Posted on 08/01/2006 5:27:25 PM PDT by carolgr
There is this scene in a movie you may have heard of. In it, a man stoops down and places his finger in the dirt to write. As he does, the dust from the ground explodes with the power of the words being drawn. We then see several defeated men toss their stones to the ground and walk away. There is no excuse for Mel Gibson’s actions this past weekend. But, where is the compassion to understand how this man got to the place in his battle with the ugly disease of alcoholism that a situation like this can occur? Where did we lose the knowledge that ALL men are not without sin, even those prideful and self declared “sinless” stone-throwers that have so quickly stepped out from the dark shadows to once again attack. As angry as they make me, their colors have been known and shown for years. And today, he asked to meet with Jewish leaders to find, “a path to healing.” Our faith is not testified to by living a perfect life. In spite of how Mel’s critics present themselves as they take careful aim and cock their arms, the last time I checked, Christ was the only perfect man to walk the earth. Our greatest witness can be how we react or respond when we fall and Mel has stood up, brushed himself off, repented, and asked for help. Our witness to others is also how we respond to those that did fall. Already, I am so disappointed with how Christians have turned their backs on Mel or at least, certainly not rushed to his aid. What happened? In my eyes, all of a sudden I see a lot of Peters claiming, “I do not know the man!”
(Excerpt) Read more at michaelwestfall.tripod.com ...
Thanks. Oh, and AMEN!
Amen.
It appears that Mel has been pulled over many times for speeding - something which everyone does every day.
But this time, they got him after he had three drinks.
I would be pissed off too. They know every car that every celebrity owns.
Pissed off or not, Mel reacted wrongly and now has to atone for those actions. I respect the man for his present attitude and seeking forgiveness from those he wronged. But, the fact he had never been pulled over before does not justify acting an ass.
This blogger cannot make this statement so soon after Gibson's statement today.
His statement Saturday was nothing, just a CYA.
50 year old men have to exhibit some repentance and ask for forgiveness. Nobody needed to "rush to his aid" until Gibson acted like a man and acknowledged what he did, who he hurt, and how he was going to make restitution.
He did that this morning, and is now, hopefully, on the way back.
He'll never get back until he says goodbye to his buddy, the bottle. Been there, done that. Remarkable how the number of apologies required are reduced exponentially.
"But, the fact he had never been pulled over before does not justify acting an ass.'
My point is that he HAS been pulled over before for speeding "and let go".
And the question is WHY? I and you and everyone else speed everyday and I have not been pulled over in over 15 years.
Or might it just have something to do with the vicious attacks heaped on Mel for making a faithful movie about Christ that bucked the system. Southern Cal is owned by the media and the fact that everyone including the cop is assuming that his career is "ruined" means that some sense this as "payback".
Christians already rushed to his aid during the Passion days. The anti-sematic stuff was floating then. Christians essentially squashed it.
He just confirmed what his supporters then were in denial about.
I'm not sure, I'm just starting my journey. Best leave that question for all the conservative christian Gibson bashers that have seemed to appear like maggots on a presumed dead carcass........
As an individual who is attempting to learn the teachings of our Lord, these Gibson threads have really been enlightening and depressing.
I wonder how many of these bashers may have been responsible for flipping me the bird on Sunday after Services because I was only doing the speed limit.......
Things have really changed around this neighborhood......
That's ridiculous.
Gibson was driving 30 mph over the speed limit and had an open bottle of tequila in his car.
In addition, Gibson admitted he did everything he's accused of!
If Mel Gibson starts sounding like the reincarnation of Josef Goebbels after three drinks, there is something seriously wrong with the man.
How many Christians rushed to the aid of Patrick Kennedy (or Teddy for that matter) when the bottle got the better of THEM? Why should anyone rush to the side of a man who is a liar, a hypocrite, and a bigot? And before you say that it's because none of us are without sin, then why is it that liberals who stumble and fall are fair game, but when a conservative slips, we huddle around him and coo like earth mothers over Bambi?
This Gibson affair has really brought out the dual-standard crowd.
The bottle in this case isn't the problem. The bottle is actually useful for us. It affords us a window into his soul, and what we saw, with his comments the other night, is what we believes. His beliefs -- not his drinking -- are what's abhorrent.
Agree with the sentiment - but agree with the other poster that many of us are just getting the full story today -- so not a lot of time to support or turn one's back.
Anyway - Mel screwed up, he has admitted it and asked forgiveness - yes he needs to lay off the booze but I believe he's sincere.
My 2 cents.
How do you feel about drunk driving?
Is that something that Christians should tolerate?
As Christians we forgive him with hug and at the same time a slap on the back of his head."WHAT were you THINKING!" It's his enemies that are going after him now.
I don't know, after 50 + years of being a passive bystander, I'm just now starting to learn what it means to be a Christian. Perhaps YOU can tell me what it means to be "One with Christ" and what does being a Christian mean to you? Then perhaps with your enlightenment I will have a better grasp on how to either forgive or condemn Mel Gibson.
Mel Gibson is 50 years old, and has had a problem with drinking in the past. There's also been some question about his attitudes toward Jews.
Given that those two volatile things came together on Friday, Mel's "apology" on Saturday was nothing. It was just a CYA to try to quiet the publicity.
In order to seek forgiveness, one must acknowledge what one has done, apologize to those who've been hurt, and make some sort of reparation to those who've been hurt.
He's done that, with the apology this morning, or at least said he's going to do it.
Mel should be forgiven, but he should be held to his promises. That's how adults are treated.
Well stated. Gibson was slow, but slow is better than stasis. Now is only we can Pat Buchanan to come to Jesus, as it were.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.