Five Reasons Not to Go See The Passion of Christ

The Banner of Truth: Biblical Christianity through Literature ^ | February 19, 2004 | Andrew J. Webb

[Diddle E. Squat]

Interesting perspective. Thanks for taking the time to explain it in more detail.

[avenir]

"I usually judge a movie by thinking, "If a bomb goes off at the end and kills everyone, would I care?"

Aside from The Passion (I haven't seen it), that is a interesting take on film criticism! I'd have to admit there are many movies where the bomb going off would be a relief to me.

[Jorge]

Jesus comes across as a completely disrespectful madman no different than homeless people I see downtown.

Incredible. Please give us an example that supports your claim.

[Quix]

I believe the above article to be

--quite overly narrow and rigid and that based on no significant issue central to The Gospel. God has used birds of strange feathers; donkeys; heathen kings and a list of other not so kosher things, people, stuff to work His will and even to declare His messages.

--The article strikes me as prissy and perhaps even haughty.

--I believe the many individuals who sense Holy Spirit has been at work in the making of this film and will be dramatically with this film in drawing people to Christ. CHRIST HIMSELF SAID--"IF I BE LIFTED UP, I WILL DRAW ALL MAN(KIND) UNTO ME." I can't think of a better way for Him to be lifted up for the masses in our era. The centrality of The Cross is evidently vividly portrayed in the film regardless of the Romanisms which crept in. The centrality of Christ's Love and Blood sacrifice for all of US who put Him on the cross is also reportedly quite evident. That's quite a lot for me.

--I'm happy to cheer it, see it and hopefully enable some others to see it. I'm certainly happy to pray for it and it's impact on The Kingdom.

BTW, for those interested . . . some new Bible Codes found on Mel Gibson's name can be read at post #88 in this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1086319/posts

[sharpink]

Your right of course. I have the feeling I may regret asking this but what is the Protestant beef with Catholics. I understand having a problem with the church of the middle ages but not the modern church.
No one was very nice in the middle ages.

[Jorge]

..for those interested . . . some new Bible Codes found on Mel Gibson's name can be read at post #88 in this thread

Right. Bible Code on Mel Gibson. They're really coming out of the woodwork now.

[Fester Chugabrew]

BUMP for later read. (A cursory reading of several parapraphs makes me wonder if this guy is still wearing theological diapers.)

It ain't denominations at stake here, dear people. Only one Church that exists solely by the Sacrifice so plainly displayed in this film.

[narses]

Exactly. Everyone was killing everyone, so to speak. God Bless you and yours and may His Grace abound in all of our lives.

[MEG33]

I will ask that this thread be moved to the religion forum if we get into Protestant /Catholic beliefs.

[rbmillerjr]

So many Christians whine and moan about the terrible movies that Hollywood produces.

Mel Gibson gives us a Christian movie that centers on Christ bearing the cross for us --- but it's just not quite good enough for some.

If you don't want to see it that is your decision, but please stop the everlasting whining about Hollywood and entertainment that is not worth watching.

[TaxRelief]

What a load of hogwash.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

What a strange place I find myself in. On one hand, I can't find a significant passage of this article I disagree with. It's written by someone with honest, legitimate, intelligent views. On the other hand, the title doesn't fit. It should have been titled "5 Things to Keep In Mind When Watching Passion." Strange.

[Sabertooth]

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To: Weirdad

Yes God forbid we should have Godless atheists turned in Catholics. Oh the horror!

7 posted on 02/27/2004 8:15:16 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (06/07/04 - 1000 days since 09/11/01)

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To: Straight Vermonter

Is the fire really better than the frying pan, then?

10 posted on 02/27/2004 8:18:12 PM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])

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What's your point, BC?

[narses]

"I will ask that this thread be moved to the religion forum if we get into Protestant /Catholic beliefs."

The Passion is one of the most significant events in the modern culture wars. Should this issue be relegated to the Religous Ghetto?

[Ronzo]

Speaking as a Catholic/Evangelical/Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian, let me be amongst the first to STRONGLY CONDEMN this article, and say that I find it incredibly insulting and very divisive. But most of all, it's very un-Christian. This article is just as bad, if not far worse then ANY of the liberal and anti-semitic trash that has been written about "The Passion."

The evangelicals DO NOT have have the market cornered on theological truth, FAR FROM IT; and I say that as being one of them for the past twenty years. Sadly, very few evangelicals agree with me on that point, even though I find it completely obvious. We evangelicals have enough garbage theology amongst our own ranks to fill a city dump. No need to go picking on someone else...

It is also completely obvious that this article is very anti-Catholic, and unfairly crticizes their practices and beliefs. I'm sick and tired of this sort of dribble being pushed by evangelicals, especially those who have set themselves up as the "popes" of truth.

Do us a favor, and when you see any articles like this in the future, leave it where you found it.

As for you Weirdad, YOU OWE US ALL an apology for even posting this sort of despicable crap. The Free Republic is not the place to post evangelical hit pieces on the Catholic Church. It is in especially bad taste since every single evangelical leader in the nation, from Billy Graham to Dr. Dobson, enthusiastically supports this film--and for very good reasons I might add, having seen the movie myself this past Wednesday.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Very fine post. Wish I'd done it myself.

[Jorge]

The script for The Passion of Christ not only adds things that didn't occur in the Bible, it cuts out other things that did. The most widely known example of this being the important declaration, "His blood be on us and on our children." (Matthew 27:25)

So what? We STILL have the BIBLE to refer to when we want to check out what the Bible actually says.

The Passion is a movie.
As long as it doesn't present an image of the Lord that is in opposition to what the Bible teaches, no harm is done.

Now one is saying it is a replacement for the Bible.

[rwfromkansas]

It has some sound theology at the argument, but I think that it goes too far in applying this to a movie.

I saw the movie. I liked the movie.

Mary was not exalted too much. The extrabiblical material was not too much and was all something that likely happened to Jesus. The spiritual warfare stuff was very good, and one good thing about traditionalist Catholics.

I think this article is too anti-Catholic, though it raises a good point or two at places. Ultimately though, it goes too far.

See the film.

[sharpink]

"I will ask that this thread be moved to the religion forum if we get into Protestant /Catholic beliefs."

I don't want to jam this fourm with something off topic. If anyone wants to answer my question in my Freep email I'd be grateful. I'm just curious about the topic.

[LiteKeeper]

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST - if this person stays home, it will make it that much easier for the rest of us to get in the theater!