The “Son of God” Movie Is NOT What We Think–Do You Know The Voice of Your Master

The Last Hiker ^ | 2/23/2014 | The Last Hiker

[Prospero]

Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth, which is still excellent, even if there are certain post-modernist structures in their attempt to harmonize the scriptures.

The addition of "Zerah" as a character, wholly unscriptural, was a problem.

Some of the scenes are astounding.

[daniel1212]

I have not seen this, but i find it hard that Hollywood would often make any movie without some sort of partial female nudity, even if not profaning God. Am i wrong on this one?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for sharing your insights, dear sister in Christ!

[redleghunter]

Yeah did not know about the Della Reese deal until you brought it up on another thread.

[redleghunter]

Ah no they cut out the Obama scene?

[Maudeen]

I saw the film yesterday and didn’t see any out of taste costuming but it has been hyped as the Jesus movie to see . . .

I’m not telling people not to go . .but I would not recommend it. A lot of omissions for example “I am the way and the truth and the life(leaving out the end of the verse No one comes to the Father except by me.”)

As I mentioned on other posts the trashy scenes of previews of coming attractions before the movie began was a travesty for young and old alike. . .about 30 minutes worth. Of course it is the theatre’s decision what they put on the screen.

I agree with other posters on this thread about the content.

The Jesus Film Project is coming out with an enhanced HD version http://jesusfilmhd.com/

[Maudeen]

Good post.

[metmom]

Thanks.

I actually will be seeing it next with some friends who want to go see it.

I figure that since there will probably be plenty of people who go to see it, I might as well know what I’m talking about if/when I discuss it with someone.

I can’t critique it with any credibility, if I haven’t seen it myself.

[redleghunter]

Thanks for the link to the Jesus film project. Did not know it is 35 years ago it first came out.

I saw the Bible mini series. I noticed what you did about cutting short important dialogues. In the parable of the Pharisee and Publican they cut out the last and very important verse reference justification. Thanks for the review.

[daniel1212]

Thanks.

[redleghunter]

If you want to preview it you can download (by episode for a small price) the pertinent portions of the mini series. However I am already disappointed to find out from another poster the temptation scene was cut. It was controversial in the mini series given the actor playing Satan was a dead ringer for the usurped in chief.

[NKP_Vet]

Thumbs down.

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/movies/25829003-421/son-of-god-the-good-shepherd-in-a-not-so-good-movie.html

[redleghunter]

Excellent post and thanks for the links. I DVR’d Jesus of Nazareth last year and keep it. I too was impressed with the miniseries and remember watching it as a kid with my family many moons ago. Indeed what a cast of actors. I think I remember Olivier as Nicodemus quoting Isaiah 53 in the movie at the moment of the crucifixion.

[Psalm 73]

"You know, Scripture is the inerrant, God breathed, Holy Spirit inspired word of God."

My points have been:
a) I didn't see anything in the movie that contradicted the word of God, nothing blasphemous.
b) Were some things left out - sure, there would have to be - it's not THE Bible, it's a movie.
c) It is up to Christians to know their Bible - we should not expect Hollywood (or a priest or pastor, for that matter) to tell us what it says.
d) Does God use flawed people to accomplish His will? Yes.
e) Is it possible that Roma Downey is a work in progress, despite some of the questionable characters she hangs out with? Yes.
f) Should Christians be ripping her and her motives apart instead of extending grace? No.
g) Can God use this movie to draw people to Him that would not otherwise give His Word a second thought? Yes.

[Elsie]

"She left the total scripture out of the film..."

Fine, then, you cast the first stone.

---

 

Acts 17:18-19
 18.  A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
 19.  Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

 

Acts 18:11
    So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

 

 

 

 

 

Romans 15:4
 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 

 

Romans 16:17
   I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:17
   For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

 

 

1 Corinthians 11:2
 2.  I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,  just as I passed them on to you.

 

 

Ephesians 4:14-15
 14.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
 15.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:15
   So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings  we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

 

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6
  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching  you received from us.

 

 

1 Timothy 1:3-4
 3.  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
 4.  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

 

 

1 Timothy 1:7
  They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

 

 

1 Timothy 2:7
   And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:1-2
 1.  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
 2.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:6
   If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:11
  Command and teach these things.

 

 

1 Timothy 6:3-5
 3.  If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
 4.  he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 
 5.  and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

 

 

2 Timothy 1:13
  What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 2 Timothy 2:15-17
 15.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
 16.  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
 17.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene.

 

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17
 16.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
 17.  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

 

 2 Timothy 4:3-4
  3.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
  4.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

 

 

Titus 1:11
   They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

 

 

Titus 2:1
  You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

 

 

Titus 2:15
  These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

 

 

 Hebrews 13:9
 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

 

 

 2 Peter 2:1-3
 1.  But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
 2.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
 3.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

 

 

2 John 1:10
  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.

[Elsie]

OUCH!

[Elsie]

I didn’t know that the man who helped Jesus carry his cross was black. He could have ben but I think this was clearly a PC move and a semantic statement.

Cyrene was in Northern Afica.

Not ALL 'africans' are BLACK.

[Psalm 73]

Just stop - you don't need to school ME on scripture.
Read all of the comments in the thread so you can get the gist of the point I'm making.
If you don't understand the need for Christians to extend a little grace and mercy instead of starting out in ATTACK mode, then I feel badly for you, Elsie.

[CynicalBear]

God used many unbelievers to get His people to focus back on Him. I see all these condemnations of an attempt to bring Jesus story to a larger audience through a medium that has been notorious for portrayal of wickedness. This couple used that medium to hopefully bring a better message, one they obviously feel passionate about. They invested millions of dollars in that production with, as far as I can tell, the prayer that others would come to know Jesus.

I’m wondering if rather than condemning the effort we shouldn’t applaud and support that effort and perhaps use it for dialogue with those who God is calling through this film. Christians condemn the film industry for producing the smut but then do the same with someone’s effort to use that industry for good.

God said He could even use the rocks to cry out if no one else would heed the call. I don’t see the Christian community investing millions to produce films telling the story of Jesus on a large scale like this. Are we so sure that God didn’t use this couple because the overall Christian community hasn’t answered the call and risen to the task?

I would suggest we look for opportunities to use this film for witness rather than condemnation.

[Psalm 73]

Thank you, Cynicalbear
I don't think it was intended as a movie to instruct mature Christians, but to draw the unchurched and help initiate conversations and inquiry.

I am so uncomfortable with the "pile on" mentality, and the unchurched on Freerepublic who read this can't be impressed by the behavior.