The power of 'The Passion': Joseph Farah reveals how film is changing people's lives

Whether she considers Gibson to be Catholic or not is irrelevant. This movie is for ALL CHRISTIANS, not just Catholics.

I agree with you 100%.

That is why I am perplexed at her comments, basically "dismissing" him as though he weren't portraying a legitimate message?

She told me personally a few weeks ago, that the movie "did nothing" for her, disputed Mary wiping up the blood after the scouraging, and thought it far too violent and unrealistic.

Fine, to each their own about the "details." The message behind the movie speaks loud and clear, to ALL Christians.

God Bless!

You said, "Fine, to each their own about the details." God is very serious about "details". He gave us His Word for a reason. It is not something to be toyed with, or added to. We are specifically warned about adding to, or subtracting from it. I draw your attention to Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6, and Revelation 22:18-19. What we fail to acknowledge is that God is a Holy God and does not take lightly ANYONE messing with what He has spoken. NOONE is allowed to say "whatever" when it comes to the Word of God. I could never, in good conscience, ever recommend this movie to anyone. Gibson has added to and taken away from the Word of God for his own purposes.

You said, "Fine, to each their own about the details." God is very serious about "details". He gave us His Word for a reason. It is not something to be toyed with, or added to. We are specifically warned about adding to, or subtracting from it.

I can't agree with you more. That is why I am very disturbed at the things going on at my parish, and have one foot out the door after this coming Easter.

I draw your attention to Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6, and Revelation 22:18-19. What we fail to acknowledge is that God is a Holy God and does not take lightly ANYONE messing with what He has spoken. NOONE is allowed to say "whatever" when it comes to the Word of God.

Thanks for the references and reminders. Read them, and it reiterates my point, and yours.

I could never, in good conscience, ever recommend this movie to anyone. Gibson has added to and taken away from the Word of God for his own purposes.

I take it you saw the movie. It's not for everyone, even Gibson said so.

Could you tell me where he "took away" (i.e. key elements) from The Word of God in the movie? It was about "The Passion" of Christ, not his entire life and teachings.

More over, "he" is not adding to The Word of God. I take it you are referring to The Gospel here?

Again, I am talking about a movie, and not someone's official proclaimation to rewrite the Gospels. That was never Mel's intention.

He added concepts in his movie that were made by other sources (visionaries) to tie the story in. The Gospels leave details out. It doesn't mean they didn't exist (i.e. the way Christ died, the battle with Satan, ect..). Nothing in the movie appears to be contrary to The Gospel's overall teachings.

Does that (portraying a story in a movie) make him an inherently evil person, and leave reason to totally denounce the movie with the fear of being influenced the wrong way? It's up to God to decide if Gibson erred grievously. Our faith is not shaken by things we "don't agree with" either, is it? No, of course not.

True, this movie was filmed for his own purposes as you stated. The evolution of this movie did not start out as a thought to make it a "money making blockbuster" or piece of evangelism. This started out as a personal project that came from his own heart, his own $30 million+, to put on film, nothing else.

The readings (and other sources) that he used in this movie aided him in his own spiritual journey to get closer to God, after going through a dark hell in his past. He has added elements from visionaries to tie in the story to his movie. It was never intended to be an official proclamation from God.

This movie, as the very least, is a work of art, and the most accurate made picture about The Passion to date. It is not perfect (nor does Gibson claim to be), just more accurate with respect to sources (Gospel of John) used than what has been released in the past. If this movie brings one person closer to God, or even makes one examine their personal relationship with God, then it was worth all of the blood, sweat, tears (and $) he put into it.

And with the box office success, my guess is that it has influenced at least one person positively :)

God bless, and have a great weekend.

Let me see if I can lay out the case. I do not recognize visionaries outside of the Word of God. They are unneedful. God did not choose to tell us what others believe happened. He told us what HE wanted us to know. That is one of the problems with this movie. Gibson adds all kinds of details that are not there, but are taken from sources God did not sanction. It doesn't matter whether they "could have" happened. The Word of God is sufficient in Itself. (Psalm 19:7-10) In the garden when Jesus says "I am (He)" (Gods own name for Himself) nothing happened! The power in that Name caused these men to fall backwards to the ground! (which is left out) This is theologically important since Christ used the name of God here for Himself.(Exodus 3:14) Hebrews 2:14 tells us that "through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death,that is,the devil" He didn't step on the head of Satan in the Garden. Neither did Satan come to torment Him in the Garden. And definately nowhere does it say that Mary agonized at the same time as Christ was in the Garden. She would not have known what that agony could be like. Also, Peter never calls Mary, Mother. And he certainly would not have thought he had sinned against her and needed to say he was unworthy to her touch. Mary could not see Satan nor does the Gospel ever say that Jesus was chained up anywhere and Mary supernaturally knew where He was and laid on the stones when she found the place. This is heresy to give a mere human these qualities only reserved for God. Plus many,many others.

It is my understanding that Mr. Gibson believes the Holy Spirit was moving him to make this and that he didn't dare NOT make the movie. At least that is what I have heard him say. (So, I guess you could say that he is saying God wanted him to proclaim something) Well then, Mr. Gibson has a real problem! The Holy Spirit would NEVER mix truth with lies. He doesn't allow people to embellish the truth. Jesus prayed in John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth. Thy Word is truth." Emmerich is not truth. The Bible was finished being written 1900 years ago. Mr. Gibson has said that this is the truth as he views it. Well, I suggest he go to the Word of God and let that satisfy him.

Also the Gospel is not presented. What you have is a man being tortured and put to death. God minored in the gospels on the physical suffering of Christ. Why should fallible man decide that what God decided was most important (the spiritual suffering) wasn't good enough to tell? Because it doesn't translate well into a movie!

Mr. Gibson took out the Gospel-that man is a despicable sinner, that there is nothing he can ever do to pay for his sins, that everyone (including Mary) needs a Savior, that God Himself came in human flesh to be the perfect sacrifice and atone for our sins, that if one repents and turns to Christ, believes and trusts only in Him for salvation, that one shall be saved. The Gospel doesn't show up. Instead, you have the rantings of a Middle Ages mystic given the same authority as the Word of God. God told us what He wanted us to know. The Passion of Christ was the shame and degradation and separation from His Father as Christ took the sins of the world on that tree. This movie completely misses that point!(Truly, what good is it?) There is also a big theological difference between, "It is accomplished" and "It is finished!" There is nothing left for anyone to do. Christ finished it on the cross. Mr. Gibson does not believe that, as the Catholic Church does not. (I was raised a Catholic) The Catholic Church, along with Mr. Gibson, says anyone that says "By grace alone, through faith alone, on His Word alone, because of Christ alone" is accursed! (Anethema) That is what the whole mass is about. Sacrificing Christ once again! It wasn't good enough. He actually has the audacity to tell God it isn't finished! Doesn't matter that God said it is.

And I would disagree with your estimation that this is the most accurate portrayal of the passion yet made. Have you seen the Jesus film? How about the Book of Matthew by The Visual Bible. The Book of Matthew is Word for Word. Mr. Gibson can't claim that. And yet, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ." Romans 10:17

And please don't accuse me of Catholic bashing because I adhere to the Word of God and not man (no matter what his rank in the church is). Always in Jesus,