Posted on 12/04/2006 7:52:47 PM PST by Pyro7480
'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children
By John-Henry Westen
NEW YORK, December 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A review of New Line Cinema's The Nativity story by Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the United States, points out that the film, which opened December 1, misinterprets scripture from a Catholic perspective.
While Fr. Geiger admits that he found the film is "in general, to be a pious and reverential presentation of the Christmas mystery." He adds however, that "not only does the movie get the Virgin Birth wrong, it thoroughly Protestantizes its portrayal of Our Lady."
In Isaiah 7:14 the Bible predicts the coming of the Messiah saying: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel." Fr. Geiger, in an video blog post, explains that the Catholic Church has taught for over 2000 years that the referenced Scripture showed that Mary would not only conceive the child miraculously, but would give birth to the child miraculously - keeping her physical virginity intact during the birth.
The film, he suggests, in portraying a natural, painful birth of Christ, thus denies the truth of the virginal and miraculous birth of Christ, which, he notes, the Fathers of the Church compared to light passing through glass without breaking it. Fr. Geiger quoted the fourth century St. Augustine on the matter saying. "That same power which brought the body of the young man through closed doors, brought the body of the infant forth from the inviolate womb of the mother."
Fr. Geiger contrasts The Nativity Story with The Passion of the Christ, noting that with the latter, Catholics and Protestants could agree to support it. He suggests, however, that the latter is "a virtual coup against Catholic Mariology".
The characterization of Mary further debases her as Fr. Geiger relates in his review. "Mary in The Nativity lacks depth and stature, and becomes the subject of a treatment on teenage psychology."
Beyond the non-miraculous birth, the biggest let-down for Catholics comes from Director Catherine Hardwicke's own words. Hardwicke explains her rationale in an interview: "We wanted her [Mary] to feel accessible to a young teenager, so she wouldn't seem so far away from their life that it had no meaning for them. I wanted them to see Mary as a girl, as a teenager at first, not perfectly pious from the very first moment. So you see Mary going through stuff with her parents where they say, 'You're going to marry this guy, and these are the rules you have to follow.' Her father is telling her that she's not to have sex with Joseph for a year-and Joseph is standing right there."
Comments Fr. Geiger, "it is rather disconcerting to see Our Blessed Mother portrayed with 'attitude;' asserting herself in a rather anachronistic rebellion against an arranged marriage, choosing her words carefully with her parents, and posing meaningful silences toward those who do not understand her."
Fr. Geiger adds that the film also contains "an overly graphic scene of St. Elizabeth giving birth," which is "just not suitable, in my opinion, for young children to view."
Despite its flaws Fr. Geiger, after viewing the film, also has some good things to say about it. "Today, one must commend any sincere attempt to put Christ back into Christmas, and this film is certainly one of them," he says. "The Nativity Story in no way compares to the masterpiece which is The Passion of the Christ, but it is at least sincere, untainted by cynicism, and a worthy effort by Hollywood to end the prejudice against Christianity in the public square."
And, in addition to a good portrait of St. Joseph, the film offers "at least one cinematic and spiritual triumph" in portraying the Visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth. "Although the Magnificat is relegated to a kind of epilogue at the movie's end, the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is otherwise faithful to the scriptures and quite poignant. In a separate scene, the two women experience the concurrent movement of their children in utero and share deeply in each other's joy. I can't think of another piece of celluloid that illustrates the dignity of the unborn child better than this."
See Fr. Geiger's full review here:
http://airmaria.com/
Impe certainly does know Scripture. I would not place him in the same category as Hinn or Copeland. Impe claims no "revelation knowledge." He just steps outside of the boundaries of what He should do and if you were to press him on it he might even agree he steps a little too closely to the line. Where he errs is not on essentials though. Naming the Antichrist, while not wise, is not a salvation issue.
Not everyone who cries Lord, Lord is of the fold.
A billion lost cries I guess.
Narrow is the way.
The point is Impe, Hinn and Copeland all share your sola scriptural, listen to the Holy Spirit, right teaching view.
Are they, and you, and we, all alone with our multiplicity of contradicting certainties?
I do not believe Hinn and Copeland are listening to the same Spirit.
They believe they are.
And I don't recognize the Spirit as you do.
What now?
Well, what's it going to be? Are "none inherently good" or are some "blameless among us?"
I agree with Jonathan Edwards that the the most important doctrine of Christianity is "Justification by Christ's righteousness alone." Without a clear understanding that we are saved by Christ within us, God is mocked and Scripture is a clanging bell.
" The necessity of Christ's satisfaction to divine justice is, as it were, the center and hinge of all doctrines of pure revelation. Other doctrines are of little importance comparatively except as they have respect to this." -- JONATHAN EDWARDS
The doctrine of Justification is what separates Protestants from the churches at Rome and their Orthodox cousins. It was the exact reason and method for Christ's atonement; it was the center of Paul's ministry; it was the foundation for the Reformation; and it continues to be the dividing line between Scriptural truth and men's vanity. Either (some) men possess something inherently good within themselves, like Kosta says, or all men are fallen and none seeks God and the ONLY righteousness men possess is the righteousness and obedience of Christ within them, given as a gift by God's grace alone as ordained by Him from before the foundation of the world -- ("For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth" -- Romans 9:11)
"Our Lord Jesus Christ communicates His righteousness to us, and so by some wondrous ways in so far as pertains to the justice of God transfuses its power into us. That this was the Apostle's view is abundantly clear from another sentiment which he had expressed a little before: "As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19). To declare that we are deemed righteous, solely because the obedience of Christ is imputed to us as if it were our own, is just to place our righteousness in the obedience of Christ..."
Kosta, I hope you'll forgive my "proof-texting" but I have learned no greater proof than in the text of Scripture...
"Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness" -- Romans 4:4-5
"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." -- Romans 4:25
"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men." -- Romans 5:18
"... through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." -- Acts 13:38
"those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." -- Romans 8:30
"know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." -- Galatians 2:16
"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." -- Galatians 5:4
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." -- Romans 3:20-28
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." -- Heb. 10:12-18."But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." -- 2 Corinthians 5:21
Misunderstand the doctrine of justification and you've just about missed everything.
Search the Scriptures.
I wouldn't even give them credit for believing that they are listening to the same Spirit.
Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Ezekiel 13:6 (King James Version)
6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Deuteronomy 13
1If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
When the apostles sought to replaced Judas they cast lots for his replacement; they did not "vote" for his replacement. The fundamental difference is they left it in the Lord's hands knowing they were incapable of understanding who would be the best choice since they cannot see into the heart. It is unclear how people were selected 100 years later but in the very first beginnings of the church, they were not elected. Now if you want to follow tradition you need to get some dice. ;O)
I'm sure they would say the same about your teaching where it differs from theirs. And a lot who believe they are listening to the 'right' Holy Spirit believe them.
What now?
It's not rocket science. We read and we learn, comparing Scripture to Scripture, knowing each page is illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -- 2 Timothy 2:15
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." -- 2 John 1:9
They are responsible before God as am I as are you. If they refuse to apply sola scriptura to test which spirit they are hearing from, then they will die in their ignorance.
How are they responsible? What must they do?
Amen. And in reading about Christ's justification of us, I've found a world of understanding in that simple-sounding phrase. It seems to blossom and grow with everything I learn of it.
Does everyone who applies the "sola scriptura to test which spirit they are hearing from" believe the same Christianity that you do and remove their ignorance and gain salvation.
Is that how it works?
Whoseover believes in Him is not condemned. But He who believes not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
What does "believe in Him" mean exactly in this verse? What must one believe?
How do you know if you, or another are one who " believes in Him is not condemned"?
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