A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-25-04....Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ"

dansangel

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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Today is Ash Wednesday. For millions of Christians throughout the world, today is the beginning of forty days of sacrifice, reflection and the anticipation of Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Also today, opening in thousands of theaters across the U.S. is "The Passion of the Christ," directed by Mel Gibson and starring James Caviezel. Before even being offered to the general public, this movie has already stirred up a torrent of controversy.

The Christian faith is based on the fact that Jesus Christ, Son of God, walked among us some 2000 years ago. He made the ultimate sacrifice by being beaten, crucified and dying on the cross so that we may be forgiven. The movie deals with the last 12 hours that Jesus spent on earth among those who loved Him.

Much of the controversy that surrounds this film centers on the violence and brutality depicted that Christ endured during His last hours. Some critics have charged that such graphic carnage is unnecessary. Mel Gibson feels his movie version is a more accurate protrayal what Christ suffered than the myriad of films supported by Hollywood that have whitewashed the pain and terror.

Simon of Cyrene assisting Christ with the cross

The balance of the controversy lies in charges made that the film and Gibson are anti-Semitic. It is truly a shame that a movie whose focus was meant to be on our Savior and what He did for all of us must instead be upstaged by the back-biting and histrionics of headline-grabbing mere mortals. Gibson stands firmly by his stance that the movie is grounded in history, not finger-pointing, and that the bottom line is that we *all* share culpability in Christ's death, not just a select group.

James Caviezel

If you are still unsure as to whether or not it's worth your while to see this film, please take a moment to read this powerful review by Robert Moynihan from "Inside the Vatican":

The Power and the Glory of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ"

Mel Gibson

By the time this thread goes to press on the Finest, .45MAN and I will have seen "The Passion of the Christ" with members of our church the previous night. We are hoping that others who have seen it firsthand will share their thoughts, reactions and feelings about what promises to be the most important film about the most important Man to ever live and die on this earth.

May God Bless us all here at the Finest.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-23-04 Military Monday 02-24-04 Let's Celebrate Mardi Gras

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[Cold Heat]

troubling and intolerant

That would be the norm in Europe, but not here I suspect.

your friend and others who think this way are just plain wrong and are exhibiting the same types of fears that are 2000 years old and hopefully dying.It would be sinful for any Christian to believe that todays or any generation of Jews are to be blamed collectively for the death of Jesus.

It just ain't true!

As far as the Jews of that day, some of the elders took Jesus as a threat to their power and wanted him eliminated as they would a bad Rabbi.

Certainly not all felt that way and it was a sign of the times, not a general feeling shared by all.

This is my opinion on it.

I do not think the movie will in any way change that. I think it will reinforce it.

[dansangel]

That message is what the REAL issue is for many nay-sayers IMO.

The question is "Why?"

I'm guessing it's because they don't believe and that is their way of side-stepping having to explain why. To me that's the easy (read "coward's) way out.

[dansangel]

Wow ((((DD))))

What a powerful poem - and it so describes very closely what is depicted in the movie - when some of the Roman soldiers come to the realization that they did something very, very wrong.

Thank you for posting it here.

[dansangel]

If the critics of this firm figure out whey it bothers them, they will discover the grace within their own heart.

Spoken like a true sage, Freezie. The problem is, I think they are afraid of what's there.

[dansangel]

I'm not a conundrum! Take that back or else.....

Would you rather be a curmudgeon?

:-)

[Diver Dave]

This kid generally doesn't make to the theaters - relying instead on DVD releases, but with The Passion of the Christ I will be changing my ways.

I will no doubt be an emotional mess after viewing the movie - I break out in tears listening to songs like the following...

It Is Finished by Bill Gaither

[dansangel]

A man in our area bought out an entire 20 screen theater (4500 seats) and gave away the tickets which were snatched up almost overnight.

I am seriously impressed (((((Donaeus)))))

'Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the Holy Spirit.

We are ALL of us sinners and ALL of us responsible for what is depicted as the Passion of Christ.

[dansangel]

This kid generally doesn't make to the theaters

We haven't stepped foot in a theater since the 2000 election when Bloated Baldwin, et al decided they were political pundits. We won't even rent a movie.

The Passion, however, made us break our boycott. We may even have to break down and buy a DVD player so that we can own a copy of this powerful movie.

Thank you for the link ((((((DD)))))))

[Cold Heat]

The problem is, I think they are afraid of what's there.

Well put....

My wife put this into perspective for me, when she stated that "Jesus did not teach a religion, but taught a way of life."

We in the Christian faith are so fortunate to have the New Testament.

Other religions including Islam, depend on their religious teachers to decipher the doctrine and say what the correct way of life is. Hence the fear of losing that power over people.

We have Jesus. We do not have a power sharing problem as they do.

That is why they take this so personal IMHO.

[dansangel]

Maybe they're complainng because only one man dies in Mel's film, rather many score being butchered by a glamorous babe in tights.

You've got that right brothah ((((((jwfiv)))))). That is exactly one of the reasons we gave up on Hollyweird these past 3 and a half years.

Be prepared to be changed - for the better - when you see the movie.

[dansangel]

Caviezel has blue eyes. As Jesus, he must have been wearing colored contact lenses because his eyes are brown. His hair was very dark, too, as were *all* of the apostles, along with dark beards, etc. I think in total, the effects were fairly close.

A critic put the film down because the hair-dos were not correct for the time period. If that's the worst he/she could do, what a joke.

[dansangel]

My heart goes out to you (((((((Aqua)))))))))

Please be careful traveling to the viewing and funeral. There is supposed to be some bad weather coming up your way.

Thank you for the kind words.

[dansangel]

We in the Christian faith are so fortunate to have the New Testament.

Amen. Isn't it *amazing* how many journalists have become New Testament scholars in recent days? I'm just so overwhelmed! < /sarcasm>

We have Jesus. We do not have a power sharing problem as they do.

That's right. Jesus was never about power. He taught humility of lifestyle but greatness in faith.

[dansangel]

((((((Mama_Bear)))))))

[sigh] - somehow I think I missed replying to you. Please forgive me - I'm a bit under the weather and after going to noontime Ash Wednesday services, I am home for the day.

Thank you for the comment on the pledge graphic. It was a pleasure to find the graphics and make that one.

[Cold Heat]

That's right. Jesus was never about power. He taught humility of lifestyle but greatness in faith.

It is what enables me to be what I am. I do not need a Mullah to tell me how to decipher life and how to live it in a Christian way.

The others do and that is why they fear this loss of power if people were to accept Jesus as a Saviour.

It just seems so simple to me.

Although, I certainly could be wrong, I am not schooled in Judaism or Islam. This view is one that jumps out at me from a gut level.

[prairiebreeze]

The question is "Why?"

Fear, I'm beginning to think. Fear of glimpsing something larger than themselves, something that they worry they can't control. Fear of being jolted out of complacency or apathy. Fear of being held accountable by God. Fear that there actually might be a Day of Reckoning, and not wanting to confront that.

??

Prairie

[dansangel]

God's Chosen, with whom He holds the Old Covenant, have a special place in all Christian hearts.

I initially missed this post and want to bring it up because that is so true.

We (Christians) would not be here if it were not for the Jews. They remain the chosen race and we must respect that before we can be true to our own faith.

Too bad some of the Jewish critics have perpetrated negativity moreso on themselves than on the movie. I believe it has made even more people want to support the movie and make it the screaming success that it will be.

[dansangel]

I think that you are on track as far as Islam goes, though I am not a scholar either. The fact that they are coercing people to become homicide bombers by promising them "72 Virgins" in an attempt to wipe out as many Christians, Jews and other non-Islamic believers as possible seems to support that.

[dansangel]

I agree with every one of those answers. Fear is a powerful motivator when there is no faith.

The silent majority is mobilizing and the whiny, abusive, pushy God-less minority is starting to panic.

[Cold Heat]

When I look at the Jewish system, I see the same set up, but certainly not the same mentality.(a delicate subject, I must tread lightly)

So much emphasis is place on the Rabbi(teacher) and that fact, in my view creates a simple desire to maintain that emphasis.

Acceptance of the New Testament would/could reduce that emphasis and result in a loss of power.

This is only a political aspect. Not a religious one. Political power is held on to with a vengeance. It is not the fault of the man, but of the system.IMO