| Issues arising from the 2004 film by Mel Gibson. | ||
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Seen the Film? Want to see the Film? The exit booklet. Messianic View Fruchtenbaum says. |
Referring to the passion (suffering) & death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. HOW DID THIS HAPPENHow did Jesus Christ, Yashua, end up going through a trial, great suffering & physical death, when as God's Son He could have walked away?After all this was someone who during His physical sojourn amongst us:
Jesus allowed Himself in obedience to His Father, to be crucified on our behalf. To say that He would have been unable to stop the crucifixion is not true. "And he came out, and went, as was His custom, to the Mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. And when He was at the place, He said to them, pray that you do not enter into temptation. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done. And there appeared an angel to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:39- 44) (Compare with Mark 14:32). "Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father"(John 10:17-18) Then there is always the other important issue of WHO KILLED JESUS.Let us try & settle this question.Jesus was not killed in the sense of being "unable to avoid an attack" on His person, more that He allowed Himself to be 'put to death'. The Jewish Nation at the time was forbidden to carry out the death penalty as only Rome was allowed this right. As a consequence the actual crucifixion was carried out by the Gentile Judge, Gentile soldiers, Gentile government of the day. Indeed the Romans destroyed the Temple (AD 70) and Jerusalem as foretold by Jesus as part of the Jewish leaders' rejecting their Messiah King. Of course it can be considered somewhat semantic as we read in Matthew 27:1 "...all the chief priests and elders took counsel against Jesus to put him to death." Here the leaders of the Jewish nation, sought out some way to get rid of Him permanently. So here we have Jesus allowing Himself to be lead away. According to John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." NAS Does the verse say everyone will be saved? No. The promise is "whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." To qualify one must "believe in Him" So why did Jesus allow this to be done? As we read above He went ahead in obedience to His Father's wish SO YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE FILM?We at CWM ask that you be like Bereans (Acts 17:11) and study the events surrounding the crucifixion. Start at Matthew 26.Throughout the Old Testament the rise & rejection of the Messiah King was signalled - especially in Isaiah 53:1 This was confirmed in John 12:37-38. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was foretold in Zechariah 9:9, while Daniel 9:26 talks of Him being "cut off". So even though the people of Jerusalem hailed Him and waved welcoming palm fronds, the leaders of the nation of Israel rejected His offer to set up the "Kingdom of Heaven" then & there with Jesus/Yashua as the Messiah King. Consequently this Kingdom has been postponed. As Acts 2:23 tells us, this was foreseen by God and so Jesus allowed Himself to be put to death as the perfect sacrifice. This sacrificial death would wipe out all the sins, transgressions & iniquities of any one who believes in Jesus and follows Him as a sheep does a shepherd. For further reading we suggest "Raising The Axe Head", available from Christian Witness Ministries, This book has a relevant section by Tony Pearce on this subject (page 141). You will come across the accounts of the trial, death & resurrection & ascension. The last two events being far more important than the actual physical blows depicted in the film. This Jesus not only took a physical beating on our behalf, but took the burden of all our sin. This now enables those of us that want to, to approach God with a view to becoming one of His followers. How amazing is the Lord in taking all that punishment for us. All the more astounding it is that not everyone will take advantage of the 'Good News' the sacrifice of Jesus has enabled. SO YOU ARE GOING TO VIEW THE FILM?Having read at least this article PLUS Matthew 26 we ask that you view the film as but a small part of the complete story about Jesus Christ our Lord.READ ONNow that we know why, let's examine, here under, the effect Mel Gibson's film has had & is havingOur special compiler has put together this summary. Read on at: http://www.christian-witness.org/docs/mayMM04_passionFT.doc Another source of comments about the film "THE PASSION OF CHRIST" is http://thebereancall.org/Newsletters/ MOVIE MAGIC AND THEOLOGY Mel has ushered the viewer into his (Roman Catholic – the 16th century Tridentine Rite) vision of the physical sufferings and death of Jesus, which he believes were necessary for a sinful humanity to be reconciled to God. T.A.McMahon a former Catholic, in an excerpt from his upcoming book, identifies the fatal flaw in the movie that many evangelicals have tragically misunderstood. This film misses the punishment for our sins that Christ endured from God and focuses exclusively on the physical sufferings inflicted by men – which could never save but only condemn us. The author strongly recommends that this tragic misunderstanding must be corrected by anyone seeking to evangelise those who have been stirred to interest by viewing the film.
Date sent: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 Subject: Re: "The Passion of the Christ." Dear Brother Philip, Thank you for the Email just received on "the passion", Mel Gibson's new movie. I have read briefly about it, and in all honesty what I receive in the spirit is why would I or any born-again, bible believing Christian want to go to watch it for! I say this for a variety of reasons, some already mentioned in your email. But for me the over whelming question is why do I need to see something that I already know and have received. I know how my Saviour suffered for me and all of mankind and it hurts, why would I want to see it. For entertainment, no thank you. In life it is not just what one does that will be judged, but one's motivation for doing it! I do not know what Mel Gibson's motivation is, it may be very sincere. But we all on occasion can be sincerely wrong. Let us pray for Mel Gibson and all Roman Catholics with more "passion", that they may truly come to know Jesus Christ for themselves. I recently listened to a very convicting sermon by brother David Wilkerson "the cry of Sodom & Gomorrah", I recommend to all brothers & sisters as angry as we are about some things, that they listen to this sermon first and then see how they feel these people. < personal notes omitted > I hope this email finds you, your family and all the brethren well, up there in sunny Queensland. God bless Your brother in Christ R.F.-C. New Zealand From: Philip L Powell-CWM To: All Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 Subject: Re: "The Passion of the Christ." "So then FAITH comes by watching a film about the Passion of Christ which is directed by Mel Gibson who belongs to a strict Roman Catholic cult and who in most of the films in which he acted evidenced a blood-thirsty lust for violence; and watching leads to a distortion of the biblical record about the crucifixion with the end result that millions will be led back to pagan Rome." SADLY Evangelicals and even Pentecostals are promoting the film. In Adelaide a large AoG Church booked more than 2,000 tickets while another large AoG Church in the same city invited the Roman Catholic Arch-Bishop to a service in order to explain the significance of the Passion. Rome never changes! Check out the March CWM Mailer HERE... Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 Subject: Re: "The Passion of the Christ." Dear Philip: It's amazing the lack of discernment here by the leaders of the Evangelical community. Here is another link that is very good. The Poison in The Passion Movie http://www.av1611.org/Passion/passion.html Blessings, B.S. Sent: Tuesday, March 30 2004 Subject: Mel Gibson's THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST Thank you for your timely reminder. I thought I was the only Pentecostal/Evangelical that thought the same as you re the subject matter. Here some of the Christian media seem to have gone mad on 'The Passion'. Some charging for leaflets/booklets, personally I think it best left alone, let it die its own death - but on the other hand it is so worldwide spread, it needs for folk like you to say why, where and what is wrong. Every blessing , K.D. UK Sent: Tuesday, March 30 Subject: "The Passion of Christ" - Mel Gibson Film Why do you constantly specialize in criticism? Surely you can see some flowers when you look outside. How sad that you only smell the weeds! T. R. Australia Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 8:39 AM Subject: "The Passion of Christ" - Mel Gibson Film Dear Tony: I really don't know what you mean. So much of what we publish is straight teaching of Scripture. YES - we do warn because the Bible tells us to do it. The latest MAILER that we sent out contained positive teaching and some warning about trends. We even commended Patrick of St Patrick's Day and pointed out that he is NOT as many perceive him. Are you so preoccupied with "fault finding" that you missed these things? And - oh - by the way - most weeds don't smell. May be that's why you didn't smell the flowers. You got mixed up - me thinks. God bless you and have a great day - "rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice." On a positive note most who responded to us thanked us for the warning about Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ". At least it was a bit different from all those who unthinkingly play into the hands of Rome by promoting the film. I have no doubt there will be some good that will come from it. There always is - BUT that doesn't justify something which is part and parcel of the trend towards the end-time deception and the Great Falling Away - i.e. THE APOSTASY. I have a 22 page article by a Scholar who studied the RCC modus operandi and who has critiqued "The Passion of Christ" in the light of what he knows about Roman Catholicism. Would you like to read it? Refer HERE... Sincerely and in the Love of the Lord, PLP [ Extra 9 page article . - Ed ] [As received -Ed] Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 4:56 PM Subject: The Passion Fruits Bro. Philip ... ... the fruits of this movie will be unpalatable for the remnant who can see through this controversial contrivance of the evil one. (But as one Rev'd Gent in NSW said "the movie made in the studios of heaven" [sic] Aaaaaggghh! ) Philip, I'm so thrilled that YOU have come out with this because so many "BIG NAMES" in protestant circles are applauding it and I'm beginning to wonder if it's ME who is out of whacko! Get it out to more before too long, dear friend. Thank you for giving me some more ammo. The Lord bless your efforts to alert the Remnant to the dangers. "Won't be long ..." A. O. NSW (Your old stamping grounds ...) Palestians love Mel Gibson's film.Mel Gibson's controversial film, The Passion of the Christ, is all the rage among Palestinians, curious about complaints by Jews that it is anti-Semitic.Meanwhile, local distributors in Israel are shunning the film, which Jewish groups say demonises Jews by depicting them as pressuring the Romans into crucifying Jesus. The film has banked more than $315 million since its release in February. Only one per cent of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are Christians while the other 99% are Muslims, who revere Jesus as a prophet but do not believe he was crucified. The portrayal of a prophet in a film is forbidden under Islam. Pirated copies "People are calling me from everywhere in the West Bank –from Bethlehem, Hebron, Ram Allah and Nablus - to ask for copies of the movie," said the owner of a Gaza city video shop, which sells pirated copies of new release movies. The Passion of the Christ has outsold other Hollywood blockbusters in Gaza and the West Bank's pirated video market, including Matrix Revolutions and The Last Samurai. Palestinian President Yasir Arafat watched a preview of the film at his West Bank headquarters earlier this month. Aides said he found the film "moving". Israel coldIn Israel, the local agent for the film's international distributor Icon Entertainment said it passed on its option to show The Passion of the Christ, but declined to specify its reasons other than to say the movie was "sensitive".Industry insiders in Israel say local distributors are not interested in the film because of allegations it is anti-Semitic and for expected lukewarm audience response. Jewish groups and some Roman Catholic clerics have expressed concern the film could foment anti-Jewish attacks. Reuters Do they mean the Organisations or the MembersEMAIL Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 Subject Wow!! News to make you shout, "Hallelujah"! Dear Mr O., My first reaction when I read your Email about the Passion was sadness, for you, because of your lack of understanding of the incredible and amazing way that this movie is being used. May God open your eyes and your heart to what He (not Mel Gibson) is doing in the world today. Please read the attachment [ Not used as no permission -Ed] and rejoice with me as I give praise and thanks to Almighty God for how He is using this tool which is possibly the last chance for millions of people, including Muslims, in these end times. This is Almighty God's doing, Mel Gibson was merely His servant. Whether the movie is flawed or not, is not the point. The point is that millions are being offered eternal life and huge numbers are being added to the Lamb's book of life because of their introduction and acceptance of Jesus Christ, The Christ. [ Provided excellent followup is supplied-Ed] His Grace is amazing and should bring us to our knees in adoration, rather than condemning His methods. You must leave judgement of other denominations to God. We must not judge but uphold those whom we think are in error. It has been said that we will get a surprise when we get to Heaven as to who is there and who is not!! May God bless you. J. Rev. N.'s Secretary Australia On Another NoteSent: Saturday, March 27 PMSubject: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST - Mel Gibson Film Was wondering what your review on the film "Bruce Almighty" was? Being it was directed by a self confessed Born Again Christian Tom Shadrac. I've seen the movie and was moved to tears. I don't need to see a movie about Christ to know what He did for me, but it REMINDED me again of what He went through in graphic terms. God's bigger than man's small-mindedness, whether it be the person making the movie or the person criticising it. God will be glorified and people will be asking questions and we better be ready to answer them!!! [sic] I think people who can spend copius amounts of time criticising other ministries and attacking their charcter and integrity have too much time on their hands and should be looking in their own backyard! Respectfully yours, D. F. ------------------- Original email starts here ------------------- What's Up With the Ugly Baby?Everyone's asking about the Passion scene where Satan is carrying a hideous infant. By Mark Moring"Please explain the symbolism in the scene showing Satan holding a bald baby. Thank you." That's just one of dozens of e-mails we've received in the last few days, asking about a surreal scene in The Passion of The Christ where Satan is shown cradling a hideous baby who looks like he's about 40 years old. The scene occurs during the flogging of Christ. Satan is passing through a crowd of onlookers, cradling an infant in his arms. The baby turns to face the camera, revealing a sinister infant, creeping out audiences everywhere. -------------------- Answer here --------------- Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 04 7:00 PM Subject: What's Up With the Ugly Baby? The Weekly Newsletter of Christianity Today International Tuesday, March 16, 04 Welcome It's hard to believe that it's already been three weeks since Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ hit theaters. As I've been reading about the movie and talking with many whom I love and respect, I'm encouraged by the number of people who have found the movie a powerful and enduring spiritual experience. For some, the intense realism has caused a renewed sense of gratitude for the Savior's sacrifice. Others have seen the movie's extensive use of symbolism as a moving icon that focuses on conviction for sin. Regardless of whether it was the symbolism or the realism that impacted people most deeply, everyone has agreed that the most powerful message the movie communicates is that Christ's sacred love for his people is real. Many of you have written to Christianity Today's new Movies channel-a comprehensive source for information about The Passion-to ask about various symbols used in the movie. One of the most shocking and most talked about symbols is Satan and the Ugly Baby. In our featured article of the week, "What's Up With the Ugly Baby?" Mel Gibson answers your question and again reminds Christians of the deceptiveness of sin and the need for conviction and repentance. ---------------------------------------------------- The Connection Newsletter We encourage you to distribute this newsletter freely and ask only that you not change its contents. -------------------- P. L. Powell's reply ------------- Date: Tue, 13 Apr 04 09:18:14 +1000 The ChristianityToday.com Connection Newsletter I think it's anyone's guess what Mel Gibson intended and really I don't think that matters. What is abundantly clear to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear is that this PASSION frenzy is a satanic conspiracy to confuse those on the highway to "anti-Christ" as part of the great Apostasy. That there will be evangelistic opportunity en route there can be no doubt, so let's buy up any naturally occurring opportunity but do NOT let us promote the film or we will fall into the devil's trap. The big evangelism that will occur will be that achieved by Rome, who never changes. Even the Muslims are happy with this film and while gullible Christians rejoice at that they forget that Muslims have always accepted the suffering of Christ. They will be delighted at the spectacle of a JEW suffering beyond what the Scriptures portray. The issue over which Muslims stumble is a physical Resurrection of Christ, and that, I am told, is passed over so quickly and so flippantly as to appear ethereal and ghostly in the film. I saw something where a "blinded Christian" rejoiced that Arafat gave the thumbs up to the movie stating that it was NOT anti-Semitic. Well what would you expect Arafat to say - something pro-Jewish? Never!!! How gullible can people get? Love to you all in JESUS, PLP Wed, 17 Mar 04 15:34:07 +0000 Hello Christian Witness, I don't know if this is the proper email address to say thank you but I just had to say it to you and your faithful staff. I live in Texas in the USA and I have been so concerned about the rush to embrace the movie "The Passion" by so many if not almost entirely the churches in my area. I went to see the movie and had some concerns. Yes it was moving and yes, as a Christian who studies the Bible I saw many things I could agree with. But...as a Christian who is also involved in teaching people how to witness to their loved ones caught in cults and false faiths, I saw many things that were inferences to Catholicism..both subtle and not so subtle if you knew the Bible and/or the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church. I am so delighted to find others who are Christians with whom I can "stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you" (Phil. 1). Thank you again...and may God continue to bless you. Debbie in the USA From: Name on file Date: 2004/04/14 Wed PM 07:53:29 GMT+12:00 To: < editor@christian-witness.org > Subject: Passion of the Christ - my perspective Iwanted to tell you my perspective. I have lost count of how many times christians have exclaimed to me how the movie doesn't have any false Catholic doctrines in it, I can see it is riddled with it. I went to see the movie as my husband wanted to and isn't a christian, so I certainly wasn't going to say no. We went within three days of it being released. Remember we are to 'test all things', I don't feel like you have a 'critical spirit' for doing so, it is a scriptural command and also remember that the key to being deceived is that you don't even know it is happening, so often we think we would be aware. I was quite taken aback with a few scenes in the movie, namely the baby in Satan's arms at Jesus' beatings, and the demons (children) who drove Judas out of Jerusalem to his death. Many have called it 'poetic license' and I did keep telling myself that this was an artistic interpretation, but these things are not that at all, nearly every one of them is from mystic visions of Emmerich in her book. I had read all of the previews by people like James Dobson and Billy Graham and my heart nearly burst with anticipation. I had not read one negative thing in this movie before I saw it and I can tell you without a lie that without anything influencing me, I was bothered and made uneasy by many things and I felt terribly guilty about it, especially as many christian friends had told me how touched they were by it and one gentleman I respect even told me it was 'near perfect' in theology and as a gospel account. I had personally recommended it to nearly everyone I knew because I was so excited about it, and had looked down on some christians who had expressed that they would just wait and see or were so downright negative of something about my beloved Jesus. Because I felt so guilty for my uneasiness after the film I searched on line and found this link http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/melgibson-thepassionofthechrist/dowehave-artis tic-license.html I was so relieved as it listed every concern and thought I had, I was NOT critical at all of this movie before I saw it, I was expecting to feel the same things as other christians expect and was fully caught up in the hype but I will say I prayed earnestly for many weeks in preparation for what God would show me, I tried to fight the feelings I had and even thought that the enemy was trying to make me critical and judgemental. I have not breathed a word to my husband out of fear of being a bad witness but I genuinely believe that God was the one who pulled me back and many others have now confirmed this. Another link is http://www.av1611.org/Passion/passion.html ( this includes reference to the sadistic and pornographic films and websites most of the actors in 'The Passion' are a part of which we in the non-European world are oblivious to and we are not talking about dredging up their long gone pasts but recent ones) Also check http://www.letgodbetrue.com/TodaysWorld/passion.htm There are actually many, many subtle Catholic doctrines woven in, the baby in Satan's arms was apparently a mockery of the Virgin and child and the fact that whilst Mary was giving over her son, the devil held his own child safe. This is of course not true as Jesus himself said that he gave himself. The colouring in the entire film was of Mary's giving up Jesus for a sacrifice. Even in what I called the 'Forrest Gump' moment of the film, where it is implied that Jesus invented 'high' tables and chairs , I thought this was a bit corny but apparently even this is from a mystic catholic book. In the 'Dolourious Passion' book it is spoken of that Jesus did indeed introduce the high table as an altar in precedent for the eucharist. Also moments like when Jesus' blood was mopped from the ground or when his face left an imprint on the cloth a woman used to mop his brow are all part of the mystic revelations in the book. I was waiting for Jesus' famous prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, but it was replaced entirely, and when the Temple guard came they did not fall to the ground when He declared "I AM HE" as they did in the Bible. I was less than impressed with the overcast conditions and semi-strong wind which came a few minutes before Jesus died and wondered if that was meant to be the interpretation of the Earth being in complete darkness for several hours, I have seen worse storms here this summer. No graves opening and saints walking out. I believe there is a constant undercurrent of understating several instances during Jesus last day before crucifixion where His divinity was proven. I accept they were trying to show He was fully human and did suffer, but even my brother in law asked me what made him different from all the other people who've died for their cause? Even in the last few seconds of the movie where the resurrection has occurred I was taken aback with the naked buttocks being shown as Jesus walked out, not robed with heavenly clothes at all and I remember commenting to a friend 'that sure was a typical Mel Gibson movie moment' No less than five of the actors/actresses in this film are associated with hard-core porn, including the actresses who played Mary Magdalene, the devil and Pilate's wife, their pornographic photos are liberally available all over the internet. The scene were Jesus dies and Mary ends up with his blood all over her mouth is symbolic of her being the first to receive the eucharist, which Roman Catholics believe is the literal re-sacrifice of Jesus each and every time and a literal taking of his blood. This is especially ironic as the actress that played Mary was in a movie to do with Dracula (a vampire) This link does have some very heavy things to say, so exercise discernment, but they go through each of the actors and their involvement in pornography and sadistic movies etc. Most have links on the internet to pornographic pictures and images. It saddens me that in the European world these people are well-known as such. http://www.watch.pair.com/cast.html#morgenstern Posted by: BS | March 5, 2004 10:49 PM As you can see after reading the following "Roman Catholic" report that the biggest impact of this movie , being endorsed by evangelicals is that they may have doomed millions of Roman Catholics to hell. By endorsing this evangelicals are saying that the Roman Catholic church is a true Chrisian church and no longer need to be evangelized. Bill Refer http:/www.CatholicExchange.com Look for "The Passion of The Christ" right hand side. The Passion tractJulian Batchelor, director, of Why Ministries International, www.why.org.nz, reports that 94,000 tracts have been distributed to viewers as they left after watching Mel Gibson's film The Passion.He is the process of arranging world wide distribution rights for the tract to be used as an exit gift anywhere the film is shown. Even though he sees this process as spreading seeds, he keeps God fully in the picture as the "grower' of the seed. Daystar April 2004, New Zealand Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum of ARIEL MINISTRIES [ TOP ] ... [ BACK ] Has not appeared in any Issue of CETF ( April 2004) |
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