Wat's the logical end of Passion advocacy?

It's just a movie. But, assuming that it is an accurate portrayal of the last 12 hours of Jesus' life, why knock it? Different people will do different things with it, just as they always do with the Gospel message. We don't stop preaching the resurrection just because millions of people misunderstand the Easter holiday.

I'm glad for it, surely some good will come of it and I cannot find anything objectionable (again assumining it is as accurate as reported).

 

The following is by Mike Gendron of www.pro-gospel.org. He is a former Roman Catholic, and current evangelist who specializes in exposing the errors of Catholicism and pointing people to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. It is, in my estimation, the best and most balanced commentary I have seen regarding this topic-

We have been receiving numerous emails asking about the new movie: The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson. We have not seen the movie yet but I do have some comments based on what I have heard.

The movie is rated "R" because of extreme violence. The Bible does not dwell on the violent side of Christ's suffering and death, but rather on its purpose, which I have heard the movie does not include. Viewers may not realize the most intense suffering that Jesus experienced was not the physical pain but the spiritual anguish at the moment God made Him the sin bearer.


During the filming, Gibson, a devout Catholic, attended Mass every morning because "we had to be squeaky clean just working on this." Gibson said, "To atone for the sins of everybody, [Christ] could have done it by pricking His finger and shedding His blood. He didn't choose to do that. He went all the way." In an interview about his starring role in “The Passion of Christ,” James Cavaziel – Gibson’s Jesus – detailed the ordeal of filming the Crucifixion scenes, noting that the overall experience prompted many in the crew to convert to Catholicism. Cavaziel also told Gibson, “I think it’s very important that we have mass every day – at least I need that to play this guy. If I was going to play him I needed the sacrament in me."

I am concerned that this movie, with Gibson's faulty theology, will blur the line that separates biblical Christianity from Roman Catholicism. His inspiration for the film came, not from the Bible, but from a book written by Anne Catherine Emmerich, a Roman Catholic nun and mystic, called The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Since this movie was inspired and produced by unbelievers, it may be used as a vehicle to bring Catholics and Evangelical together.

Hopefully the film will provide viewers to a much deeper understanding of the unspeakable suffering and atoning death that Jesus endured to save sinners from the punishment they deserve. We pray for Catholics who will see the film. May God give them a hunger for His word, an understanding for His righteous justice and a desire to know the Jesus who offered Himself once to bear the sins of many (Heb. 9:29). Might they believe that the Lord's one offering for sin has perfected for all time those who come to Him with empty hands of faith (Heb. 10:14). Rome teaches that the Eucharist is an ongoing sacrifice for sins. The priest is said to have the power to transform a wafer into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus. This counterfeit Jesus is then offered over 200,000 times each day throughout the world on Catholic altars. Might the passion of Christ give Catholics a passion to worship God in spirit and truth. Might Catholics exchange their false religion for an everlasting relationship with the exalted and glorified Savior!

Our prayer is also for the redeemed. May we make the most of this opportunity to share the good news with clarity and conviction from our most trustworthy source for truth. Let us glorify our Savior by proclaiming His overwhelming victory over sin, death and Satan. Let us sing the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light!

 

That which is filtered through corruption is corrupt. There is a flocking to this "flavor of the month", but a great many conversions to the RCC apostasy will probably result, as the nun's book has seen a resurgance in popularity among evangelicals. At the very least the RCC Marian cult will have many $$ added to their coffers. Could see many more idols to the queen of heaven.

It is sad to see so many being deceived and supporting heresy.

A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

I handed my "95 Theses" on the Errors of The Passion Film to the top dignitaries of my (local)ekklesia (church) at Sunday service. It was like an atom bomb went off I assume, but more discreet. One almost would not touch it, like it was poison. There is a meeting planned and the inquisitors will do their level best to make me recant, but Here I Stand, God Help Me, I Cannot Do Otherwise. Your fearless brother will be brave and compassionate toward the judges and will even try to be diplomatic. Your humble poster says prrrrrray for me as I defend my "views" on this "issue." Be sure to check out worldmag.com article "No Mere Martyr": "this is NOT the gospel {i.e., "P" film by MG).

 

vaspers, perhaps you could share with us some of the more egregious errors of the film. Beyond continually hearing on the radio that the Jews are upset by the film, I don't really know much about it.

 

Look under General Baptist Discussions for several post topics related to this controversial issue. I can't summarize all the many heresies, distortions, additions, deletions, confusions, excessiveness, etc. of this film. Many web sites, Fox News items, John MacArthur site, WORLD MAGAZINE, the ooze.com Christian youth online magazine, lots of material. For starters, if you have the stomach for it, Go To www.emmerich1.com for online text of the real inspiration Mel says he had for this film, the bizarre tortured visions of masochistic nun's book THE DOLOROUS PASSION. The reason I have spent so much time and energy, at the risk of people thinking ill of me, is that I was 100% devoted to the "P" film as evangelical tool, and created promotional material for it. Then I saw the Diane Sawyer interview with Mel and that did it. I turned away, maybe y'mite say "against" it. I did an about face. I investigated this thing. Boy was I shocked. Do your own probing. You see things they don't want you to see. Peace!

[ February 22, 2004, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: vaspers ]

 

It is amazing to me to see *so much* speculation about the effects of this movie, when it hasn't even been released yet, and *so much* opposition to it by people who haven't seen it. I find all this kind of silly, actually.

 

Only "effect" I know of now, from people who have indeed seen it, there have been free preview screenings, brother, the main effects: hypnotically induced fanaticism in favor of the film, despite it's errors, morbid ultra-violence, and heresy. That's the only effect I am aware of. Oh, and cognitive dissonance, with "rapid reality fade" efflorescences.

 

Yes, I know that's the only effect you're aware of. That's the only effect you WANT to be aware of. I think there will be effects you are not yet aware of.

 

Hope they're good, bro. I'm with you on that. I sure hope they're good.

 

Here is an essay called 5 Reasons to Not See the Passion:

http://cacsi.com/ThePassionOfChrist5.htm#_ftn13


There are few who are standing against the film.


A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

You misunderstand the difference between portrayal of events and doctrinal teaching (i.e. content) in the film. What’s the harm? It is deadly and wicked if it leads poor, ignorant folks into the arms of Roman Catholicism where they will be deluded into a false security and go straight to a Devil’s Hell. If this movie is acceptable for Bible-believing Christians, then the Reformation was much ado about nothing. The poor martyrs, who died in the Inquisition at the stake, died for no reason. Then, it doesn’t matter what you believe. I beg to differ. This movie is diabolical stratagem to mislead poor, ignorant, undiscerning people to their own destruction. Yes sir, there’s much harm here!

 

Exactly Brian!

My daughter saw the movie last night. She has been saved for 25 years and she cannot stop talking about the attributes of this movie.

It made her rethink her whole life! I think we will see people coming to the Lord through this film, but I also think we will see Christians rededicating their lives and making a deeper commitment to God.

She gave it

§ue

 

Dear Vaspers,
I don't understand how you are portraying your church. In my church, there will be some that go to the movie and some that don't. NNE is going to try to make anyone else recant. Why, honestly, would your church leaders care as much as you describe about your opinion of a movie?

Karen

 

Errors?
So have you watched it to see what errors really exists? What are you basing that on? How about a list of actually errors(and why you think they are errors) you have spotted in the film.
Not quoting someone else, but your own personal opinion of what you have seen.

 

Just read about this great article on World Magazine's Blog...

Five Reasons Not to Go See The Passion of Christ
http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?567

 

From what I can see from that article, he has no real legitamate complaints. No movie is exact, (prehaps the Gospal of John movie), no other movies claim to be, neither does this one. It is called art. Just like any art its from the eye of the artist. Where in the movie is RCC doctrines taught? In words. Where does it say Mary suffered for our sins? I mean actually say it.
Apparently the author thinks we're all dumb and have no idea what we believe and why, so therefore we are easily swayed to false religions.
PPPlease!!