Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ"

[Bushido8000]

Because of something that happened here in my congregation, I feel compelled to ask how many people on CC have watched Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ"... all the way through.

I refuse to watch the movie. I can read about what happened to Jesus.

It's like a snuff film to me and I personally don't feel God condoned it. I think the actor being struck by lighting when he was on the cross meant something.

 

[RickyZ]

Because of something that happened here in my congregation, I feel compelled to ask how many people on CC have watched Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ"... all the way through.

So, what happened in your congregation?

 

[Willie-T]

So, what happened in your congregation?

My wife and I care little for most contemporary Christian music. But, once in a while a song comes out that we love. Such a thing happened about 5 months ago. Oh Come to The Altar was released. It is a beautiful song, and our Worship Team sang it for the first time two Sundays ago.

However, the Worship Leader chose to eliminate references to Jesus' flowing blood, and substitute, instead, some milder wording about Jesus' love.

I asked the preacher about this, and he seemed to know nothing about the changes.

I won't go into a lot of detail about this, but suffice it to say that my wife, not knowing I had spoken with the preacher, went on facebook, and asked the worship team what was up with this change. Suffice it to say that it soon raised a bit of dust in our congregation, and the preacher ended up having a pretty enlightening and productive "teaching opportunity" with the Worship leader who had almost no idea that "blood" might be an important theme in the Bible.

I have since found out that several team members thought singing about "blood" was a gross thing, and they wanted to leave that part out. I later talked with the preacher's wife about this facet of things, and found out that she had not let her children (now in college) see the "Passion" because of the graphic nature of the movie.

We spoke for about 20 minutes, and she ended up saying, through a flood of tears, that she was going to make sure her children saw the DVD before they returned to college after the Holidays.

It seems many people in my own congregation had really never put much emphasis on the shed blood of Jesus, and were against seeing the Passion because they didn't want to think of Christ enduring that for us.

So, I thought I would ask here, to see what the feel was for the movie.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

My wife and I care little for most contemporary Christian music. But, once in a while a song comes out that we love. Such a thing happened about 5 months ago. Oh Come to The Altar was released. It is a beautiful song, and our Worship Team sang it for the first time two Sundays ago.

However, the Worship Leader chose to eliminate references to Jesus' flowing blood, and substitute, instead, some milder wording about Jesus' love.

I asked the preacher about this, and he seemed to know nothing about the changes.

I won't go into a lot of detail about this, but suffice it to say that my wife, not knowing I had spoken with the preacher, went on facebook, and asked the worship team what was up with this change. Suffice it to say that it soon raised a bit of dust in our congregation, and the preacher ended up having a pretty enlightening and productive "teaching opportunity" with the Worship leader who had almost no idea that "blood" might be an important theme in the Bible.

I have since found out that several team members thought singing about "blood" was a gross thing, and they wanted to leave that part out. I later talked with the preacher's wife about this facet of things, and found out that she had not let her children (now in college) see the "Passion" because of the graphic nature of the movie.

We spoke for about 20 minutes, and she ended up saying, through a flood of tears, that she was going to make sure her children saw the DVD before they returned to college after the Holidays.

It seems many people in my own congregation had really never put much emphasis on the shed blood of Jesus, and were against seeing the Passion because they didn't want to think of Christ enduring that for us.

So, I thought I would ask here, to see what the feel was for the movie.

That would worry me if they do not think of the blood as an essential thing.

I can see that, I heard a lot of people say the violence is why they did not see it. Or turned it off. It cuts to your heart how violent it was (and it is still not even close to real thing) Some people just do not like to think it is there fault. which is is if we think about it.

 

[Willie-T]

That would worry me if they do not think of the blood as an essential thing.

I can see that, I heard a lot of people say the violence is why they did not see it. Or turned it off. It cuts to your heart how violent it was (and it is still not even close to real thing) Some people just do not like to think it is there fault. which is is if we think about it.

Well, it's not a church teaching, but I guess some just assumed that our young people already understood the "basics". Many of them have gone to some sort of Bible college somewhere.... most, Liberty.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Well, it's not a church teaching, but I guess some just assumed that our young people already understood the "basics". Many of them have gone to some sort of Bible college somewhere.... most, Liberty.

Maybe this was a God thing then, to open the door that there was an issue. Sometimes I do think we get so used to things, We need God to open our eyes to issues we may not be aware of, and he works in these ways.

That is why our God is so great!

 

[wwjd_kilden]

I refuse to watch the movie. I can read about what happened to Jesus.

It's like a snuff film to me and I personally don't feel God condoned it. I think the actor being struck by lighting when he was on the cross meant something.

Maybe ... but remember, thinking that way, it can easily kick back at yourself.... if you end up in an accident , am I to assume it is because you sinned?

 

[Willie-T]

Maybe this was a God thing then, to open the door that there was an issue. Sometimes I do think we get so used to things, We need God to open our eyes to issues we may not be aware of, and he works in these ways.

That is why our God is so great!

I think this is the way all of our church is seeing it.

 

[Miri]

My wife and I care little for most contemporary Christian music. But, once in a while a song comes out that we love. Such a thing happened about 5 months ago. Oh Come to The Altar was released. It is a beautiful song, and our Worship Team sang it for the first time two Sundays ago.

However, the Worship Leader chose to eliminate references to Jesus' flowing blood, and substitute, instead, some milder wording about Jesus' love.

I asked the preacher about this, and he seemed to know nothing about the changes.

I won't go into a lot of detail about this, but suffice it to say that my wife, not knowing I had spoken with the preacher, went on facebook, and asked the worship team what was up with this change. Suffice it to say that it soon raised a bit of dust in our congregation, and the preacher ended up having a pretty enlightening and productive "teaching opportunity" with the Worship leader who had almost no idea that "blood" might be an important theme in the Bible.

I have since found out that several team members thought singing about "blood" was a gross thing, and they wanted to leave that part out. I later talked with the preacher's wife about this facet of things, and found out that she had not let her children (now in college) see the "Passion" because of the graphic nature of the movie.

We spoke for about 20 minutes, and she ended up saying, through a flood of tears, that she was going to make sure her children saw the DVD before they returned to college after the Holidays.

It seems many people in my own congregation had really never put much emphasis on the shed blood of Jesus, and were against seeing the Passion because they didn't want to think of Christ enduring that for us.

So, I thought I would ask here, to see what the feel was for the movie.

Hi Willie,

I can understand people being squeamish about the shedding of blood
although personally I think it is important to understand the reality of the
cross. Also the theme of the blood, how it represents life and therefore how it
was necessary for the blood of Jesus to be shed, He is our sacrificial lamb. It is
impossible to read the bible without coming across the blood sacrifice it travels
through the bible right from Genesis through to Revelations.

Also his broken body, He took our punishment on himself with all the implications
involved.

Maybe you can turn this into an opportunity to do a bible study or an Easter service
into the sacrifice of Jesus, why all the elements are important, why it is significant for us.

A couple of years ago (when I was in the worship team), the team planned and led the
Good Friday service. Someone built a 10 foot wooden cross for us and we draped blood
red silk satin material over it and set it on a plinth making it the focal point in the
church.

It really looked spectacular and got the point across very effectively.
Towards the end of the service we had a time of prayer and contemplation and
invited the congregation to write up small notes of thanksgiving and pin them onto the
silk as people felt led to do so. The cross was lit up with the red lighting and the rest of
the lights dimmed.

The atmosphere was electric, you could feel the presence of God in such a tangable way
you could almost reach out and touch it.

People started to come forward in small groups, by the time many had got to the cross they
were weeping, men and women alike.

It was just an amazing Christ centred evening.

 

[Willie-T]

I'd like to have seen that, Miri.

 

[blondieindahouse]

She has to be,, I go nuts when biblical movies do not follow the bible..lol

I feel sorry for her when i think of it..lol

(we did not see Noah or the new ten commandment movie after we heard how off scripture they were.. My wife said I would have complained the whole time. not worth it..lol)

I used to be that way until God reminded me that he can use anything he so chooses for his glory! I used to sit with my Bible and tear the movie to shreds. What a bore I was!! Im not so critical anymore. God can use a non scriptural movie to bring the lost to search scripture out. God conducts the orchestra. What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander. You know what I mean Vern?

 

[Willie-T]

I used to be that way until God reminded me that he can use anything he so chooses for his glory! I used to sit with my Bible and tear the movie to shreds. What a bore I was!! Im not so critical anymore. God can use a non scriptural movie to bring the lost to search scripture out. God conducts the orchestra. What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander. You know what I mean Vern?

But, but, but, if it isn't MY way, how on Earth can it be right? LOL.

 

[blondieindahouse]

I refuse to watch the movie. I can read about what happened to Jesus.

It's like a snuff film to me and I personally don't feel God condoned it. I think the actor being struck by lighting when he was on the cross meant something.

If God only condoned excellence I would be disqualified and so would you. God does use the foolish things of this world to bring glory unto himself.

 

[Willie-T]

BTW..... a Muslim working on the set was converted, largely due to those three lightning strikes.

 

[blondieindahouse]

That would worry me if they do not think of the blood as an essential thing.

I can see that, I heard a lot of people say the violence is why they did not see it. Or turned it off. It cuts to your heart how violent it was (and it is still not even close to real thing) Some people just do not like to think it is there fault. which is is if we think about it.

Exactly! We crucified Jesus! You and me and every human being; John 3:16
My brother walked out of the movie. He wouldnt allow himself to be uncomfortable watching the rather mild depiction of what Christ did for us. That is exactly why we all need to see it. We need to be uncomfortable because if we love Christ it brings praise and worship and reverence to our KING. It cuts us down a few notches and we all need that from time to time.

 

[blondieindahouse]

My wife and I care little for most contemporary Christian music. But, once in a while a song comes out that we love. Such a thing happened about 5 months ago. Oh Come to The Altar was released. It is a beautiful song, and our Worship Team sang it for the first time two Sundays ago.

However, the Worship Leader chose to eliminate references to Jesus' flowing blood, and substitute, instead, some milder wording about Jesus' love.

I asked the preacher about this, and he seemed to know nothing about the changes.

I won't go into a lot of detail about this, but suffice it to say that my wife, not knowing I had spoken with the preacher, went on facebook, and asked the worship team what was up with this change. Suffice it to say that it soon raised a bit of dust in our congregation, and the preacher ended up having a pretty enlightening and productive "teaching opportunity" with the Worship leader who had almost no idea that "blood" might be an important theme in the Bible.

I have since found out that several team members thought singing about "blood" was a gross thing, and they wanted to leave that part out. I later talked with the preacher's wife about this facet of things, and found out that she had not let her children (now in college) see the "Passion" because of the graphic nature of the movie.

We spoke for about 20 minutes, and she ended up saying, through a flood of tears, that she was going to make sure her children saw the DVD before they returned to college after the Holidays.

It seems many people in my own congregation had really never put much emphasis on the shed blood of Jesus, and were against seeing the Passion because they didn't want to think of Christ enduring that for us.

So, I thought I would ask here, to see what the feel was for the movie.

Im glad that you and your wife kicked up the dust. Man is fallible and together we are the body of Christ. Seems much good came of it.

 

[blondieindahouse]

Btw: Another movie I think is worth the watch is "The Sobbing Stone". Its kinda B rated( ok it may be a c.) but the message goes straight to the heart.

[video=youtube_share;D_yb5DtJ3G0]http://youtu.be/D_yb5DtJ3G0[/video]

 

[kaylagrl]

Aww, C'mon, Kayla.
Those scenes where they mocked and beat Him were brutal and over the top.
Yes, it was an awful moment. Personally, I don't need to see horrible visuals in movies to know that it is part of the event. One can imply what took place.

The NT is about WHY He went to the cross....not the actual events during the walk.

If one needs a visual of Jim Caviezel being tortured via CGI, a movie, to remind them of what Christ did for us....what He went through...and to be convinced that the BIble is the truth.....?


......the state of Christianity is in a lot more trouble than we are willing to truly admit.

Mel Gibson is Hollywood, and Hollywood is corrupt, in every way. He's a Catholic, and his approach to the story is from that point of view. Even if The Passion has 15 mins of great storytelling, I don't need Mad Max to remind me of how incredible the last few hours of Christ's life was...........so why even watch the any of it?


Sorry, Willie, Kayla.......that movie was awful. Just because it's about Christ, doesn't mean it's good. Have you seen Noah?

Quote " Those scenes where they mocked and beat Him were brutal and over the top.
Yes, it was an awful moment. Personally, I don't need to see horrible visuals in movies to know that it is part of the event. One can imply what took place."

Well I guess I couldn't say since I've never been scourged. But the def. is torture with a whip. So it wasn't over the top at all. You personally may not need to see the visuals, but to me and others it was very moving and very real.

 

[kaylagrl]

Stupid edit grrrrr....

Continuing on...Quote "The NT is about WHY He went to the cross....not the actual events during the walk."

Yes, I already said it had heavy Catholic influence.

Quote "If one needs a visual of Jim Caviezel being tortured via CGI, a movie, to remind them of what Christ did for us....what He went through...and to be convinced that the BIble is the truth.....?"

It made me even more thankful for what He did for me. To read something is one thing,but to see it was quite another.It moved almost everyone in the theater to tears. We do passion plays in churches every year,whats the difference? Many have come to the Lord seeing a passion play.

Quote "Mel Gibson is Hollywood, and Hollywood is corrupt, in every way."

Doesn't change the truth in the movie. He stayed close to the Bible except for the Catholic influences.


Quote "He's a Catholic, and his approach to the story is from that point of view. "

I already said that in my original post.Still ,he stayed close to the Bible.


Quote "Even if The Passion has 15 mins of great storytelling, I don't need Mad Max to remind me of how incredible the last few hours of Christ's life was...........so why even watch the any of it?"


Im not a Gibson fan,but I think the movie was moving. I didnt let Gibsons part in it bother me.I knew going in that he was old school Catholic. But I think Jim did a great job and the best acting portrayal of Jesus ever.


Quote "Sorry, Willie, Kayla.......that movie was awful. Just because it's about Christ, doesn't mean it's good. Have you seen Noah?"

Well you are entitled to your opinion. Willie asked for opinions and thats what I gave. I did see Noah with someone else that wanted to see it. I knew by the commercials that it would be no where close to the Bible version. But it seems you dont like movies on Bible subjects so thats your point of view.

 

[kaylagrl]

I've seen it four times. Once in the cinema and three times on DVD. It's a gut-wrenching, heart-wrenching film. Very well done, but so, so gory (and I'm not good with gore). The first time I say it, I was so nauseated I almost passed out - it really made Jesus' sacrifice come alive. I'm not sure why Jesus kept falling over and over and over again, that got a bit ridiculous. And the movie could've paid more attention to the resurrected Jesus. But otherwise, it was a very good film.

He kept falling because Gibson is Catholic,it was the Stations of the Cross.