Can you handle the Truth? ("The Passion of the Christ")

townhall.com ^ | 2/25/04 | Rebecca Hagelin

[kattracks]

If you only go to the movies to be entertained, don't go see "The Passion of the Christ."

But if you want to experience an artistic achievement beyond any scale you could imagine, you must see "The Passion of the Christ."

If you only go to the movies to forget about the important issues of life, to allow your mind to "veg" out, or to escape reality – definitely avoid "The Passion" at all costs.

But if you've ever wondered what life is truly about; if, in the darkness of the night you have ever been awakened with worry, or sadness, or emptiness; if you have ever wanted to know or understand truth, you must see "The Passion."

If you doubt Christianity because you have known "Christians" who fail, or who have distorted the message to their own advantage, "The Passion" will reveal for you the pure truth and message of Jesus.

This movie about the last hours of Jesus' life is for anyone brave enough to come face-to-face with the reality of their own sin, for anyone who is hurting from a pain they cannot describe, for anyone who is looking for meaning in life.

Last week I had the opportunity to view a screening of what I believe is the most powerful use of film in the history of the industry. I sat with some 5,000 other people in near complete silence as we became part of the arrest, "trial," beatings, and crucifixion of Jesus. We were not entertained. We did not laugh. We did not leave relaxed. When the film was over, 5,000 people filed out of an auditorium in virtual silence. Only a few low voices could be heard rumbling here and there among the crowd as some struggled to break the awkward quiet.

"The Passion" is powerful – it is reality. It is brutal and graphic because the beatings and crucifixion Jesus suffered were brutal and graphic.

In watching the scene where Jesus is flogged unmercifully, I found myself wanting it to end. "OK, I've seen enough of this," I thought, "let's move on to something else." But the flogging scene didn't end quickly – it continued on as if I had been there for all of the terror of the real event. It was then I realized that for Jesus, the horror and agony didn't end quickly – so why should it end quickly for me as a mere observer?

A few weeks ago, I had dinner with a Jewish friend of mine – a person of some influence – who had just viewed a private screening of the film. "I saw 'The Passion' last night," he said. "It's not about anti-Semitism as some are claiming – it's a movie about truth." I don't think he understood the power of what he had just proclaimed.

Does the movie evoke strong emotion? Yes – undeniably, it does. But so do lots of movies. What makes "The Passion" different is that it awakens your spirit and your soul – it forces you to face the Truth, to come face-to-face with the Christ and the sacrifice he made for all of us. It forces you to make a conscious decision about what you are going to do with that truth in your own heart and life: This is the essence of "The Passion."

If you decide to see this remarkable, amazing, powerful, dreadful movie of truth, be prepared to see yourself in the faces of those who crucified this perfect man, the Son of God.

But if the status quo of your everyday life is exactly where you want your mind to remain, if the only thing that matters is the here and now, if you want to take the easy way out – stay home.

The Good Book says that if you know the truth, the truth will set you free.

If you've never met Jesus, if you've never experienced who he is – "The Passion" will introduce him to you in a very personal way. It will then be up to you to decide whether or not you want to actually know him as the Truth.

Rebecca Hagelin is a vice president of The Heritage Foundation, a Townhall.com member group.

©2003 Rebecca Hagelin

Contact Rebecca Hagelin | Read Hagelin's biography

[luvbach1]

David Elliot, movie reviewer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, gave it 2 stars out of 5.

[kenth]

One of the disgusting things I read in reviews today was that there was no 'character development'. Another was that the reviewer went in not realizing that the religious aspect would be so strong and he was upset he wasn't entertained.

Unbelievable.

[anonymous_user]

Those who can, do.
Those who can't, teach.
Those who can't do either, become critics.

[lonevoice]

As the last desperate attempts from the left to keep people from seeing this movie grow more histrionic, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find these positive gems among the chaff. Thank you for finding this one.

[Arkinsaw]

I give it two scales out of two eyes.

[Terry Mross]

Love this review but I must nit pic here. Then again, maybe it's not nit picking. But anytime Jesus is referred to as "he", it should be a capitalized "He".

[William Martel]

There are only two types of reviews we're going to see for this movie. The first type is the honest review, which acknowledges the masterful work involved in making the movie, while the other is the type that is obviously written by those with an agenda concerned with ripping it down. The polarization of opinion around this movie is quite reflective of that which is present around our society itself.

Personally, I can't wait to go see it.

[Roberts]

I saw this film last night; this review is spot on, in my opinion.

[vigilo]

I saw it tonight. Honestly, the book is so much better and I'm not saying that to be funny or flip. I'm just not sure it's that good of a movie. Go, decide for yourself. It's very Roman Catholic(features Mary and Satan FAR beyond the Biblical account), which shouldn't be a surprise. It has some 'Twin Peaks' kind of moments where you'll say to yourself, "What's that about?"

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

[Crispy]

"I saw it tonight. Honestly, the book is so much better and I'm not saying that to be funny or flip"

I know you said you were not trying to be funny, but I started laughing as soon as you said the "book is so much better".

I want to see an honest review from an unbiased person. In other words, a review from someone who is not a lefty or religious.

[txzman]

I don't need to see violence and gore spoonfed to an American audience raised on horror.

As a devout Christian, I pass. I know Christ died for my sins - and since He is God, that is all I need to know. And I, for one, do not think He would approve.

Instead, I think He would say "What don't you understand?. Do you need a movie such as this to believe?"

[txzman]

I don't need to see violence and gore spoon-fed to an American audience raised on horror.

As a devout Christian, I pass. I know Christ died for my sins - and since He is God, that is all I need to know. And I, for one, do not think He would approve.

Instead, I think He would say "What don't you understand?. Do you need a movie such as this to believe?"

[newzhawk]

I saw the movie tonight- sold out 3 theatres both 7 and 10pm. Movie was awesome- very intense, very emotional.I am Catholic -don't know if this is why it seems the way I imagined (only more brutal)I said to my husband "What's with the star wars characters?" so I see what you meant about "twin peaks" moments.Would like to have had seen more flashbacks of the intimate moments with Apostles and get to know each one and their importance to Him- rather than spend so much time with weasels that were beating Him.The Church ladies gave out kleenex packets and we used them up!

[dts32041]

Some people can offer testimony in a way that is different from the way you offer testimony.

We have become a visual society and sometimes the best testimony is thru the eyes.

I will not knock another man's testimony, just because it is foreign to the way it has been generally interpreted.

Kind of like the news the main stream press is predictable and comfortable to the Masses, fox and the Internet are a shock to those same masses, cause it comes at them from a different way, definitely not kum by ya, type of testimony.

[Sandmansleeper]

I wonder how many will choose to CONDEMN rather than being brought under CONVICTION as to the price Jesus paid for us all.

[Jeff Gordon]

I shall see this movie. I am nervous about it, but I shall see it.

[RightWingAtheist]

My brother is a devout Catholic, who plans to be a military chaplain; I'm going to wait to hear what he says about this. Not being religious won't stop me from appreciating a great work of art; it sure hasn't stopped me from reading and loving T.S. Eliot, C.S. Lewis, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Russell Kirk, Avram Davidson, Walter R. Miller, etc. It didn't stop me from reading Andrew Greely, but I sure wish it did.