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Mel Gibson on Primetime
- 02/17/04
- 20
I watched Mel Gibson's interview on ABC last night with great interest. I must say that generally I was impressed with the way he handled himself. Though at times I became half convinced that he had overdosed on caffeine before the interview, I thought he remained composed and fielded questions quite well.
However, he did stumble in one very important area.
Diane: When we talked with Gibson and his actors, we wondered, does his traditionalist view bar the door to heaven for Jews, Protestants, Muslims?
Mel: That's not the case at all. Absolutely not. It is possible for people who are not even Christian to get into the kingdom of heaven. It's just easier. I have to say that because that's what I believe.
As a matter of fact, that is worse than stumbling. Gibson effectively proved that he has no real understanding of the Gospel message. To say that it is possible to non-Christians to get to heaven is in direct contradiction to what Jesus taught. It is in contradiction to what the epistles teach. It goes against the very basic tenets of Christianity.
Another concern that this interview reinforced is that the movie is being presented as an accurate representation of the gospel story. As Diane Sawyer mentioned, Gibson seems to believe that he had the guidance of the Holy Spirit in writing the movie. At the same time he says that many of the "details" of the movie were inspired by the writings and visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a 19th-century German stigmatist and mystic. So Gibson is presenting extra-Biblical revelation as being synoymous with Biblical revelation and is making no distinction between the two.
To echo what I have said before - it is not the movie I have problems with as much as the laud that Gibson is receiving where his faith is being held up by the Protestant world as an extraordinary example. The movie in and of itself may be a wonderful opportunity to reach unbelievers, but indicating that Gibson's faith is no different from traditional Protestant faith is to make a mockery of Protestantism.
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Comments (20)
I have to totally agree with you Tim. Well said my friend. Here at church, we are deflecting the hype and rhetoric surrounding Mr. Gibson to the movie itself and presenting the Gospel message.
Our church will be viewing the film on the 28th with discussion groups meeting afterwards for those who have questions or need counseling.
Keep up the great writing Tim. You are truly an inspired man. God bless!
James
Interesting, and yet in other interviews he's said there is no salvation outside the (Catholic) church ... including his Anglican wife!
I was waiting for your comments. I missed part of the inteview. I thought that he didn't present himself very well at all,but then maybe it was cut and pasted to the t.v. station's likes. He should have hired a publicist team to coach him a bit. He laughed too much and was quite vague in my humble personal opinion. I like the guy as an actor, but I was not impressed actually with his presentation or his presentation skills.... but..that's just my opinion! You on the other hand never cease to answer my questions..!
Dawn - I, too, was intruiged by the way he backtracked on his previous comments. First he said only Catholics and now he says everyone is able to be saved. Very interesting, since the first is a pre-Vatican 2 belief and the second is a post-Vatican 2 belief.
Either way Protestants should be shocked and dismayed at his comments. I suspect most will be unmoved.
One other side thought is the network the interview aired on... ABC. I believe it is important to keep in mind that this interview was on (perhaps) the least moral of the non-cable channels.
Despite that thought, I feel that Mel is doing us a disservice and should let the film speak for itself.
Good and interesting posts, Tim. How nice to have you do ressearch for me!
Good,intersting posts, Tim. How nice to have you do reasearch for me!
Two points:
Mel Gibson has shown himself as a half-hearted, and either uninformed or uncommitted Christian who espouses wrong theology. Further, when he had the chance to say that he gave his life to Christ insted of jumping out the window, he didn't. Why? Chicken, perhaps? Why then, if Mel's theology and commitment is clearly undeveloped, would anyone believe that this movie was, as he says, inspired by the Holy Spirit? Forget about Mel. Let us just go and see the movie and let God move in us as He intends during the showing. Let us not hold Mel Gibson up as some beacon of Christianity or somehow tout this movie as worthy because Mel was allegedly inspired to make it.
Secondly and more importantly,the real take-away from this movie will come near its end when Jesus says on the cross "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". This is the starting point for helping a non-believer understand the redemptive nature of Jesus and His sacrifice. Instead of crying "Revenge", Jesus cried "Forgive". Therein lies the difference between Jesus and all of humanity, past, present and future. Focus the non-believer on that point and you are off to a good start.
There are two things I refuse to watch on TV. 1. Barbara Walters and 2. Diane Sawyer. Perhaps Mel feels the same way! Posted from a WI-FI connection in the back of a BIG truck at the Flying J truckstop in Jackson, MS.
Good observations on Gibson's Catholic faith - I watched it with my wife and some friends... they were shocked when I said out loud that he is a surprisingly good Roman Catholic - he shows the tension within the RCC these days and the self-contradiction. Vatican II did not revoke previous dogma of "No salvation outside of the Catholic Church" - it simply said that there are people who are members of the Church who "do not know it." So we Protestants are no longer anathema, just "misguided brethren." We'll just get more years in purgatory! So yes, there is no salvation outside of the Church, but most of us are in the Church whether we know it (and confess it) or not. Yikes!
This could be the most classic example of the person who has an abundant knowledge about the life and death of Jesus, the Messiah, but does not know the Christ of whom he speaks. Knowing facts about Jesus or Bible is not what saves you. Making movies about Jesus does not take away your sins.
Having been a Catholic until the truth of the gospel was made known to me, I trusted in the RCC for salvation, for the sacraments which would give me grace. The bottom line was that I was still as lost as ever, trusting in what I did or could do to earn and keep God's favor. I was as good a Catholic as Mel Gibson. Well, maybe not quite (I didn't do 50 hail mary's every day). But, I found I did not know God. We can have a personal relationship with him. The cross is about His favor for me. He said, It is finished. And, I believe him.
Pray that someone has the opportunity to share the gospel with Mr. Gibson. It is hard to receive it when you are a very good person because one already feels righteous by his own works. So, pray that the next time someone interviews him and asks him who is going to heaven, he responds, only those who put their faith in trust in Christ alone. Perhaps the greatest victory of the film could be that it's maker might be saved.
The Catholic Church has always taught that anybody can be saved. ONLY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, though... here are some facts along with where you can read the actual documents from where they come.
Pius IX (Quanto conficiamur moerore, August 10, 1863) taught: "God... in His supreme goodness and clemency, by no means allows anyone to be punished with eternal punishments who does not have the guilt of voluntary fault." Vatican II (Lumen gentium # 16) taught the same: "They who without their own fault do not know of the Gospel of Christ and His Church, but yet seek God with sincere heart, and try, under the influence of grace, to carry out His will in practice, known to them through the dictate of conscience, can attain eternal salvation." Pius XII had said (Mystici Corporis Christi) that one can "be related to the Church by a certain desire and wish of which he is not aware", i.e., by the desire to do what God wills in general.
It is quite obvious that Gibson is not a born again believer. But beyond that what kind of impact will this have on Christianity as a whole. Feel free to read any of my essays on this subject:
http://teenopendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=B805670&entry=10184
God bless all.
+-Whetstone
The bashing you all have on this man's faith is very unchristian like in itself. Mel Gibson just created a truthful and powerful movie on the crucifixion of our savior. This movie has and will continue to affect so many different peoples lives. His comment on non-christians able to enter the gates of heaven comes from Catholic teachings. Just because at one point he was confused and uncertain on this belief does not give you the right to judge his faith. God Bless you all and I will pray for your understanding.
Jeff - I would not say Gibson's movie is truthful. It is based around true events but deviates many times in many ways. See my reviews for further details.
Tim- Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with this site, just came to it in research for a speech. Could you tell me what ways Gibson deviates the truth? I have found nothing but the truth in the movie from my understanding with an exception to his artistic liscense (ex. In the movie the nails were driven into his hand where in reality they would have went through his wrists, Gibson did this since many paintings and many crucifixes have portrayed the nails to be in Jesus' hands)
Jeff - I would start with this article.
After reading this article I still think that this movie is entirely truthful. In the article it talks about the things that are not taken straight out of the bible. This does not mean that they did not happen. There is no way that ANY historical movie can be put into a visual portrayal without artistic liscense of the directors. You bring up Jesus's abuse before the priests. Just because it does not say this straight out of the bible one can assume because of the pure hatred these people had on Jesus their was violence prior to them bringing him to Pilot. It doesn't matter where Gibson got his artistic licsence. Even if he did get his artistic licsence from views of a holy saint. Everything that happened in this movie very well could have happened. More often then not this movie was based solely on the scriptures. It is hard for me to see Christian's viewing this movie to be untruthful. Tim, I'm willing to read any more articles you may have concerning this topic. God Bless.
Jeff
Jeff, please look at this listing of articles on the Passion. You will see that this movie not only deviates from the Bible but outright denies some of the fundamentals of salvation and Christianity.
http://wayoflife.org/fbns/melgibson-thepassionofthechrist/index.html
Prayerfully look at them and consider the truth of this movie. God bless.
†Whetstone
The Holy Spirit gifted Mel Gibson with the ability to make a powerful movie that has reached so many but not with the finesse to perform his faith for Diane Sawyer. The Roman Catholic Church cannot judge each individual's salvation because we do not know what is in the heart.