Gibson's passion film 'too Catholic'

Belfast Telegraph ^ | 19 March 2004 | Alf McCreary

[presidio9]

THE controversial Mel Gibson film 'The Passion of the Christ' has been dismissed by the Evangelical Protestant Society as a 'Catholic' interpretation of events which "does not present the Gospel".

Wallace Thompson, secretary of the Evangelical Protestant Society, said the film displayed "an un-Biblical fixation on Mary, the mother of Jesus. None of this should surprise us, for both Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel, who plays the part of Christ, are enthusiastic devotees of the traditional teachings of the Church of Rome."

He further claims that Mel Gibson "belongs to an ultra-conservative Catholic group which does not recognise the reforms of Vatican II, and celebrates Mass in Latin".

Mr Thompson says that "this malign influence of Rome ought to cause all evangelical Protestants to reject The Passion of the Christ" and refuse to be swayed by the subtleties of the alleged arguments in favour of it.

Sadly, however, it will be welcomed and praised by many who ought to know better."

Mr Thompson also says that the film is "extremely violent", and that "anyone who watches it will be shaken and possibly terrified by its graphic and bloody scenes."

[Havoc]

Argue with scripture, not me. The Israelites knew Ecclessiastes 9 for thousands of years before your false doctrines came into play. If your clergy had known the truth before inventing a lie, they might have crafted a better lie to decieve with. It isn't about whether God is God of the living or the dead. God set boundaries just as he did in Eden before there was such a thing as death. It doesn't make us any less alive to have boundaries put on us, like - oh, say, not blaspheming the holy spirit. Would you make God the God of the unspeaking because man is not allowed to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. See the way it works "God didn't say x. He knows that if you do x you will be like him knowing the difference ..." This is the tact you are taking to try and skirt scripture. And your daddy is the father of it.

[Havoc]

It isn't about prayer, is it. It's about attempting to violate Bounds that God laid down and that cannot be violated. He said the bodily, not spiritually, dead can have nothing to do with the affairs of the bodily living here on earth. The old testament is full of condemnations to death for anyone who would attempt to communicate with the dead. That includes speaking to them if you don't understand what communicate means. And last time I checked, asking favors from or praying to people who are bodily dead requires you to speak. God was wise in His judgements and left no outs on this. That is why the Israelites knew better than to toy with God on it and the Bible records people being put to death for it. Saul among them.

[Havoc]

Standing for the truth does not endear one to the world. Christ was butchered and hung on a tree for it. And he told the Apostles to expect as much. The truth is a curse to the ears of the spiritually dead.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He further claims that Mel Gibson "belongs to an ultra-conservative Catholic group which does not recognise the reforms of Vatican II, and celebrates Mass in Latin".

In Latin! The Horror! Obviously he should be burned at the stake for that. / sarc

I was not planning on seeing this movie. I don't see movies very often any way and I do not like lots of gore. I have seen too much of it in real life and frankly I can do without the memories it brings up. But I do believe I will rent it once it is out on DVD.

If only so I can figure out what has so many people so upset. As long as there is nothing in it that contradicts the Bible, and there doesn't seem to be, I can't see what all the hoopla is about.

[iconoclast]

Standing for the truth does not endear one to the world. Christ was butchered and hung on a tree for it.

Thanks for the reply ... EXACTLY what one would have expected!

[TRY ONE]

"Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee (Luke 1:28 with 'Mary' gradually added by the Church)."

Note: Mary receives grace --- she does not dispense grace! Only God/Jesus can do that!

[Reddy]

"Wallace Thompson, secretary of the Evangelical Protestant Society, said the film displayed "an un-Biblical fixation on Mary, the mother of Jesus."

After seeing the movie, someone mentioned the same concern about Mary to me. I responded that her presence in most of the scenes gave a perspective as a parent watching a child suffer and reminded me of how much God must have grieved as He watched His only Son die. I believe that is what Mel was trying to relate with Mary's presence in the film. One of the most touching scenes for me was the flashback when she ran to Him as a child and said, "I'm here." speaking those words again during the torture.

[TRY ONE]

"Jesus referring to Moses, Abraham and Issac: "He is the God of the living, not of the dead." The saints in heaven are far more alive than you or I, brother."

We have the "Red Phone" --- We can contact God (Jesus) directly. Why pray to another spiritual being? Show me one example in Scripture where an Apostle or Prophet did so!

[nickcarraway]

and she is dead.

Apparently you don't believe in the Gospels. She is alive! See for yourself:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(John 3:15-16) [See also:1 Cor. 15:22; Rom 5:12-21, among others]

[k2blader]

Thank you for providing a specific link, especially since the original poster couldn't.

I'll have to pick one of those verses as an example and post a longer response later when I have more time.

In all honesty I think the nonessential matter of the existence of purgatory is not worth arguing over, but #28 did pique my interest.

[Havoc]

There is a difference between physical and spiritual life. Even the most ignorant in scripture knows this. You are mixing the two as if they are one in the same. That is deciet.

[nickcarraway]

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.(Revelations 5:8)

[nickcarraway]

How? I just said that believers have everlasting life. How is quoting the Bible deceitful?

[nickcarraway]

In Matthew 17, do Elijah and Moses not appear to Jesus, Peter, James, and John?