Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Can you handle the Truth? ("The Passion of the Christ")
townhall.com ^ | 2/25/04 | Rebecca Hagelin

Posted on 02/24/2004 9:25:12 PM PST by 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



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 last
To: Aquinasfan
I look forward to your review. I have tickets for Friday evening and am eager to see it.
41 posted on 02/25/2004 7:49:55 AM PST by Skooz (My Biography: Psalm 40:1-3)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Te Fort Worth paper had a negative movie revue on the front page. It covered about half the page above the fold. I've never seen a revue on the front page before.
42 posted on 02/25/2004 8:37:36 AM PST by fella
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aquinasfan
We need a "Freeper Comments on the Passion" thread.

I'm going to see the movie in about an hour. If you find a thread afterwords, please ping me, and I'll do the same.

43 posted on 02/25/2004 8:37:59 AM PST by ILBBACH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: ThatsAllFolks2
I read that Satan is played by a woman, which is interesting.

Yes, but Gibson said that it's supposed to be androgynous. In fact, the actress shaved all of the hair on her head (including eyebrows), and the voice was dubbed over with that of a man's.

45 posted on 02/25/2004 8:47:03 AM PST by Tree of Liberty ("The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy; thatcher; Beau Schott
What is interesting is many liberals, who cheered on horror as entertainment, are in turn horrified by this movie, which attempts to accurately portray what happened to Jesus. In a way, this movie might might just turn many against the violence in the entertainment industry.

Because they have not accepted Christ's forgiveness, they can only feel the guilt, the personal guilt, with no forgiveness, of what was done to Christ.

46 posted on 02/25/2004 9:23:48 AM PST by antonia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: ILBBACH; Aquinasfan
We need a "Freeper Comments on the Passion" thread

I pinged y'all into that thread (225 responses and growing).

47 posted on 02/25/2004 9:28:22 AM PST by dirtboy (Howard, we hardly knew ye. Not that we're complaining, mind you...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: lonevoice
How is the left trying to keep people from seeing this movie?
48 posted on 02/25/2004 9:53:53 AM PST by CalKat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: dts32041
We have become a visual society and sometimes the best testimony is thru the eyes.
*****

I am reminded of the beautiful cathedrals that were built in the Middle Ages. They were civic make-work projects, developed to bring trade to whichever city could attract it. While employing these laborers, builders and craftsmen improved the economic situation of the towns, the visual results had a huge influence on the minds of those Middle Agers.

Mel Gibson is using the technology of the 21st Century to retell a story that has been expressed artistically as long as there have been artists.
49 posted on 02/25/2004 10:19:08 AM PST by maica (World Peace starts with W)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: CalKat
How is the left trying to keep people from seeing this movie?

I would point you toward the articles and reveiws from:

The Hollywood Reporter
CNN
Daily News
New York Times
Village Voice
CBS 60 Minutes
Boston Globe
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Newsweek
the New Yorker
Times
Reuters
NBC Dateline
New York Daily News
The New York Post

But, I see from your FR comments page that you've already read many of them. As well, your responses about John Kerry's military record versus GWB's cause me to think you may not agree the above media outlets have a liberal bias. "For those that have to ask, no answer will suffice."

50 posted on 02/25/2004 2:26:19 PM PST by lonevoice (Some things have to be believed to be seen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Scarpetta
The Passion of the Christ is the antithesis of gratuitous violence. Its violence is utterly integral to the film Gibson set out to make, and succeeded in making. It is ridiculous to criticize him for not making another movie instead.
51 posted on 03/01/2004 1:15:15 PM PST by luvbach1 (In the know on the border)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: luvbach1
I'm beginning to think you have to be a Christian to understand that.
52 posted on 03/01/2004 8:00:38 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
BTTT
53 posted on 03/01/2004 8:06:02 PM PST by Rightly Biased (<>< The Passion of The Christ is You.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson