|
|
I Vote Two Thumbs Down on "Passion of the Christ"Mel Gibson's new movie "Passion Of The Christ" completely missed the essence of the God I worship and the Jesus Christ I adore. As an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, I went to see the movie because I hoped to see something good, something uplifting. For two hours I watched Jim Caviezel, the actor portraying Jesus be beaten, teased, and tortured to death. Mel Gibson depicted some new and different instruments for beating and torture. Jesus' struggle to carry the cross was brutally portrayed with constant whipping, beatings, and stonings. By the time Jesus was nailed to the cross, the actual crucifixion seemed like a relief. The struggle to survive was over. I left the theater disgusted and thoroughly disappointed. Gibson's movie amplifies the party line of conservative Christianity, namely, the idea
that Jesus suffered more than anyone else in history when he died for our sins.
His film claims that Jesus was basically beaten to death before he was
crucified. The movie is presented in Aramaic, Jesus' native tongue, and Latin
with English subtitles, in order to make the audience believe that what is depicted
really happened exactly as it appears on the screen. The idea of atonement shown in this movie assumes that God is an angry, sadistic God. One who desired Jesus to suffer and be crucified in order to be willing to forgive us for our sins. Such a doctrine does not square with the idea that God is good, holy and loving. Likewise, it does not square with the Biblical record of Jesus' life as it is presented in the Gospels. In truth, there is little scriptural support for Mel Gibson's interpretation. The Bible often talks about the fact that Jesus was crucified. It does say that he was "scourged" which most commentaries interpret to mean that he probably received 39 lashes. Nowhere does it suggest that he was beaten senseless on his back, chest, arms, legs, head and face. Nowhere does it say that he was beaten while he carried the cross. With the exception of the time when Roman soldiers put a crown of thorns on his head and struck Jesus with reeds, there is no indication in scripture that the soldiers treated Jesus more brutally than any other prisoner they executed that day, or any other day for that matter. What Gibson has missed is a more holistic Biblical perspective on how Jesus brings us into a living relationship with God. From a holistic perspective, the atonement did not, in fact, take place when Jesus died on the cross. It took place when Jesus was born. It was confirmed when God's spirit joined Jesus' spirit at his baptism. Jesus' teachings, especially about total trust in God and the practice of non-violence toward others, are an essential part of the atonement. Jesus confirmed it when he chose to accept the violence that was dealt to him, even to the point of death on the cross, rather than calling on God and man to fight violence with violence. The crowning of this atonement occurred when God blessed Jesus for holding true to his word, by raising him from death to eternal life. I worship the God of love who sent Jesus into the world. I love this Jesus who claimed the authority to heal and forgive sins in the name of God, long before he died on the cross. I adore this Jesus who laid down his life in order to remain true to God's Word that we should practice non-violence, with compassion and forgiveness toward others. I am humbled by the God whose Spirit was in Jesus and who suffered with Jesus when he was arrested, beaten and crucified. I praise the God who turned the absolute "No" of Jesus' suffering and death into his eternal "Yes" through the resurrection. I celebrate that the Spirit of Christ can live on in me so that I can walk and live in the light of His truth.
I acknowledge that many people have had their faith deepened by watching this movie. But Mel Gibson's movie darkened my spirit. Due to its graphic violence and Biblical shortcomings, I vote two thumbs down on it. If you have not yet seen it, I recommend that you stay away.
|
|
Send mail to Webmaster@densmorereid.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|