THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.. (It's here!!).. Live thread!

Your Right Wing Chef ^ | Feb 23 2004 | Carlo3b

[carlo3b]

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.. (A HIT OR A MISS?).. Live thread!

Contrary to popular media pronouncements, the first of the commercial showing of this long awaited, landmark, and controversial film has already debuted and the misconceptions that the fate of this endeavor hangs in the balance.. That is HOGWASH.. The Passion of the Christ is on the brink of a record breaking opening, in spite of the limited available screens, and the all out, and outragous efforts on the part of the National Media's near unanimous rejection, and the Hollywood establishment roadblocks to stymie this motion picture and it's brilliant and courageous director/producer..

I just receive a call from friends that attended a church sponsored midday showing of the movie with more than 850 of their fellow flock. The collective response was "it was sobering and breathtaking, and they existed with a profound feeling of moral inadequacy".

I toyed with the idea of accepting an invitation to book a private showing at a local theater for this weekend, however after calling a few local churches to help fill the seats I discovered that all (I call 12) of the parishes and neighborhood churches had already secured their own private dates with sellout crowds.. Every one of them had sold the seats within a day of their announcements... I just may book a threater in three weeks for all of my friends and family, that wish to watch it again, and again..

Your comments...

[formerDem]

Watching all the news stories on The Passion Of The Christ over these few weeks, it seemed to me that the newspeople and others who are putting a negative light on the movie whenever and however they can are choosing sides. It brought to mind something by C.S. Lewis I read a few years ago:

“When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else—something it never entered your head to conceive—comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side.”

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity bk 2, ch. 5

[uncbob]

Well I doubt I will go see it but I think I will email all the major movie TV networks and tell them to never show the TEN COMMANDMENTS with Charlton Heston since it only serves to make the Jews ANTI EGYPTIAN

[reagan_fanatic]

we all believe the same thing -- The Lord Jesus Christ died up on the cross so that we may have life everlasting.

Well put. Setting an example before the secular world as Christians should be our primary focus. Showing the non-believer the love and promise of forgiveness and everlasting life that Jesus offers ALL of us should be what we all strive for.

[jwalsh07]

WE both hope for the same thing.

My son in law is an Episcopalian and a former Marine.

I am a Roman Catholic and former Army.

We have discussed religion but it never gets heated, now put the former Marine and the former soldier on the raquetball court and you'll see all the heat you want. :-}

[BobS]

It's not an intra-Christian fight. It's fine that you are Jewish. I am a Catholic who is slightly non-observant as I am sure you find it impossible to follow the 613 Laws of your faith.

I can fly into NY for a date with you to see this film and it won't offend us. It creates personal introspection.

Look closely. The atheists; non-observant people are having their reason for existance challenged up front and personal. It's a good fight to have:) Secular Humanism is challenged, finally.

I will go to your Temple if you go with me to a Church! I have been to many different places of worhip. Everyone is welcome in a holy place.

[HiTech RedNeck]

They realize they are all part of "the body of Christ"

Well, that ideally they all claim Jesus Christ as sole Lord and Savior. The "body" doctrine -- all other doctrine -- follows.

[kenth]

My wife is Catholic. I am planning on converting (brought up Methodist, but drifted away from Him for too long.) We lived in SW North Carolina a few years back, and had a small statue of St. Francis in our yard. We held a garage sale one day and almost without exception, everyone who came by made snide or denigrating comments about us worshiping idols or Mary/The Pope instead of Jesus. Some stopped by just to do that. The garage sale must have finally given them the opening and nerve to do so. I have a cousin whose entire devotion to spreading her faith is fueled by her animosity toward Catholics. Oh well.

The theater here isn't going to presell tickets, just put them on sale an hour before each showing. I hope I get there early enough on Wed. to get our tickets for the first showing. I don't think I could possibly eat anything during the movie. I'll probably grab a soda, but from just the scenes we saw last night, and knowing He went through the real thing and worse for me had me broken up.

[gswilder]

Not sure of the math on the presales figures. Is it 8 million tickets sold, or $8 million worth of tickets sold. 8 million tickets seem like a lot.

[giotto]

But I'll buy some concessions anyway, even if I don't eat them so the movie theater gets some more profit from showing this film.

Good point. And that gives me a good excuse to buy some Dots to eat later.

[Zack Nguyen]

...and they existed with a profound feeling of moral inadequacy".

Is that good?

Indeed it is, because we are all sinners, and must all repent before God. Christ came to pay the penalty for that sin, so that we would not have to.

[formerDem]

Thanks for a thought-provoking post.

[mylife]

And that gives me a good excuse to buy some Dots to eat later.

This is bad...But will there be any jewjewbees?

[pepperdog]

That is wonderful! Maybe Christian pastors going on retreats together will become the thing to do!

[Taliesan]

I'm a Protestant and I will gladly contribute to Mel's private church.

[InvisibleChurch]

i learned tonight from my pastor that Mel has already made back his original $25,000,000 from ticket sales.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the ping, Carlo. I'm going to see it on Wednesday.

[hoosiermama]

Yes, it is wonderful.....When I was nineteen (years ago) I decided I would "join " no organized church, but would attend and give when/where needed....That churches were man made and often divided what God was trying to establish and in doing so that took away from the actual worship and following of faith......

This Sunday I heard my preacher expounding some of the thoughts I've had for years.....and it truly seems that the churches in our town are going to "revive" not die. Other preachers in town gave similar sermons. Praise God! March 5th in the national day of prayer....Shall we all pray for the common good of all people of faith.

[LisaMalia]

We held a garage sale one day and almost without exception, everyone who came by made snide or denigrating comments about us worshiping idols or Mary/The Pope instead of Jesus. Some stopped by just to do that. The garage sale must have finally given them the opening and nerve to do so. I have a cousin whose entire devotion to spreading her faith is fueled by her animosity toward Catholics. Oh well.

I'm sorry for your experience. This movie should be embraced by all faiths that believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and died for OUR sins. This film should not divide us, but unite us all.

[Theophilus]

...everyone who came by made snide or denigrating comments about us worshiping idols...

Well, when they prechance meet St. Francis, Mary, a Pope or two and, I hope, YOU in heaven someday. Won't they be surprised. Even if any of us are doctrinally correct, our hearts almost certainly don't agree with our heads. They should have said: "May God grant you and me a measure of the blessings and sanctification he bestowed up St. Francis, Good Morning Brother!"

[prairiebreeze]

Yes, relentless describes it. I recall wanting to yell "Stop it!". It began to dawn on me though, that the scourging was in a way, somehow proportional to the sacrifice. Not fully of course, but symbolically, at least as much as humans can understand the enormity of His sacrifice. If that makes sense....

Anyway, it made it a little more bearable. A little.

I found writing about the experience in the following days was helpful....

Prairie