Movie Review: The Passion of the Christ (Part Three)

This site has never experienced traffic like it has had over the past two days following my review of The Passion of the Christ. At the time of writing this twenty five people have posted comments about the story and I have received many more comments via email. Surprisingly it seems many people agree with my assessments in so far as I say that the movie is the gospel on a macro level but anything but the gospel on the micro level. It seems other people also worry about the way this movie blurs distinctions between Protestant and Catholic, the Bible and Tradition, Scripture and mysticism.

The question I have been pondering since Wednesday is this: how should the church react to this movie? Do believers have a responsibility towards this movie? In light of the movies obvious problems, what do we do? These questions have troubled me deeply.

I have a few thoughts on this I would like to share:

First I would like to say that I harbor no resentment towards Christians who watch this movie and even enjoy it and are inspired by it. That really should go without saying, yet I feel that I should point it out.

God uses weakness. Few people would believe that the events of September 11 were set in motion by God as an opportunity to reach unbelievers. Yet the events did cause people to flock to the churches as they felt pain and sorrow and emptiness. It was a very spiritual time that God used to draw people to Himself. God was able to use a terrible situation for His glory.

In Acts we read about Paul preaching to the Athenians and he did two surprising things. One of them was to quote the popular pagan poetry of the day and use it to help the people understand what he was preaching. The second thing he did was refer to the unknown God. Again, he used paganism to make a point. He did not endorse paganism, yet he used it to meet the people where they were at.

I do believe God can and will use this movie. I find it difficult to believe that the movie in and of itself will bring people to faith, but I do believe it will raise questions and stir hearts. We know that the Holy Spirit begins to stir the hearts of those He calls. He may do so through times of great joy, but more often it is through times of sorrow. This movie stirs the emotions, leaving people sorrowful though they may not know why. Though “weak,” God can use this to draw people to Himself.

If God is stirring the hearts of people through this movie, however weak it may be, is it not our responsibility as Christians to provide answers to people who may be asking questions? We know that the window of opportunity may be short, for hearts that are open close quickly and then become more hardened.

The difficult task for me is reconciling a movie that I believe is filled with blatantly wrong theology with the fact that God may still use it for His glory. How am I to react? To praise the movie without reservation would be wrong, for I cannot, in good conscience, say that this movie accurately presents the story of Jesus’ death. I cannot unreservedly recommend that people see this film. I fear the pragmatism of our day that would say the results will prove this movie to be in line with God’s will, for the Bible clearly shows it is not.

The more I pondered the movie the more I realized that the movie itself was not the source of my despair. Mel Gibson has made a movie that presumably presents an accurate representation of his faith. His faith and my faith stand opposed to each other as the faith of a convinced Catholic and convinced Protestant should. I came to realize that what bothered me most about the film was that person after person has insisted that it represents an unbiased and accurate presentation of the gospels, yet this was simply not the case. The Protestant churches were willing to overlook the obviously anti-Protestant theology in order to use it to reach people. I truly believe for many people the rightness or wrongness of this movie took a back seat to the perceived results.

So what are we to do? We have a terribly flawed movie and yet we know that God may use it.

Certainly we need to be prepared to help people answer the questions they may have. We need to be able to discern what the movie presented accurately and what it did not. We need to encourage people to understand why Jesus had to suffer and die and to explain just who is responsible for His death. We have to face the possibility that we will need to help people understand that much of the movie was fictitious, borrowing from extra-Biblical writing to provide many of the important details of the movie. We need to understand and explain the resurrection, without which this story is incomplete. None of this presupposes that we need to support or endorse the movie – just that we are aware of it and aware of the content.

Perhaps most important is to stand for truth. Realize that this movie is not the Bible. Believe and understand the value of the Scriptures, the written, living, breathing Word of God which isn’t 80% true, isn’t 99% true but is 100% true and absolutely perfect. Ask God to send people with questions in your direction. Ask people if they have seen the movie and ask their thoughts on it. Point them to Word which has the power to do what no movie can.

We do not need to be part of the problem, but we can all be part of the solution. Ultimately we can be part of God’s plan for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Comments (114)

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Anonymous's picture

Sorry, Harmon, but once someone I’ve entered into a dialogue with demonstrates that he or she is willing to resort anything including deception and other questionable tactics just to make debating points, that person also tells me he or she cannot be trusted.

In such instances, I’m left with no choice but to end the dialogue. I see no reason to make an exception here.

So much for your holier-than-thou intention to end the dialogue. :-D

Here you are, untrue to your word, reciting the standard pitiful excuses for converting idols into “visual aids,” working up a sweaty, turgid rationale for Catholic Mary-(or Anywoman)-on-a-crucifix, doing the ‘context trick’ to dismiss a list of your cult’s goddess devotions, and throwing up Orthodox and Catholic idol-stroking writ.

…They only pray before icons as a visual aides or reminders to help them better connect with Heaven…you would know —as the Orthodox repeatedly point out— that icons viewed “windows” to Heaven. Fundamentally, this is no different from what the Protestant Christian does when he or she has a mental picture in his or her mind of Jesus, or God the Father, or the Holy Spirit, or Heaven, or scenes from the Gospels during prayer.

… the function of the former is to represent and/or symbolize holy persons and spiritual realities —much the way family photographs do— NOT replace them. Sheesh!

Obviously, you know nothing at all about what the purposes and functions of Christian iconongraphy are or you wouldn’t make such an ignorant statement.

There’s no scriptural warrant for Mary icons and Mary statues as “visual aides” to help them better connect with Heaven,” or for praying through representations of Mary, or for using bogus likenesses of Mary as “windows” to heaven. The distinction between praying “to” and praying “before” an idol is self-serving nonsense. Either one looks at the religious object before, during or after the prayer, or one does not. Either the object possesses, in itself, ‘connective’ powers or it does not. If looking at the object while praying empowers connectivity then one is very much praying “to” the object. If not, then the presence of that schlocky representation simply isn’t needed. ever…unless the cult considers it essential.

BTW, windows are seen through whereas icons are seen, and “mental pictures” are not plaster or gilded objects which have been decorated, crowned and set upon a pedestal for a pope to fondle. “…Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate…” With these words from the gospel of the Catholic Catechism in mind, let’s have a look at the reverence and affection imparted to these ornate, instrumental, but lifeless human objects.

http://www.queenofpeace.ca/PopeMMP.jpghttp://www.cnn.com/interactive/specials/9901/pope.photo.essay/10%20a.prayer.to.mary.jpghttp://www.harpazo.net/images/consecrationSM.jpghttp://cdom.org/wtc/wtc_archives/wtc101200/wtc_pages/fatima.jpg

As for your idiotic notion that Catholics and Orthodox worship Mary, I guess you got that idea from one of your fellow Know-Nothing Party members:

No, from your Popes—can you say “Totus Tuus”?:

At the start of the twenty-fifth year of my Pontificate, I entrust this Apostolic Letter to the loving hands of the Virgin Mary, prostrating myself in spirit before her image in the splendid Shrine built for her by Blessed Bartolo Longo , the apostle of the Rosary. I willingly make my own the touching words with which he concluded his well-known Supplication to the Queen of the Holy Rosary : “O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain which unites us to God, bond of love which unites us to the angels, tower of salvation against the assaults of Hell, safe port in our universal shipwreck, we will never abandon you. You will be our comfort in the hour of death: yours our final kiss as life ebbs away. And the last word from our lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompei, O dearest Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted. May you be everywhere blessed, today and always, on earth and in heaven”. ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE, 16 October 2002, JOHN PAUL II

But, since Divine Providence has been pleased that we should have the Man-God through Mary, who conceived Him by the Holy Ghost and bore Him in her breast, it only remains for us to receive Christ from the hands of Mary.” AD DIEM ILLUM LAETISSIMUM, 2 February 1904, PIUS X

O Virgin most holy, none abounds in the knowledge of God except through thee; none, O Mother of God, attains salvation except through thee; none receives a gift from the throne of mercy except through thee.’” ADIUTRICEM (On the Rosary), 5 September, 1895, LEO XIII

Faithful to the religious example of our fathers, let us have recourse to Mary, our holy Sovereign. Let us entreat, let us beseech, with one heart, Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Mother. ‘Show thyself to be a mother; cause our prayers to be accepted by Him Who, born for us, consented to be thy Son.‘“OCTOBRI MENSE, 22 September 1891, LEO XIII,

And since she has been appointed by God to be the Queen of heaven and earth, and is exalted above all the choirs of angels and saints, and even stands at the right hand of her only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she presents our petitions in a most efficacious manner. What she asks, she obtains. Her pleas can never be unheard.” INEFFABILIS DEUS, 8 December, 1854, PIUS IX

For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things , in order that everyone may know that THROUGH HER are obtained every hope, every grace, and ALL SALVATION. For this is his will, that we obtain everything through Mary.” —UBI PRIMUM (On the Immaculate Conception), 2 February 1849, PIUS IX

…No problem for you —except to complain that I hadn’t attacked Orthodox Church icons.

Not complaining atall. Was merely pointing out your hypocrisy and selectiveness. But you’d have to actually possess some measure of objectivity and fair-mindedness in order to grasp that.

You’re the Roman Catholic in this exchange, defending an idolatrous Roman Catholic movie with Roman Catholic dogma, so you’ve imposed the “selectiveness” upon yourself. Challenging you, every step of your serpentine Catholic way, has nothing to do with “hypocrisy.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = For example, unlike Harmon’s hasty conclusion that the sculpture is to be interpreted literally —i.e., superficially — as Mary being crucified instead of Christ— the statue could have any one of several possible meanings. For example:

(1) The sculpture may be…

(2) The sculpture may be…

(3) The sculture may be…

(4) The woman “on” the cross may not be…

(5) The sculpture could be…

(6) The sculpture might be…

(7) On that last note, of course, the sculpture could very well be…

The point of this exercise is that Harmon has no better idea of what the sculpture means than I do. So to take any other position than that “at least on a superficial level” the sculpture in question might be “blasphemous, or worse” would be both presumptuous and irresponsible, two concepts which IMNSHO Harmon needs to incorporate into his conscience.

The point of this exercise” is your need to apply analytic bafflegab to the photo designated as the “Benedict XV ‘collaborator’ model.” Those seven pillars of supporting sophistry, especially the daffy, Catholic proof-texting of Galatians 2:20, are hilariously irrelevant.

Apparently, while stomping through this mush of interpretive uncertainty you missed the main point, that “[t]he blasphemous photo of Mary on a crucifix (much like your madonna with the ‘giant mirrored disco ball hanging over her head”) graphically captures a vibrant dogmatic, devotional reality within Roman Catholicism.”

But the big mystery behind this outburst of offended piety is what your righteous revulsion was doing when you read those Mary-worshipping citations which attribute to Catholic Mary the redemptive, mediating work that the Word of God reserves for the Lord Jesus Christ alone:

Tis no big mystery at all. Harmon failed to include references to the original sources of his quotes. I’m not in the habit of commenting on out-of-context snippets without being able to re-read them in those sources. The reason is simple: Unless interpreted in their contexts their actual meaning cannot be determined, nor can any arguments or evidences presented by the writers in support of them be evaluated.

Of course, my bet is that just like the typical rabid anti-Christian Net-atheist who takes great joy in “proving” that the Bible “says” all kinds of nonsense that it really doesn’t, Harmon hasn’t actually read the sources. Most likely he just copied and pasted them from some Know Nothing Party web site. Thus he has no more of an inkling about their true meaning than I do.

Your presumptuous rant has landed you back in the Roman Catholic swamp. Here, fill your boots:

http://imagesofheaven.org/BVM.htmlhttp://www.catholictradition.org/faith4.htm

I’m sure the marianized webmeisters would be happy to play your context game, and even put you in touch with the “original source” of their “nonsense.”

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Anonymous's picture

Your presumptuous rant has landed you back in the Roman Catholic swamp. Here, fill your boots:

http://imagesofheaven.org/BVM.htmlhttp://www.catholictradition.org/faith4.htm

I’m sure the marianized webmeisters would be happy to play your context game, and even put you in touch with the “original source” of their “nonsense.”

My mistake.

But NEITHER of the sites are authentic Catholic web sites, and one of them (“Catholic Tradition”) is run by an excommunicated radical traditionalist schismatic opposed to the Pope and the Vatican. (FYI, such persons and groups are the “Catholics” most inclined toward actual Mary-worship.) Therefore, any quotes they post need to be taken cum grano salis, especially if they provide no references to the sources.

Of course, since you’re not a Catholic, Harmon, I wouldn’t expect you to be able to tell the difference between authentic Catholics (those in full communion with the See of Peter who follow the Magisterium of the Catholic Church) and those who claim to be but are imposters —in reality little more than crypto-protestants in sheep’s clothing.

If you sincerely want to know what the real Catholic Church really teaches about Mary or any other subject you need to consult the Vatican’s official Catechism of the Catholic Church published in 1994. There are plenty of copies on-line.

That approach would be a lot more productive than to keep shadow-boxing with what you want the Catholic Church to teach. The only thing the latter really accomplishes is to give you a sense of legitimacy if you can find “idolatry” while engaging in Bibolatry and the pride of being a self-appointed Magisterium.

But perhaps that —instead of understanding and dealing with Catholics and Catholicism honestly and objectively— is what you want.

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Anonymous's picture

PS: Contrary to my initial impression “Images of Heaven” —unlike the “Catholic Tradition” web site— appears to be a legit Catholic web site (I didn’t look closely enough at it the first time. My bad.)

Nevertheless, any “Catholic” web site not put up by the Vatican, or by a Diocese or Parish, or by a legit Catholic organization or group supported or approved by either the Vatican or a local Bishop (such EWTN’s web site, or Karl Keating’s “Catholic Answers” web site, or Patrick Madrid’s “Envoy” web site, or Dave Armstrong’s web site) needs to be read with a measure of caution. Unlike men, not all “Catholic” web sites are created equal.

For guidance along those lines, I suggest consulting the PetersNet Web Site Review, which specializes in evaluating and rating Catholic web sites, separating the cyber-wheat from the cyber-chaff:

http://www.catholicculture.org/sites/sites.cfm

(Btw and FYI, PetersNet gives “Images of Heaven” a high rating. The “Catholic Tradition” web site isn’t even listed.)

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Anonymous's picture

So much for your holier-than-thou intention to end the dialogue. :-D

Some Know Nothing Party types are just too much fun to ignore. LOL It’s one of my weaknesses. :-)

But I do have a life outside this forum, and since I can’t make a living perpetuating long, drawn-out exchanges with presumptuous and obstinate naysayers, I’ll just let you have the last word on this topic and move on to something more productive. :-)

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Anonymous's picture

Joe sez:

…Was it something that George W. Bush and the Christian Right were to benefit from and eventually help them to establish a Theocracy in America and thus “become” the “Anti-Christ” system?????…

Hardly. Besides, the only ones who want to establish a theocracy in the USA are the Christian Reconstructionists, aka Theonomists (I should know; I was one once). But even they advocate a gradual, grassroots from the bottom-up “theocracy,” which they define as rule under biblical law (as interpreted by Calvinists, of course LOL). They do not advocate a top-down “ecclesiocracy,” which would be rule by some religious body such as in Iran. Besides, the so-called “Religious Right” is made up of far too many Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, and other like-minded Christians who are horrified by the very idea of a theocracy of any kind. So I wouldn’t stay awake at night if I were you worrying about any takeovers by any Christian versions of the Taliban. LOL

…For all you high and mighty PROTESTANTS (I would consider myself very NON-CATHOLIC by the way) quoting Luther and Calvin ( two VERY questionable characters if you read ANYTHING on the two of them!!!) you sound very mean spirited…

Oh, I dunno. IMO most of the non-Catholic Christians here have been polite and reasonable. Only one so far seems to wax a tad “mean-spirited” from time to time but that may be purely a style thing. (I prefer to think of him as “fiesty” and, um, “passionate.”)

…and thus I wonder if you are already under the “spell” of Right Wing Christian Fundamentalism - which really could be THE force of darkness spoken of by Jesus and the Prophets.

Not likely. I’d look elsewhere if I was you. IMO the major contender for that role is international Islam, followed closely by modern Western liberalism, which gets loonier and more clueless with each passing day.

…The United States is the ONLY nation on earth proclaiming itself to a CHRISTIAN NATION and the Religious Right are about one or two steps away from having total control of the Government of the United States…

Really??? Then how come we in the Relgious Right Borg Collective can’t even get abortion regulated out of existence —never mind banned???

…For two decades these Pharisees have been rallying against “Homosexuals” “Pornographers” “Hollywood” and “Liberals” while getting stinking rich.

WHO is getting “stinking rich” opposing such evil movements and influences? Seems to me that the ones getting “stinking rich” are the “Homosexuals” “Pornographers” “Hollywood” and “Liberals” since they control the purse strings in the media, the government, and the entertainment industry. I know of NO billionaire “religious right” figures. Can you name any?

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Anonymous's picture

John,

Thank you, for permitting me to have the “last word.” The Lord Jesus said:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” —Matthew 24:35

The Lord be magnified, and may He bless you,

Harmon

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Anonymous's picture

The Lord be magnified, and may He bless you.

And you, too, brother Harmon! :-)

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Anonymous's picture

I’dd just like to repost here a comment that I have already posted on one of the other pages. I don’t think there can be any doubt in anyone’s mind about the film assigning to Mary a role that Scripture does not assign to her:

Last night I went to see the Passion … at last. Having spent the last month or more looking forward to this moving and thoroughly Christ-centred portrayal of Christ’s sufferings, I can only say that I came out of the cinema more than a little disappointed.

Christ’s sufferings were certainly present: the pain was represented as excruciating, the extent of blood-letting overwhelming. And I’m quite sure that the film was not far off the mark as far as that was concerned. There were some poignantly moving moments during the flagellation and as Christ made his way along the Via Crucis. For example, the effect that seeing Christ suffering had on Simon after he had been forcibly roped into helping Jesus to carry the cross. However, it is quite inconceivable that someone tortured already to the extent that Jesus had been could possibly have mustered the strength even to begin to carry the cross, which even Simon was incapable of carrying on his own. Where did he get the strength? Not from any “ministering angel”! No he got it from his mother. Each time jesus reaches a point where he cannot go ay further, His mother appears, approaches Him, looks into His eyes and imparts to Him the strength that He needs to keep going. She is indeed acting as a kind of mediator for Christ of divinie strength. This is wholly in keeping with Catholic (Marian) tradition, but it is also entirely extra-Biblical. OK you could say that it is psychologically conceivable that someone in Christ’s state might find inspiriation and strength in eye-contact with His mother and in her presence at His side. But I think that the film was making much more than that of Mary’s presence at Christ’s side.

Also extra-Biblical and very puzzling is the presence of the devil, significantly represented as a “woman??” at the flagellation scene. What we have is a kind of axis: Mary at one end, the devil at the other (also significantly dresssed in black), and Christ at the centre. The two ends of the axis are counterparts (counterpoints) of each other. Satan seeking Christ’s destruction on the one hand, Mary effecting the renewal of His strength on the other. Mary’s and Satan’s activities, roles and status are mirror-images of each other. This axis, and this symmetry is the pivot around which the action of the film turns. It might even be said, in this sense, that Mary is more central to the movement of the plot than Christ Himself. This point is borne out even further by the rather shocking, surreal scene where the “devil” appears with a grotesque, monstruous baby in her?? arms. Is this “baby” not a hellish counterpart of Mary’s Christ? There is an interesting (and valid) theological point here. That evil is not independent for its existence of good. Evil is a perversion of good. That is what the “beast” symbolism is all about in the book of Revelation. But this particular variation on the theme is rooted in Catholic, Marian mysticism. It is not rooted in the Scriptures.

There were many moving moments in the film. However, on the whole I think it is marred by its absolute dependence on Catholic mysticism. I suspect that many Catholic believers would agree with me. I just wish that American evangelicals had thrown their considerable weight and influence behind “The Gospel of John”, due to be released in Europe later this year. By all accounts it is a beautifully acted account of the gospel of John, pure and simple.”

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Anonymous's picture

Also extra-Biblical and very puzzling is the presence of the devil, significantly represented as a “woman??” at the flagellation scene….

Extra-biblical” perhaps but not necessarily un-biblical, if by “un” one means “anti.” First of all, Satan is a spirit and therefore genderless —both points of which are attested to in the Bible. This was the main reason Gibson decided to portray “him”/it as androgynous. Secondly, if Satan was not present during those events —especially at Gethsemane and influencing the Romans and the mob during Jesus’ sufferings— then, as Gary North noted, “he was asleep at the wheel.”

What we have is a kind of axis: Mary at one end, the devil at the other (also significantly dresssed in black), and Christ at the centre…

But “Christ at the centre” is the whole point, isn’t it??? That observation alone seems to belie your earlier contention that you did not see “a thoroughly Christ-centred portrayal of Christ’s sufferings.” Which is it, Roger?

…The two ends of the axis are counterparts (counterpoints) of each other. Satan seeking Christ’s destruction on the one hand, Mary effecting the renewal of His strength on the other. Mary’s and Satan’s activities, roles and status are mirror-images of each other….

Allof which in turn means that Mary’s role was portrayed as supportive of Jesus and therefore in subordination to Him and His mission, right?

…This axis, and this symmetry is the pivot around which the action of the film turns. It might even be said, in this sense, that Mary is more central to the movement of the plot than Christ Himself.

Um, Roger, just a few sentences ago you said that Christ was the “axis: “…Christ [is] at the centre.” How then can Mary be “more central,” especially after you already placed her “at one end, [and] the devil at the other.” Hint: One cannot be central/at the axis and also be “at one end” at the same time.

Also, since “central” and not-central are mutually exclusive categories. Therefore, there is no such category as “more central,” just as there is no such thing as “more pregnant.” One is either pregnant or one is not pregnant. Likewise, one is either central or one is not central.

…This point is borne out even further by the rather shocking, surreal scene where the “devil” appears with a grotesque, monstruous baby in her?? arms. Is this “baby” not a hellish counterpart of Mary’s Christ? There is an interesting (and valid) theological point here. That evil is not independent for its existence of good. Evil is a perversion of good. That is what the “beast” symbolism is all about in the book of Revelation. But this particular variation on the theme is rooted in Catholic, Marian mysticism….

No, it’s actually rooted in the ancient Christian doctrinal pronouncements (e.g., at Nicea and Ephesus) reaffirming the orthodox definition of the Incarnation, chief of which is that the Incarnate Son was born “of a woman,” meaning that although He was not only fully divine but was also fully human. That —and not Mary per se— was the entire point and focus of the Madonna and Child imagery since ancient times (that imagery first began to appear on the catacomb walls during the Roman persecutions of the first three centuries).

IOW, Roger, that ancient imagery is the source of “Catholic, Marian mysticism,” not the other way around. Btw and FYI, “Marian mysticism” began with the ancient Greek-speaking, Slavic-speaking, and Syriac-speaking Eastern Christians (today known as “Eastern Orthodox”), not with the ancient Latin-speaking Western Christians (today known as “Catholics”). The “Catholics” were Johnny-come-latelys in that area.

…It is not rooted in the Scriptures.

Really?? Then you don’t believe in the Incarnation? Scripture certainly teaches that.

There were many moving moments in the film. However, on the whole I think it is marred by its absolute dependence on Catholic mysticism.

Then, IMO, you don’t know what Catholic mysticism is, much less where it came from.

I suspect that many Catholic believers would agree with me….

Well, not this one. :-)

… I just wish that American evangelicals had thrown their considerable weight and influence behind “The Gospel of John”, due to be released in Europe later this year. By all accounts it is a beautifully acted account of the gospel of John, pure and simple.”

I just saw “The Gospel of John” and agree heartily it’s a wonderful production —very well acted and beautifully crafted. But despite the fact that the writers and director took great pains to stick to the words of John’s Gospel alone for its script, they ended up adding a lot of stuff not in the Bible anyway in terms of composition, lighting, action, gestures, facial expressions, tones of voice, music, etc., etc.

As any Film 101 student can tell you, introding any or all of those element inevitably produces an interpretation of John’s Gospel whether one realizes it or not, for it’s impossible to move from the printed page to film-and-sound without doing so.

On top of that, the writers used as their source text the Good News for Modern Man/TEB “translation,” which does an awful lot of paraphrasing.

Nevertheless, I agree with you that “The Gospel of John” deserved much more support than it got from all concerned. But that has more to do with business connections and promotion savvy than anything else: IMO, the producers should’ve hired Gibson’s crew and collegues to do their marketing for them.

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Anonymous's picture

[PS: My apologies for my many grammatical and spelling errors. I was in too big a hurry and didn’t preview all my editing before posting. D’OH!)

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Anonymous's picture

Sorry about the lack of clarity in the first paragraph. I was looking forward to WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD was a Christ-centred portrayal. But my actual impression was that the axis that I referred to was what “turned” the story. OK Christ was “geometrically” at the centre. Everything did indeed revolve around what was happening to Him, and He was usually at the centre of the screen. But it seemed to me that Mary on the one hand and Satan on the other were the ones that were making things happen. The conflict seemed to be between Mary and Satan, with Christ in the middle - the one being fought for - rather than between Christ and Satan. Do you see what I’m getting at John? It may seem like a small quibble, but it is an important one. What was Mary’s role in the salvation of the human race? Was she one of the redeemed, or did she somehow participate with Christ in the redemption of the human race? Was she “redeemed” or “redeemer”? The film seemed to me simply to be a restatement of a doctrine which most protestants would take issue with: Mary is joint mediator with Christ between God and mankind. I know this is othordox Catholic theology. I’m just saying that it is for this reason that I find it so surprising that evangelicals in the US and in the UK have been backing it so loudly.

Having said that, I think it is possible to interpret the film, at other points, as portraying Mary standing on the same ground in relation to Christ as Mary Magdalene. If I remember correctly, both women smear their faces with Christ’s blood, both thus receiving forgiveness for their sin. Or am I mistaken in this?

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Anonymous's picture

Very reasonable replies and thoughtful questions, Roger. I also appreciate your charitable tone and attitude. Thanks!

Sorry about the lack of clarity in the first paragraph. I was looking forward to WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD was a Christ-centred portrayal. But my actual impression was that the axis that I referred to was what “turned” the story. OK Christ was “geometrically” at the centre. Everything did indeed revolve around what was happening to Him, and He was usually at the centre of the screen….

OK, I see better now what you meant. Thanks for explaining that.

…But it seemed to me that Mary on the one hand and Satan on the other were the ones that were making things happen. The conflict seemed to be between Mary and Satan, with Christ in the middle - the one being fought for - rather than between Christ and Satan. Do you see what I’m getting at John?

Well, she did “fight” for His safety against Satan when He was an infant by taking Him out of the reach of Herod’s soldiers. As for your point that “the conflict seemed to be between Mary and Satan…rather than between Christ and Satan,” IMO you’re proposing a false dichotomy for it’s not an “either-or” situation but “both-and.” After all, we too are continually in conflict with Satan. So the notion that there was a conflict between Mary and Satan in no way mitigates the fact that the primary conflict was between Jesus and Satan. Mary was one of Jesus’ disciples just as we are; so naturally she and Satan would be in conflict as well. Moreover, Scripture itself prophecied as much:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise [and] tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait [and] bruise His heel.” (Gen. 3: 15, Amplified Version)

The early church fathers, including those in the first generation after the Apostles, understood “her seed” in this verse to foreshadow Christ (since “he” would “crush your [Satan’s] head”). By necessary consequence, “the woman” was seen by them as a prophetic reference to Mary, whom they regarded as “the new Eve.” So there was indeed a conflict going on between Mary and Satan, a conflict going all the way back to Satan’s first effort to kill Jesus as an infant.

It may seem like a small quibble, but it is an important one. What was Mary’s role in the salvation of the human race?…

She was the means/instrument by which the Incarnation took place and the Son was brought into the world. The Son would not have been able to die for our sins had He not been fully human as well as fully divine. Mary made that a reality by her humble submission to the Father’s will for her. She could have said “no.”

Was she one of the redeemed, or did she somehow participate with Christ in the redemption of the human race? Was she “redeemed” or “redeemer”?

To answer the second question first, she was indeed one of the redeemed, as she said herself in Luke 1 when she refers to “God my Savior.” (Luke 1: 47) The chief difference between her and the rest of the redeemed is that she was redeemed retroactively to better prepare her for her role as Jesus’ mother.

Augustine put it this way:

…We must except the holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the subject of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin.

Well, then, if, with this exception of the Virgin, we could only assemble together all the forementioned holy men and women, and ask them whether they lived without sin whilst they were in this life, what can we suppose would be their answer? Would it be in the language of our author, or in the words of the Apostle John? I put it to you, whether, on having such a question submitted to them, however excellent might have been their sanctity in this body, they would not have exclaimed with one voice: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us?”

But perhaps this their answer would have been more humble than true! Well, but our author has already determined, and rightly determined, “not to place the praise of humility on the side of falsehood.” If, therefore, they spoke the truth in giving such an answer, they would have sin, and since they humbly acknowledged it, the truth would be in them; but if they lied in their answer, they would still have sin, because the truth would not be in them.

On Nature and Grace: Against Pelagius, Chap.42

To answer your first question, both Catholics and Orthodox hold, with the early church, that Mary did indeed “participate in the redemption of the human race,” including herself, by participating in the Incarnation as the Theotokos, “God-bearer.”

The film seemed to me simply to be a restatement of a doctrine which most protestants would take issue with: Mary is joint mediator with Christ between God and mankind. I know this is othordox Catholic theology….

Not quite :-) Orthodox Catholic theology teaches that Mary acts as a subordinate “mediator” —or, more accurately, intercessor— between Christ and the rest of the redeemed, as well as the unredeemed by praying for their salvation, just as the rest of us “co-mediators”/”intercessors” do. In that sense, she mimics the Old Testament role of the Davidic Gebirah (“queen-mother”), which office was subordinate to that of the Davidic Kings.

So Mary is not in any way a joint mediator with Jesus in any egalitarian sense. After all, no matter what her state in Heaven is now, she still remains a creature. The false impression that the titles “Co-Mediatrix” and “Co-Redemptrix” implies a co-equal status with Christ is based on a misunderstanding of the prefix “co-” which comes from the Latin cum, “with”. For example, in aviation the co-pilot doesn’t have the same rank or status as the pilot; he is subordinate to the pilot even though he is “with” (“co-“) the pilot in the cockpit. The Vatican’s own official Catechism, which all Catholics are obligated to assent to, makes this clear:

Mary’s function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin’s salutary influence on men flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it. No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful [1 Peter 2:9; Rev 1:6], and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source.

—paragraph 970, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Vatican: 1994 [italics added for emphasis]

Having said that, I think it is possible to interpret the film, at other points, as portraying Mary standing on the same ground in relation to Christ as Mary Magdalene. If I remember correctly, both women smear their faces with Christ’s blood, both thus receiving forgiveness for their sin. Or am I mistaken in this?

No, I think that’s a very good point. Both Marys were in need of a Redeemer. The only difference between them is that one of them was redeemed in a unique manner long before the other. IOW, if the Son had not come down from Heaven, become a man, and died on the cross, neither of the Marys would’ve been redeemed.

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Roger, here’s a biblical study on Christ’s redemption of man written by Irenaeus (125-202 AD), who became Bishop of Lyons in Gaul. Irenaeus was taught by Polycarp, one of the Apostle John’s disciples. Paragraph 33 goes into Mary’s role as the “new Eve” of the New Covenant, one of the Marian themes preserved, passed on, and developed by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches over the centuries:

31. So then He united man with God, and established a community of union between God and man; since we could not in any other way participate in incorruption, save by His coming among us. For so long as incorruption was invisible and unrevealed, it helped us not at all: therefore it became visible (2 Tim. 1:10), that in all respects we might participate in the reception of incorruption. And, because in the original formation of Adam all of us were tied and bound up with death through his disobedience, it was right that through the obedience of Him who was made man for us we should be released from death: and because death reigned over the flesh, it was right that through the flesh it should lose its force and let man go free from its oppression. So “the Word was made flesh,” (John 1:14) that, through that very flesh which sin had ruled and dominated, it should lose its force and be no longer in us. And therefore our Lord took that same original formation as (His) entry into flesh, so that He might draw near and contend on behalf of the fathers, and conquer by Adam that which by Adam had stricken us down. 32. Whence then is the substance of the first-formed (man)? From the Will and the Wisdom of God, and from the virgin earth. “For God had not sent rain,” the Scripture says, “upon the earth, before man was made; and there was no man to till the earth.” (Gen. 2:5) From this, then, whilst it was still virgin, God took dust of the earth and formed the man, the beginning of mankind. So then the Lord, summing up afresh this man, took the same dispensation of entry into flesh, being born from the Virgin by the Will and the Wisdom of God; that He also should show forth the likeness of Adam’s entry into flesh, and there should be that which was written in the beginning, “man after the image and likeness” of God. (Gen. 1:26)

33. And just as through a disobedient virgin man was stricken down and fell into death, so through the Virgin who was obedient to the Word of God man was reanimated and received life. For the Lord came to seek again the sheep that was lost; and man it was that was lost: and for this cause there was not made some other formation, but in that same which had its descent from Adam He preserved the likeness of the (first) formation. For it was necessary that Adam should be summed up in Christ, that mortality might be swallowed up and overwhelmed by immortality; and Eve summed up in Mary, that a virgin should be a virgin’s intercessor, and by a virgin’s obedience undo and put away the disobedience of a virgin. (I Cor. 15:53)

34. And the trespass which came by the tree was undone by the tree of obedience, when, hearkening unto God, the Son of man was nailed to the tree; thereby putting away the knowledge of evil and bringing in and establishing the knowledge of good: now evil it is to disobey God, even as hearkening unto God is good. And for this cause the Word spake by Isaiah the prophet, announcing beforehand that which was to come——for therefore are they prophets, because they proclaim what is to come: by him then spake the Word thus: “refuse not, nor gainsay: I gave my back to scourging, and my cheeks to smiting; and my face I turned not aivay from the shame of spitting.” (Isa. 1:5 f)

So then by the obedience wherewith He obeyed “even unto death,” (Phil.2:8) hanging on the tree, He put away the old disobedience which was wrought in the tree. Now seeing that He is the Word of God Almighty, who in unseen wise in our midst is universally extended in all the world, and encompasses its length and breadth and height and depth —for by the Word of God the whole universe is ordered and disposed— in it is crucified the Son of God, inscribed crosswise upon it all: for it is right that He being made visible, should set upon all things visible the sharing of His cross, that He might show His operation on visible things through a visible form. For He it is who illuminates the height, that is the heavens; and encompasses the deep which is beneath the earth; and stretches and spreads out the length from east to west; and steers across the breadth of north and south; summoning all that are scattered in every quarter to the knowledge of the Father.

35. Moreover He fulfilled the promise made to Abraham, which God had promised him, to make his seed as the stars of heaven. For this Christ did, who was born of the Virgin who was of Abraham’s seed, and constituted those who have faith in Him “lights in the world,” and by the same faith with Abraham justified the Gentiles. For “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” In like manner we also are justified by faith in God: for “the just shall live by faith.” Now “not by the law is the promise to Abraham, but by faith:” for Abraham was justified by faith: and “for a righteous man the law is not made.” In like manner we also are justified not by the law, but by faith, which is witnessed to in the law and in the prophets, whom the Word of God presents to us. (Phil. 2:15. Gen. 15:6; cf. Rom. 4:3. Gal. 3:2; Rom.4:13. 1st Tim. 1: 9)

Demonstration of the Preaching of the Apostles, cir. 175 AD

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Anonymous's picture

The Passion”— Soul Food for Fat, Stupid Religionists

Posted by Michael Bunker editor@lazarusunbound.com

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man , and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” (Romans 1:18-23)

February 19, 2004 - When Jesus Christ walked the earth; mankind came face to face with the incorruptible God of creation. But they would not have Him or glorify Him as God. The Light shined in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended Him not (John 1:5). “ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not ” (John 1:10 -11).

Jesus Christ? Or an image of Jesus Christ?

When the real Jesus humbled Himself in order to meet with man, the whole world did not gather to see him in plush theatres, but in fact,

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done ” (Acts 4:26-28).

The Kings of the world, the Gentiles and the people of Israel (uh… that’s everyone by the way) gathered together to crucify Jesus Christ, while He still walked among them as the “fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9), thus fulfilling the prophecy that said:

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying , Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us ” (Psalms 2:1-3).

You see, when they knew God, they glorified Him NOT as God. They glorified Him not at all.

Get this, and get it straight…

When God in the flesh, the authentic, 3D, Jesus Christ of Nazareth really and truly walked the earth and met with religious men… THEY CRUCIFIED HIM… now they sell tickets to see it.

Now we are confronted with a 2D image of “the christ” who is not only NOT GOD, but who was formed in the mind of a radical Papist, whose words were translated by a Jesuit priest, and who is being pushed by the marketing arm of the largest profit-making religious system in the world… and we are told to expect that this false image of “christ” will convert men to the real Christ, who was crucified by the same religious men who are selling the false “christ”?

 Hmmmm.

The Marketing of the Honkey Christ

It was prophesied that these antichrists would eventually form an image of God out of their own imaginations; an image and likeness of Him made after the manner of corruptible man. For centuries, idolaters have painted an image of Jesus that cannot be correct. They turned the humble, non-descript middle-eastern Messiah into a long-haired, blue-eyed, gentile Jesus; an image formed from the depths of their own fallen natures. They pushed this Jesus in magazines and study materials, in coffee shops and supermarkets. They painted him into their Bibles, and adorned their walls with him. They formed icons and talismans out of a concocted picture they dreamed up in their minds. They put his face on calendars and bookmarks; they pushed this white, blue-eyed, hippy Jesus in schools and prisons. Mankind’s foolish, religious heart has been so darkened that he has gone the way of Antichrist; that foul villain who the Bible predicts would someday erect an image that the whole world would think is really God.

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God , which he made with you, and make you a graven image ,or the likeness of any thing , which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee ” (Deuteronomy 4:23).

Fallen man will not have God as God; they will not have the spiritual reality. Instead, they will always make an image after the vanity of their own imaginations. They love images, you see, because images do not judge; images do not condemn. It is the inevitable goal of the fallen, religious mind, to make and have an image in order to have some type of relationship with “god”. It has always been this way.

In the desert of real history, religious man always rejected the real God in favor of God’s they made themselves:

They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt ” (Exodus 32:8).

When these men have the chance to meet with the real God, they will not do it:

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die ” (Exodus 20:19) .

Christ in the desert? Christ in the theatre?

Jesus warned us that false religionists (false prophets, false “anointed ones”) would try to get us to go see an image of Him:

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together ” (Matthew 24:23-28).

We will examine this interesting prophecy of Christ as we go along; but it is interesting to note that Mel Gibson, a Papist movie maker, has now presented his image of Christ to the world in the form of a Motion Picture produced by his own company ICON PRODUCTIONS, entitled “ The Passion of The Christ” .

From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:

I’CON , n. [Gr. an image, to resemble.] An image or representation. PRODUCTION , n. [L. productio.] The act or process of producing, bringing forth or exhibiting to view.ICON PRODUCTION: the act of producing and bringing forth an image.

Mel Gibson, Pre Vatican II Catholic, has created and brought forth for your viewing pleasure, an image or representation of “christ”. He has said, “ Lo, here is Christ ” . The Pope of Rome and his henchmen have now validated the claim, and have declared the authenticity of this image of Christ by saying, ” It is as it was ” . They have even gone so far as to infer that to reject this movie, is to reject the gospel:

…if they’re critical of the film, they would be critical of the Gospel ” (Archbishop John Foley, President, Pontifical Council for Social Communications, The Vatican)

So what we have before us is a moving, speaking image (made by man) of Jesus Christ who is now in heaven. We are being exhorted by the Antichrist (The Popish church) and the False Prophet (Apostate Protestantism) to look upon this image and be emotionally moved by it. The entire religious world is pushing this image of Christ in a way that has been unseen in history. The Romanists, who have executed over 100 million Christians in their continued thrust to mass market the corporate “Jesus”, recently launched a website in order to promote “The Passion ” movie as a means of recruiting for the Roman Catholic Church (the largest and most deadly cult in the world). Here are some quotes from Protestants taken from that Catholic website in their attempt to “win souls” to the Antichrist. Please listen to the actual words these religious men (who have seen the film) use, and you will see that my position that this movie creates a lasting, visual image of Christ in the mind is accurate:

The Passion is one of the most amazing images of the real account of the Crucifixion. What struck me most was the gritty, in your face account of the ultimate hero Jesus Christ. Although graphic and brutal, it is a film worth taking your children and friends to witness on the big screen. This may be the next great evangelism tool of our time.” -Brian Blomberg, VP and Chief Development Officer, Promise Keepers

Every time I preach or speak about the Cross, the things I saw on the screen will be on my heart and mind .” - Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

It has been nearly three weeks since I saw the rough cut of The Passion. It is still impacting my life. I can’t stop thinking about it nor can I stop talking about it. I have never seen a film that has so affected my life.” -Del Tackett, Executive Vice President, Focus On The Family

Three words summarize for me: Sobering, Stunning, Haunting. The film speaks for itself. I hope you keep the graphic nature of it complete in the film, because it will cause everyone to reflect on what His death was. The world tends to wash over this directness. The details are very accurate — this is the kind of death our Lord died for me.” - Dr. Darrell Bock, Research Professor of New Testament, Dallas Theological Seminary

As President of Young Life, I am pleased to voice my strong support for The Passion. The Young Life sphere of influence includes tens of thousands of staff and volunteers, as well as hundreds of thousands of adults and kids who would be lining up in an instant to see this film. In addition, I think the film will have mass appeal to people of any faith or no particular faith, simply because of the quality of the production and the historical nature of the content.” - Denny Rydberg, President, Young Life

I have no doubt that the movie will be one of the greatest evangelistic tools in modern day history. I think people will go to it and then flood into the churches seeking to know the deeper implications of this movie.” - Ed Young Jr., Pastor, Dallas-Area Fellowship Church

I believe The Passion of The Christ may well be one of the most powerful evangelistic tools of the last 100 years, because you have never seen the story of Jesus portrayed this vividly before .” - Greg Laurie, Harvest Crusades

The thing that I’m most excited about is the opportunity it’s going to give those of us who preach the cross.” - Jack Graham, President, Southern Baptist Convention

I found it deeply moving, factually accurate and unprejudiced in its presentation.” - Jack Hayford, Chancellor, The King’s Seminary

It is deeply moving, powerful, and disturbing. A film that must be seen - although the graphic scenes of the scourging of Jesus are emotionally wrenching.” - James Dobson, Chairman, Focus on the Family

Mr. Gibson has attempted to painstakingly recreate the crucifixion of Christ, not to assail Jews, but to arouse in people a desire to understand the price paid for their salvation. I am praying that Mel Gibson’s movie will have a powerful impact on our culture and that it will appeal to millions of movie lovers who are starving for a glimmer of honesty regarding the miraculous and life-changing story of the One who died for everyone, no matter their religious heritage, station in life, sexual preference or skin color. (From Falwell Confidential, Sept 24, 2003)” - Dr. Jerry Falwell, The Liberty Channel

It took a brave heart to make “The Passion”. “The Passion” is the most graphic, gritty and gripping depiction of Christ’s arrest, trial and execution ever made. As a film, it will become a classic work of art with dramatic lighting, authentic sets, compelling music, realistic dialog, believable actors coupled with a timeless story.” - Jim West, President, Faith Television Network

The Passion will stun audiences and create an incredible appetite for people to know more about Jesus. I urge Christians to invite their spiritually seeking friends to see this movie with them.” - Lee Strobel, Former Atheist & Author “The Case for Christ” & “The Case for Faith”

This will do for “Jesus” movies what “Saving Private Ryan” did for war pictures. Every Christian MUST go see this movie and hold Mr. Gibson up in prayer. He’s going to take a lot of heat for this project, but if we’ll support him, this movie could have a profound spiritual effect on millions of people.” - Paul Crouch, Jr., Trinity Broadcasting Network

Brilliant, biblical - a masterpiece.” - Rick Warren, Pastor, Saddleback Church and Author of “The Purpose Driven Life”

I can’t tell you how I admire, respect and applaud you. May God give you the blessing you need, where you need it most. The Passion is an awe-inspiring portrayal of the last hours of Jesus’ life. It is an accurate account of Jesus’ real sufferings for the sins of the whole world. This is not a film anyone should miss.” - Dr. Robert Schuller, Crystal Cathedral / Hour of Power

From a ministry perspective I tried to imagine what young people would think and how they would respond. My hope is that they will also be captured by the presentation . I believe they will because it is simply the telling of God’s story. I am most encouraged by the fact that they will see a true representation of Jesus : fully God and fully man.” - Roger Cross, President, Youth For Christ/USA

Everyone should see this movie.It could be Hollywood ‘s finest achievement to date.” - Tim LaHaye, Tim LaHaye Ministries

All the horrible theology portrayed in these quotes notwithstanding, are all these so called “Protestant” men and ministries really convinced that a movie about the crucifixion of Christ will do what they believe the ACTUAL crucifixion of Christ did not? Or are they just deceived deceivers, carelessly promoting a blatant violation of the 2 nd commandment?

Charismatics and Fundamentalists, Ecumenists and Papists, Bible Societies and Universalists, all singing the praises of a two dimensional “jesus” made from light and shadow projected on a flat screen; all agreeing that this image is fundamentally better and more effective at portraying the reality of God’s mind concerning the Crucifixion than the Bible is.

Demolishing the 2nd Commandment

The decalogue is another word for the “Ten Commandments” (which expression actually does not appear in the Hebrew, but instead is rendered “THE TEN WORDS”). The miraculous and solemn way in which the Ten Words were delivered to the children of Israel identifies them as separate and distinct from the 600+ other ceremonial and sacrificial laws (which served as types and shadows of that which was to come), and as an exposition of God’s own character and reality. God’s moral law and personal character was loosely encompassed in the “Ten Words”, and in fact, Christ Himself summed them up in the two laws of Christ which enumerated our obligations to God and man:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ” (Matthew 22:37 -39).

There were other moral laws in the scriptures which were listed separately, but which also fell under the “Ten Words”; these were the “pre-law” commandments which set out the divine institutions of God (such as biblical marriage, government, nationalism, church, etc.).

The best way to understand the bounds and extent of the 2 nd commandment particularly, is to study the purpose of God in giving the Decalogue to us. Those who do not wish to seek and obey the mind and Word of God on this issue, will play lawyer-ball with the words until they comfortably fit their own current life within the new boundaries they have created; but God’s purpose is that we be conformed to His mind, and not that we conform His law to what we already are.

It is evident that the purpose of the 2 nd commandment involved a defense against the devil’s proclivity to change the visual images that all humans carry in their minds, and to conform those images to his evil and wicked ends in order to rob God of the Glory He receives when He is worshipped according to His proscribed means, and not according to the wicked devices of devils and men. In short…we are only allowed to worship God in the manner and according to the means that He alone has commanded. No other manner or means of worship ascends to Him, and no other worship is received of Him.

The devil, knowing this, has gone about to pervert Godly worship. It ultimately is his wicked purpose to replace the God of the universe with “another God” (or another Jesus) of his own making. Images of things in heaven or on earth, when made by the cunning of man and according to his own devices, when used in a religious setting or according to a religious purpose, serve to replace the reality of God in the minds of man, with a proxy (another Christ).

Now specifically, let us examine the pictures of Jesus (films, pictures, icons, etc.) that are now everywhere. What purpose do these images serve? We can be sure that they do not represent, nor can they ever represent the fullness or reality of the God/Man Messiah. No 2D or 3D image, made by the cunning of man, could ever show us Jesus. They all must naturally be LESS THAN Jesus - and so, naturally must be “another Jesus”. Now, aren’t we warned against having anything to do with “another Jesus”? Aren’t we commanded not to go to the mountains or the desert (or to the movie theatre) if someone is to say “hey, Jesus is here” or “Jesus is there”?

Now, notwithstanding the cries and objections of those who think they are spiritual enough to break the law of God with impunity (Oh, and these so-called “christians” will flock to see this movie), you would have to admit that probably 99% of those who have any concept of a “Jesus Christ” at all, have a conception of him (blue eyed, long hair, etc.) that was invented by idolaters. I dare say that probably just about everyone who reads these words must combat this false image (which exists between their own ears) of this concocted image of Jesus Christ. When you pray, the false Jesus is in your mind. When you worship, the false Jesus is there! We naturally must combat that picture EVERY DAY, merely because, from the time you were a child, the fallen and rebellious religious world has projected this false picture of Jesus Christ into your head.

So the spirit (which maketh alive) of the commandment is that we be careful not to let the devil replace the reality of the Biblical God with the image of what man thinks about God.

So, we can determine that any attempt to draw Christians into this idolatry is born in the mind of the devil, should be eschewed by all true Christians, can only serve to lessen and rob from the Glory of God, specifically and particularly creates an image of Jesus (who is in heaven) when in reality the image is a false and lying image (albeit it is made to speak).

False controversy, designed to hide the REAL offenses

Despite all the contrived controversy over this film (in reality, there is no controversy at all amongst the “professing christian” world, but in fact there is shocking and unprecedented support and agreement, bordering on fanaticism, about this film) it seems that almost no so-called “christians” are viewing this film as a blatant violation of the purpose, spirit and letter of the 2 nd commandment. Mel Gibson and his Jesuitical cadre concocted the “anti-Semitism” charge (when there was none) and other tempests in teapots, while obscuring the involvement of the Jesuit order in creating the screenplay for this movie. The translation was also completed by a Jesuit priest named William J. Fulco.

The blatant and obvious non-biblical “inventions” in the film, and the fact that most of the visceral account is not derived from the Gospels, but from the “visions” of a couple of 17th and 18th century Catholic nuns, show beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is not just a lack of discernment on the part of the so-called “protestant christians”, but is, in fact, more evidence of their general apostasy and the antichristian nature of modern Protestantism.

Further evidence of the Jesuit influence on the film, is the well rehearsed and bizarre Diane Sawyer interview about the film with Mel Gibson on February 16 th . In a previous interview, dated only 5 months earlier, Gibson stated that, ” There is no salvation for those outside the Church “(The New Yorker, Sept. 15. 2003). However, in the February 16 th interview, Gibson stated that there was salvation for just about everyone, and that being a Catholic only made it “easier” to get to heaven. This type of obfuscation is perfectly Jesuitical. The Jesuits have long used this tactic, claiming that those outside of the Church of Rome are heretics and will be damned, while being behind (financially and otherwise) every single ecumenical and universalist move on the planet.

In the same interview on February 16 th , Gibson claimed that life was “all about choice”, pushing the Catholic/Druidic/Arminian “Free-Will” line to the hilt, claiming that everyone has the ability within them to choose good or evil; while later in that interview he claimed that “God ordains everything…God made my bed this morning”. This contradictory activity is a philosophy known as “middle-knowledge” and was created as an attack on the Doctrine of Grace preached by all of the Reformers by a Jesuit Priest named Luis de Molina in the early 16 th century. “Middle-knowledge” states that both Free-Will and Predestination are totally true, and that although God ordains everything, every man also has a totally Free-Will to choose good or evil at any time.

The Jesuits swore in the 1500’s to destroy and wage perpetual war against Protestantism. Now they present this movie to you for your enjoyment!

Line up, pay up, sit down, bow down, file out…Jesus in the secret chambers

So the Jesuits have struck again, and the new Religious Marketing arm of the False Prophet churches will make sure that millions of dollars are pumped into the coffers of the Antichrist system. First they sold you “Left Behind” and “The Prayer of Jabez”, now their hawking “A Purpose Driven Life” and “The Passion”. The eagles are gathered together around the carcass of a false “christ” stuffing themselves on the foul flesh of a concocted image, pushing their meal on a public starved for any “god” but the Creator God of the Holy Bible; with their mouths full and dripping from the edges, the plead with you to join them.

But my Jesus Christ is in heaven, seated on the right hand of the Father. He is with me in the person of the Holy Spirit, and He has revealed Himself to me by the Spirit through the Holy Bible. “…as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” . I will heed His warning, and refuse to accept, and refuse to go to see, any other “christ”.

The 2nd commandment forbids true Christians from participating in this hideous monstrosity of a meal, but you can be sure that “The Passion of The Christ”, will be soul food for fat, stupid religionists the world over. I can hear their stomachs rumble even now.

I am your servant in Christ Jesus,

Michael Bunker