|
Home
Email
About Us
Services
Articles
Bulletin
From God's Word
Area Events
Announcements
Calendar
Prayer Requests
Plan of Salvation
Audio Sermon Library
Photographs
|
THE
PASSION OF THE CHRIST
By
Doug Post
February
29, 2004
I
have been reading, listening, and watching for as much information on
this film as I possibly can. One report from a screening stated that a
professing atheist said that “he
needed to go buy himself a Bible.” This
film, while it is a production of a fallible man, is already having a
phenomenal impact across the board. However, think about the
opportunities! We
can use it as a springboard for biblical investigation as to the
meaning and purpose of the crucifixion. We are called to redeem the time. We
often use the inaccuracies presented at Christmas as a springboard to
discuss the events and purpose of the incarnation. Take
every advantage given to us!
This film was largely outside of the typical
"Hollywood" scene. No one in H-Wood wanted to touch it. I
have heard many reviews from non-Catholic (more evangelical in scope)
who speak to its accuracy.
Mel Gibson, himself, acknowledges some stylizing to make it
palatable, such as adding symphonic music in the background. Also,
it’s not gratuitously violent but is trying to realistically portray
what took place. We
are so removed in time from those events that many do not grasp the
significance of the Lord's suffering.
I learned that the film is not in Latin because of Mel's
religion. It is in Aramaic and Latin because those were the languages
being spoken at the time (Aramaic = Jews; Latin = Romans). It was for
artistic realism... and subtitles were added. Considering it is
focusing on only 12 hours of Jesus life, there is hardly room for
adding much of anyone's theology. In fact, the movie has been heavily
criticized for being so literal about what is described in the gospel
accounts. Take the time to
invite those outside of Christ to see the movie, then interest them in
the Book – THE
REAL THING!!
So,
most of us will see the movie, "The
Passion," to evaluate the presentation against the Biblical
record. That doesn't mean that I believe everyone should go see it or
that those who do not go see it are less interested in spiritual
matters. This is a neutral matter not involving judgment one way or
the other.
No one who is a sinner (that's everyone) could adequately portray
Christ's suffering in His trials, scourging and crucifixion.
Sometimes we can watch a movie or TV show and get carried away by the
action and the acting so that we are carried away for the moment with
the presentation. It appears
real to us, but when it is over, we know it was only a drama and
not the real thing - even if the events portrayed were true. Acting cannot replace the real thing, but more
so in this movie than any other. Some movies portray things
that could have happened to other humans like us and we can relate to
those themes. If I watch the actor who portrays Jesus being afflicted
on screen, I will know he is not really suffering as Christ did. The
only thing that will impress my emotions is transferring what I see,
that appears to be real, back to the actual historical events in the
life of Jesus.
All
of the hype about miracles, conversions, etc., might be expected to be
involved with a production like this. Proving those so-called
"miracles," well, we know that will not
happen. Most
people do not have a concept of what NT miracles truly were anyway.
One will notice from reading the Biblical accounts of
Christ’s sufferings that there is no attempt by the gospel writers
to simply play to the emotions of their audiences, as film makers do
so often with sensationalizing events with their added fiction. If
there is not some of that in this film I will be greatly surprised. More
detail is given in the gospels about the infliction of pain and
humiliation before the scourging and crucifixion than in those two
events themselves. Perhaps that is because the details of a
scourging and crucifixion were better known to first century audiences
than those of us in the 21st century. Basically, our hearers depend
upon preachers and teachers providing the details involved in those
events.
But who among us has not been stirred emotionally (sometimes to tears)
by hearing or reading a commentary that graphically described these
terrible punishments that were put upon the Lord? However,
the graphic descriptions of scourging and crucifixion simply provide
accurate details of what those events were like – they do not
sensationalize actions and dialogue that the Scriptures never mention.
I do not believe it is wrong that our emotions are deeply moved
by hearing or seeing these events that describe in more detail the
terms of scourging and crucifixion. The
question is – what are we deeply moved to do by the movie
that the Scriptures could not/will not move us to do? It
is, of course, a fatal error to take (or mistake) the feelings one has
as a result of seeing the movie and to use those feelings as evidence
of a conversion in receiving Jesus by faith alone, or as God directly
"speaking" to us to deepen our faith. On
the other hand, if the movie motivates one to turn to the Scripture to
investigate further what Jesus has done for us and seeking to know
what He would have us to do in response, for that we can be thankful.
If people are deeply moved to seek salvation or deeper commitment to
living for the Lord through the teaching of Scripture--great!
It is tragic indeed, however, that
many will view Gibson’s film and weep, not realizing that they still
retain a guilt for Jesus’ death – by
virtue of the fact that they have not correctly accessed his plan for
forgiveness (Jn. 8:24; Mk. 16:16; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38;
22:16). And some, who have fallen away from the faith, will
refuse to acknowledge that they are crucifying the Son of God afresh (Heb.
6:6).
There are
so many ways the world, especially the USA, is having everything
Biblical taken away from them, that we ought to rejoice when they are exposed
to teaching that relates directly to the Bible. My desire
is that this film does that and that those who see it will once again
consider the necessity of continually following the Christ who died
for them! But I expect less.
Why? It’s one thing to see the movie, but it’s another to be grounded
in the very word Christ gave! Sadly,
most moviegoers will continue to ignore His word!
|
|
Why
Sing To God?
Is
singing merely a combination of voice, words, and musical notation? Is
it merely a routine we go through when we gather with God's people? Is
it something we do only if we have a beautiful voice or if we like to
sing? Is it something we do just because we are commanded? Harry Secombe
said, "A hymn is a statement
of faith set to music and when the
words and tune get together, there is no finer sound in the world."
The apostle Paul spoke of "singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). A
song is the melodious poetry of a heart in love with God. It is an
out-flowing of our innermost being. It is our love, adoration, and
gratitude for God knit together in harmonic expression. It is the
natural expression of a life filled with the joy of the Lord: "Is
anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms" (James 5:13). One could
no more contain such emotion than one could cause Connecticut River to
reverse its course. The
psalmist knew this spontaneous eruption of heart:
“Make
a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It
is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the
sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into
His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the
LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all
generations” (Psalms 100:1-5).
David did not sing because of a law of God which said, "Thou
shalt sing." He sang because of an awe of God which said,
"Thank you for giving us
a reason to sing!"
|