CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

March 28, 2004

KEEP PRAYING FOR:

Our congregation                                                     Our college students

Our nation, leaders and military                              David and Leon in the Navy

The Stolte’s in Germany                                         Various friends, relatives and co-workers

Yevette’s dad has heart problems

EVENTS COMING UP:

May 6 - National Day of Prayer

June 6-12 - Encounter

REFLECTIONS ON REACTIONS

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

To say the least, Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ has been a controversial movie.  Much of that controversy came before its release.  I would like to add some thoughts to this.

The first major controversy was the criticism of it fostering anti-Semitism, that is, blaming the Jews for Jesus’ death.  From a Christian perspective, the film certainly brought out the ire if not down right hate of the religious leaders toward Jesus.  There desire to rid themselves of His presence is seen throughout the Gospels.  But not all the leaders were for this.  In the film, as well as the Gospel, several walk away from the whole procedure.  While the crowds were stirred up, not all were in favor of the events.  Some stood at a distance watching the crucifixion. 

From a Jewish point,  I can see how they would see it as anti-Semitic.  They are sensitive to past events and Passion plays that started riots that attacked Jews, especially in Europe.  There is also the rise of new anti-Semitism in Europe, particularly with the influx of Muslims.  And there are in this country those who have a long history of hating Jews.  However, not all Jews see it this way.  Rabbi Daniel Lapin thinks the film will start the third Great Awakening in the U.S. 

I think that watching the film, and being a Christian and knowing the intent of the Cross, that one could easily blame the Romans for their blood lust as well as the Jews.  Scripture is clear that we are all responsible for Jesus’ death because of our sins.  It also could lead to the conversion of Jews to the Messiah, a fear among some Jewish leaders (sound familiar?).

The second controversy is the historical.  One Jennifer C. Braceras, writing in National Review Online under the title of “Unequal Treatment” complained about the acceptence of the novel The Da Vinci Code as having historical roots.  The gist of the novel is that Jesus did not die on the Cross but married Mary Magdalene and lived out his life in some remote area of the Roman Empire; that the early church knew this and attempted to cover it up by coming up with the idea of Jesus being Divine.  A movie adaptation will be coming out produced by Ron Howard.  It will be interesting to see the response to it.  Many thought that this book had more accuracy’s than many Christians wanted to admit.

But Gibson’s movie was historically inaccurate.  That wasn’t the way the Jews behaved.  Pontius Pilate came off to easy.  Jesus didn’t die for humanity’s sins.  The supposed scholars that the media contacted were more associated with the liberal Jesus Seminar which doubts ninety percent of the Gospels.  They have become the source for all criticism of scripture.

Needless to say, the historical records have been examined carefully over the centuries.  Luke in particular is very careful to verify the events he writes about.  Two scholars at the turn of the 20^th Century agreed to go to the Mediterranean world and disprove what the Bible said.  One took Paul and followed his journeys, the other Jesus.  When they met they both agreed that what was written in scripture was true. 

One other controversy around the film was its blood and gore.  Was that really necessary?  Now I found it not as bad as I thought it would be, not that there isn’t blood and gore and violence.  When Steven Spielberg’s movie Saving Private Ryan came out, many veterans of World War II stated that he had captured the way it was, and had moved movies into a new area.  I think Mel Gibson has done the same for Biblical movies.  He captured it the way it was.  We see a situation that we often quickly read over.  Obviously, God wants us to focus on our redemption.  But look at the words we read and sing: ransom, debt, washed in the blood, death.  Does it tug at the emotions?  Yes.  And I find nothing wrong with that.  Is it thought provoking?  No doubt.  Others who have seen it (more than once by the way) have pointed out things I did not see the first time. 

The question is, after all is said and done, what are we going to do about it?  Like the first century, some will resist to the point of violence that Jesus arose from the dead and that He was the Messiah.  Others will go about their everyday life; He was a nice guy, even a great teacher, but you know, I have to provide for my family.  Some will take up a cross until it becomes to hard.  But a few will accept the challenge, change their lives into His likeness, and be willing to suffering and even die for the sake of Christ.  Hopefully we too will renew our commitment to follow Jesus even when criticized or ridiculed.

                                                                                           George B. Mearns