Replies

I'm not. I'm a Protestant. :)

I have a very jaded view of people playing Jesus. Too iconic for my tastes. I feel there is too much temptation to make Jesus more "customer friendly". In reality, He barely survived the flogging (40 lashes was a death sentence in the Roman Empire) and was not able to even be lashed to the beam as was the custom. They had to get Simon the Cyrene to carry the beam for Him.

The most significant event was not how He died but that He died. He left Heaven and came to Earth to die for OUR sins. He could have called down Angels and wiped out that weak bunch of soldiers but He willingly became the sacrificial Lamb so that WE might be Saved. If He hadn't done this, the whole world would have perished. A mere depiction of that is a bit more than I can bear.

I'm not. I'm a Protestant. :)

Lot's of Protestants will be going. IMO, it's not possible to know and understand the depth of His love for us until we fully understand the depth of His suffering and sacrifice.

I'm a Protestant, as well, but it's my belief that too many Christians have a very shallow understanding of what Christ went through for our sakes. The cross has been sanitized by many churches and many Christians fail to grasp the humanity of Jesus.

A mere depiction of that is a bit more than I can bear.

If you don't want to go, I can certainly respect that. I am just a little surprised that you won't be going knowing you through your posts on FR as a strong Christian.

The most significant event was not how He died but that He died.

The fact that he was humilated, tortured and executed in the worst way possible is a very vital lesson.

Loving others is a verb, it almost always takes sacrifice. From a woman working to make her family a meal to martyrs dying for their flock. When Christ asks us to love thy enemy, he literally showed us how it's done in the most extreme fashion.

If he could be ripped to shreds, nailed naked to a piece of wood and laughed at, we can surely put up with insults on an internet forum, forgive our family members for slights and take slaps in the face in order to bring a little more love to the world.

How he died was prophecy and extremely vital.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

I feel there is too much temptation to make Jesus more "customer friendly".

Like "Buddy Christ".

The film "Dogma" was theologically disgusting, however, the criticism of the direction of many churches was definitely valid.

The amazing thing about this too is that he was a carpenter. He was used to carrying beams from horse or carriage to whereever he was building something. Imagine doing that all day long, year in and year out. JC was a man of strength not some skinny weak wuss as He has always been portrayed. He was know weakling. Most of us would have given up and let them beat me to death. He fought himself to keep going because He knew what He had to do. He was determined to accomplish.