Five Reasons Not to Go See The Passion of Christ

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

[Fenris6]

Please tell us what your credentials are, and by what authority you have become the arbiter of truth for both the Catholic and Evangelical faiths?

I wasn't aware we needed to be vested with religious authority to criticize the church. And quite frankly, I'm a little sick of hearing screams of catholic bashing everytime someone questions the Church.

That being said, can someone pls explain to me why Catholics are having such a hard time getting the Bishops to correct the coverup of the molestation scandals? I'm ignorant here - is there some kind of nobilty/serf relationship I'm unaware of? Cause it looks like the flock is politely asking "fix this pls" and the bishops are shruging.

[Fledermaus]

I can't take too serious the arguments from someone that can't get the title correct. It's "The Passion Of THE Christ".

Nickpicky? Sure. But that should be a prerequisite of any critic - get the title correct at least.

[maryz]

The concept of God sanctioning of a particular institution (i.e., the Catholic Church of the Roman Bishop) means little, if anything, to most Protestants,

I'm not entirely sure how you meant this, but consider Robert Farrar Capon's (Anglican) comment on Communion (paraphrased except for quotes): God is indeed everywhere, but He instituted Communion; "it is the hat on the invisible man."

[Quix]

Gwarsh. Thanks tons for your kind words.

PRAISE THE LORD for His faithfulness and enablements.

[Quix]

I see your extremely biased, rigid, narrow, dated, lack of adequate comprehension of the Bible Codes remains intact.

Perhaps you have some comfort in your consistency.

[kittymyrib]

My, don't you sound boastful! Not at all like St. Paul who said he had nothing to boast about but the crucified Christ. Religious pride is toxic. It was the major reason the Pharisees hated Jesus so. It causes death and destruction in our world today. Beware.

[Aquinasfan]

The anti-Catholic rant of the century. Read it, weep and critique please

I skimmed the article, but the author missed the one line that is most "Catholic." In the movie, one of the charges brought against Jesus when he appears before the Sanhedrin is, "He said that unless we eat his body there will be no life in us!"

So the Jews are portrayed in the movie as understanding Jesus' words in John 6 literally, just as the Jews do in John 6.

John 6

8I am the bread of life.
49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.
50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves,
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."
59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

["Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:27)]

[JamesA]

I'll be willing to bet if you didn't like the movie you didn't like to book either.

[Diva]

I once attended a conference with some of the people who write for this publication, and as a Roman Catholic I was a little frightened by their anti-Catholicism. Now, they were never cruel to me (most of them did not know I was a Catholic) and the things I heard them say described a Catholic Church that does not exist or ever existed. They are anti-Catholic because of the Roman Catholic Church they think they understand.

On the other side, these same writers are somewhat anti-Evangelical and very anti- Protestant Pentecaostal as well. They believe, or at least some of them do, that there is a world-wide conspiracy involving the Catholic hierarchy and some Protestant leaders to create a one world religion. I was having a hard time understanding how the Catholic Church fits in as there are many gradations of this one world religion theory. I think, at least some of them believe that the Catholic Church will provide the "structure" for such a "one world religion," which, in a funny sort of way is understandable. They truly believe this conspiracy exists for several reasons first, because of the current dialogue between some Evangelical leaders and Roman Catholics and second, because of the penetration into Catholicism by the Protestant Pentecostal movement in the 1960s. There was, perhaps still is, quite a bit of shared beliefs and practices between Catholic Charismatics and Protestant Charismatics.

[BibChr]

Short answers?

1. Pentecost, around 30 AD.

2. Hebrew OT, Greek NT.

3. Acts 16:31, John 8:31, 32.

Any sect that flatly contradicts fundamental Biblical teachings is no church Christ founded.

Dan

[BibChr]

Gibson has said it's a very Marian film, and it surprises him how positively Protestants have reacted. I read his words.

My own point in that IS NOT that that a Christians should therefore not go to the film; Christians I respect have said that it just isn't really there.

My point (in this) is simply that it is a legitimate concern for Christians.

Dan

[P.O.E.]

Whaddya mean, "not the captain"?

[mware]

So the movie is going to be banned in France.

I guess the movie can't be that bad than.

[Diva]

That being said, can someone pls explain to me why Catholics are having such a hard time getting the Bishops to correct the coverup of the molestation scandals?

Oh, I think they aren't having a hard time anymore. It is unfortunate that the Vatican sent representative after representative to warn these bishops (Law in particular) for decades and they paid little if any attention. You know there were reports of this in the mainstream press before the Globe broke the "big story." I remember an expose being broadcast on 60 Minuets (at least I think it was 60 Minuets) at least 10 years ago detailing how some of these priests were being moved around and basically going after more children. I also remember that there were psychiatrists who told us these guys could be rehabilitated and in only a few weeks!!

[FITZ]

Good post. Mel Gibson would be the least of the evangelicals' problem.

[Iconoclast2]

Thanks for these links. After reading much of the book, I came away with the feeling that Mel Gibson had pulled his punches to avoid offending the Jews, and trimmed some of the miracles to avoid offending the nonbelievers, and could have made a much, much better movie if he'd followed Sister Emmerich's visions more closely. The book helps me understand many of the scenes in the film.

[TradicalRC]

Seeing as liberal versions of Christianity such as deism preceded fascism by centuries and came from the protestant denominations, your argument does not ring true.

[kstewskis]

Mel's movie, Mel's script... don't spill the popcorn.

I love this! I think I see a future good tagline, LOL!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Amen!

The Book is ALWAYS better then the movie. :)

BigMack

[nmh]

It's folks like you that bother me ... you really don't get it ... you dwell on the simple minded aspect of the crucifixion ... what gets the attention of closed minded people ... .

I repeat:

His death was horrible yet the focus is misplaced. The above phrase has it right. By far the physical was tolerable compared to the emotional pain.

I hope your shallow view matures to what Christ did for ALL and all that is asked for is belief in Him and doing our best to follow His teachings in the Bible.