The “Passion”
See an additional "Passion of the Christ"
review from brother Mark after Dene's review below.
See the most comprehensive review of "Passion
of the Christ" by Guy Mitts, (webmaster, The Tribulation Network)
Dene McGriff
Everyone else is weighing in on the movie “The Passion of the Christ” so we might as well also. I saw it last night (opening day) and it left me cold. It was merely a Hollywood display of overkill. It is truly “gratuitous violence” when what could be covered in five minutes takes an hour or more. I’m not sure what was accomplished by it. I suppose if a person is seeking the Lord, it could touch them. Other than that, I agree one hundred percent with Tricia Tillin’s analysis which is found at www.banner.org.uk/news/Flash.html . I would encourage you to read it.
Does a person get saved by a greater understanding of Christ’s sufferings or are there other things involved?
Speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus says, “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8)
“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we shall do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” (Hebrews 6:1-6)
The question should not be necessarily “how” Christ died, but “why”. A “new birth” occurs when the Holy Spirit convinces and convicts a person of their sinful condition. It is only when we realize that our righteousness is as filthy rags; that we deserve death and have no merit – yet, while unlovely and sinners, Christ died for us! A person will not embrace the Savior until he realizes that he needs to be saved. Now this may sound like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. Without the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and heart felt repentance, it is impossible to be saved. Unless a person understands why Christ died on the cross and feels the weight of conviction, they will not embrace the Savior.
The movie, “The Passion”, reminded me of when we lived in La Paz, Bolivia. We went to an Easter parade and saw these elaborate floats – twelve of them showing the “passion of Christ” and the twelve “stations” of the cross, but they failed to show Him risen form the dead! They left Jesus in the grave! Now the movie didn’t do that but it did reflect the Roman Catholic fixation on the sufferings of Christ. Walk into any Catholic Church today and you will see depictions of Christ on the cross with the nail prints, the crown of thorns and the bleeding side. Walk into the Evangelical Church and you will see an empty cross.
Friends, there is a life and death difference between the Catholic and the Biblical view of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please see the chapter on the Catholic Church at ..\Apostasy\recognizing_deception_and_apostasy_chapter_4.htm
The movie followed the Catholic liturgy and concept. Yes, one could eek out the gospel if you carefully read the subtitles during the flashbacks but only if you were familiar with the texts and the gospel. It would be rather hard for the new person to decipher the meaning from subtitles while Aramaic and Latin are being shouted in the background. But the Catholic concept of salvation is you crucify the Lord over and over again as you partake in the mass – the church literally dispenses the salvation you need through “transubstantiation” (transforming the bread and wine into His flesh and blood). This is “laying the foundation of repentance” again and again and “they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame?” (Hebrews 6 cited above)
When Jesus was ministering, nothing upset Him more than the “merchandising in the temple.” And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers seated. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, ‘Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a house of merchandise’.” (John 2:14-16) Here is a movie that will probably approach making a billion dollars in worldwide sales, plus videos. Gibson may not have intended it, but “Christian merchandisers” are selling T-shirts and trinkets. Talk about merchandising the gospel!
Churches are buying blocks of tickets by the hundreds and touting the film as the greatest outreach the church has ever had. If that is the case, then shame on the church. If the members had a living relationship with Jesus Christ and one another, Hollywood productions would hardly be necessary! This is directly from Trish Tillin’s article noted above (www.banner.org.uk/news/Flash.html):
· I have no doubt that the movie will be one of the greatest evangelistic tools in modern day history. I think people will go to it and then flood into the churches seeking to know the deeper implications of this movie. - Ed Young Jr., Pastor, Dallas-Area Fellowship Church
· Without question, this is the finest work that has ever been done on this subject. -Pat Robertson
· No film in my lifetime has the potential of impacting more people with the world's greatest story than 'The Passion'. It could be Hollywood's finest achievement to date. -Tim LaHaye
· I believe The Passion of The Christ may well be one of the most powerful evangelistic tools of the last 100 years, because you have never seen the story of Jesus portrayed this vividly before. - Greg Laurie, Harvest Crusades
· I am praying that Mel Gibson's movie will have a powerful impact on our culture and that it will appeal to millions of movie lovers who are starving for a glimmer of honesty regarding the miraculous and life-changing story of the One who died for everyone, no matter their religious heritage, station in life, sexual preference or skin color. (From Falwell Confidential, Sept 24, 2003) -Dr. Jerry Falwell, The Liberty Channel
· The Passion will stun audiences and create an incredible appetite for people to know more about Jesus. I urge Christians to invite their spiritually seeking friends to see this movie with them. -Lee Strobel, Former Atheist & Author "The Case for Christ" & "The Case for Faith"
· This movie could have a profound spiritual effect on millions of people. -Paul Crouch, Jr., Trinity Broadcasting Network
· [The film] will probably be recognized as the best religious film ever made. -Thomas Dillon, President, Thomas Aquinas College
· It is my belief that if we could understand what Jesus Christ did for us and we could follow his example of love and forgiveness, there would not be hatred or violence in the world. This film will help to make that possible. ... I am confident that it will change for the better everyone who sees it, both Christians and non-Christians alike. It will bring people closer to God, and closer to one another. -Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, The Vatican, Worldwide Prefect of the Clergy
· The impact of this movie will be immeasurable. -Mark Mittelberg, Author, "Building a Contagious Christian"
· The Passion of Christ" will create massive repercussions in every genre of social experience. The stage is being set for historical harvest. The beginning of the breakthrough from modern contemporary methods of outreach has begun. Chad Taylor
Has this movie become more popular than Jesus Himself? It would appear so.
Billy Graham praised it. Mission America Coalition plans to use the movie for evangelism. Campus Crusade is promoting it. Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in southern California purchased 18,000 tickets. The Evangelical Free Church of Naperville, Illinois, purchased more than 1,000. Two members of Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, Illinois, have offered to buy out two screenings of the movie at a local theater. Morris Chapman, president of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention said, “I don't know of anything since the Billy Graham crusades that has had the potential of touching so many lives.” [David Cloud]
In a message issued from "Center for Reclaiming America", Dr. James Kennedy - a popular and highly-respected television preacher said this:
"The Passion of the Christ" is the most intense and moving film I have ever seen. I have no doubt that many lives will be changed as a result of seeing it.
I cannot recall a movie in my lifetime that has precipitated greater anticipation or created more of a stir than this film. Unlike some, I find listening to the discussions and debate surrounding it exciting, because I believe "The Passion of the Christ" has the potential to stir a mighty rebirth of spirituality that I pray will sweep over our nation and the world!
+ +Coming to a theatre near you: The Salvation Message.
I believe we've been given a special gift with this movie--a powerful resource that can be used to transform our fallen society and ultimately redirect a culture that has lost its moral compass. But it will only happen if the faith-filled believers of our nation embrace this film and make it their own. That is why I am urging everyone in our online family to promote this film and use it creatively as a dynamic outreach tool to evangelize our neighborhoods, communities, and our nation.
D. James
Kennedy, Ph.D., Founder
CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA”
I would encourage you to read the rest of her article. Hollywood is very good at stirring emotion, but stirred emotions do not necessarily bring us to God. The conviction of the Holy Spirit does – not to say that the Lord can’t use this movie, because He can. The danger lies in a cheap, false sense of salvation – the idea that God’s unconditional love has been poured out to people regardless of their response. Again, salvation comes from conviction of the Holy Spirit, repentance and belief and results in the human spirit being regenerated – made alive by God. This is not a matter of religion, believing in historical facts or even doctrines. It is not a matter of going to “church”. It is a matter of a change of heart, a rebirth and a new relationship with God.
The danger in this movie is in minimizing real differences between the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church – their concept of salvation versus the Biblical concept and in presenting an emotional experience as if it were the gospel. When apostate (fallen) Christian leaders such as those quoted above along with Paul and Jan Crouch of TBN and their following, tout “The Passion” as the beginning of God’s last final revival on the earth and Mel Gibson as the reluctant evangelist who has done more for the Christian cause than anyone in modern History (please see Don Franklin’s quote at the end of the Tillin article), then we had better watch out! We have reduced the greatest story ever told to a gory, never ending saga of suffering with little to no explanation as to why it was even necessary.
I would close with the thought that, contrary to popular opinion, the “end times” will not be characterized by a great revival but a falling away. Today’s market driven churches are getting behind this film as if it is God’s greatest move on the earth today. We should be very careful because the crowd rushing headlong down the broad path is usually headed the wrong way.
Dene McGriff,
Sacramento
February 26, 2004
We received an additional review from brother Mark
Dear Dene,
My wife and I went to see "The Passion of the Christ" yesterday. There is alot
to say, but a few things stick out most in my mind.
#1. THE ENTIRE SCENE, AS SEEN FROM HEAVEN: Secular movie theatres. Owners are
showing wicked movies throughout the year and getting wealthy from it. Now, on
both sides of the theatre where "The Passion" is
playing, other wicked movies continue to play. Prior to the show, movie
memorabilia / interesting facts flash on the screen. This includes a statement
informing the audience that Madonna appeared nude on film for the first time at
the age of 21. Advertisements of other secular movies, including alluring
images of half dressed women, appear on the screen. Then, to the audiences
delight, as they hunker down in their seats, and munch on their popcorn, the
feature presentation begins. They can now be entertained by the images of the
brutal, animalistic,
mocking, jeering, punching, spitting, scourging, trampling, and killing of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Then, in a few days, they will come back, and see another
flick. Again, they will get comfortable, munch on their popcorn, and enjoy the
entertainment!
#2. There were many unscriptural additions, and omissions to the actual account.
#3. There was definite drawing of "power" from Mary, and co-suffering of Mary.
The Catholic gospel, and deification of the Mary figure.
#4. Did you notice - it was obvious to me - Mary, at the cross, came to Jesus
and kissed his foot? Blood poured into her mouth, and dripped from her mouth,
and she seemed quite satisfied. Then, a scripture flashed on
the screen, I believe it was about Jesus being the "water of life". This is of
course, the Catholic mass, but it is also vampirism.
#5. The heaviness of the movie, the music, and the demon depictions, gives
clue as to the originating spirit of the movie.
This is literal mass exploitation and mockery of the sufferings of Christ. The
mockery and jeering toward Christ was emphasized. It seemed that the prevailing
evil spirits were getting their way, and were behind it all. The brutality, and
graphic, slow motion scourging of Christ, with Mary left to clean up the bloody
mess on her hands and knees, was the masterpiece of the film. By the way, again,
Mary, literally is in Christ's blood - (the mass).
Sure, God can, and will use this for his own purposes, and people will be saved.
But at the same time, massive changes and set-ups are in play. In a big way,
differences in doctrine are being put aside between Evangelicals and Catholics,
and they are becoming bond brothers in the faith, paving the way for the great
leader to arise, who all "Christians" will follow. The False Prophet - The Pope!
I won't be surprised if the evangelicals suggest to the Pope, that he make Mel a
"saint"!
Those are my immediate comments. There is a lot to think about, and many
profound implications coming from this movie. The days are rapidly
approaching!!!
Sincerely,
Your brother Mark.