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.