theology

2. The film is given to express the faith of dedicated conservative Catholic (Mel Gibson) & bring people in touch again with sacrifice of the altar in the Catholic Mass

3. The film has a good deal of artistic additions, so should not be considered totally faithful to gospel account

4. If anything, the film portrays the great NEED for salvation (my sin did crucify Christ)

5. We must follow up with those who are seeing it and give them the complete gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which includes: Repentance & Faith in the shed blood (not in the physical suffering) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

6. God did use pagan kings in OT to do His work (used a donkey once, too) and, if He so chooses, God can use Mel Gibson and a Hollywood film to bring attention to His Son (as unlikely as it may seem)

7. Sadly, there is a great danger that Christians may now make a habit of going to a theatre for their theology & inspiration (Gibson speaks of other follow-up movies about the Bible) and they may become numb or lethargic to the preaching of the cross by a Spirit-filled preacher.

Will I go see the movie?

No — I think I’ll stay home & read The Book & pray the God will open doors to reach some of the lost people who will see it. May God help us to seize the opportunity to witness for Him these next few weeks while millions are watching a portrayal of our Savior's love for them. To God be the Glory!


Charles Bonner
Pastor
Bible Baptist Church
Selah, Wa. 98942
BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH SELAH, WA.

Annual "Soul Winning" Conference
Where: Bible Baptist Church of Selah, Washington
Dates: March 9-10-11, 2004. (Tues. - Wed. - Thurs.)

 

Reason Not To See "The Passion":

This is one of my reasons.

Exodus 20:4
" Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or (any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth

By His Grace
mike

 

I vastly prefer Jesus movies where you never see His face.

 

If you're going to use that verse, perhaps it would be helpful for you also to post vv 3 and 5, which set the context for that verse.

 

I saw it and am glad that I did. It made me greatly appreciate what Christ went through to redeem my wretched soul. I understood the license of the filmmaker, but I did not let that stand in the way of getting the message of how much Christ suffered for me. I had the privilege or rededicating my life to Jesus Christ when I got home the evening I saw it. I am all the better for having gone. I am sorry some who have not seen it have taken the points of view that they have on this thread. Many speak from the position of ignorance and "blind bandwagonism." If you don't want to see it, dont. But don't push that agenda on those of us who have been greatly helped in our evangelistic desires and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ as a direct result of seeing it.