Topic: the Passion of Christ

+ the Passion of Christ
From	Message
Jonny 25 Mar 04, 22:57	+ the Passion of Christ i was speaking to sum1 about this and wondered what people\'s views were!? im sure an interesting debate could happen right here......
Jon 26 Mar 04, 09:38	+ try http://whattheblinkingflipareyou.blogspot.com/2004_02_29_whattheblinkingflipareyou_archive.html#107857592265689227 or www.yeah-i-know.blogspot.com
Rich_Rocks 26 Mar 04, 10:13	+ My opinion is thus... Oh wait I don\'t have one because i fail to care a single iota.
james 26 Mar 04, 19:03	+ you know... read evangelical times or go to banneroftruth.co.uk and search in for an essay on it. The debate is good but is drawing to a conclusion I am afraid. The film is out and no debating will change that.
Sweetmadness 26 Mar 04, 20:14	+ yeh debating is not going to change it..but its knowing whether to watch it or not that's the issue...
Hannymac 26 Mar 04, 23:32	+ I've just come back from watching 'The Passion of Christ'
Jonny 27 Mar 04, 00:35	+ and, well..... ur opinion on it?
orange 27 Mar 04, 10:31	+ what did u think i should b watching it nxt wk
pilchthegeek 31 Mar 04, 22:01	+ Everyone who i have talked to has thort that the film is a very inspiring graphic representation of the glorious death of our Saviour. I'm too young to go and see it, but there is an accompanying book with pictures, a paraphrased story and a foreword by Mel Gibson. He's created this film to share the Love of Christ with others, so i think we shud forget the controversy, especially surrounding Mel being a Catholic, and use it for the amazing opportunity it is to witness.He spent many years researching it personally, and he has aimed to portray it in a touching way. The film starts with Isaiah 53:5, He was bruised for our iniquities etc. and lets pray that this will be the sowing of a seed in the hearts of many. A sequel focusing on the ressurection is rumoured. According to Martin, our pastor, most of the Christian reviews on it are really just nit-picking, and we should just really focus on the opportunity. One young lady was in wesley owen in harrogate on saturday, tellin me how they were givin tracts out to cryin ppl and gettin good responses. Thats my annual ramble
markydude 31 Mar 04, 22:12	+ yeah but the end cant justify the means in my view. If a woman was preaching and a man became converted through her preaching - then that's great - but it doesnt make it right. Imitating God or Jesus is wrong - look at Commandment numero 2: Aaron and co made an idol to worship God, but were breaking God's law in doing so
james 31 Mar 04, 22:59	+ try http://whattheblinkingflipareyou.blogspot.com/2004_02_29_whattheblinkingflipareyou_archive.html#107857592265689227 or www.yeah-i-know.blogspot.com
Jon 01 Apr 04, 13:00	+ Ignore me if I'm wrong but Aaron made a statue of a calf which isn't God. The problem God had with this was that he is a "jealous" God not because he doesn't look like a cow. If you look at the 2nd commandment it says "Do not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on eaqrth beneath or in the waters below. Ex. 20. Flick over a couple of pages and you find the Children of Israel making an Ark of the Covenant and guess what it has on the top? A Cherub or two cherubim as it rightly is. Now to my knowledge this would signify the breaking of your commandment? Yet it was commanded by God so, therefore, as God cannot sin ie. break one of his own commandments, then this was not wrong. If this was not wrong, then the emphasis is on the worshiping something other than God. Remember the Rich Young Ruler? He was guilty of breaking the 2nd commandment.. he loved money more than God. The pragmatic behind the commandment is to put God first in everything. I'm not pro-Passion... I'm merely sceptical of the 2nd Commandment argument...
orange 01 Apr 04, 14:24	+ yea but i think u missing the point anyway
Rich_Rocks 01 Apr 04, 15:36	+ Shut up. I have no time for the 'amazing witness oppourtunity' thing. I heard someone from my church saying it was a 'great tool' for christianity... yeah. As far as i'm concerned if a man (or woman or child) isn't 'stirred' by the word of God or it's preaching no song, story, film, play, tv programme or anything else will do so either. The film is a piece of Hollywood and thus it's existence is to make money, no matter how much honey you pour over it.
Sweetmadness 01 Apr 04, 17:10	+ I understand how it can be seen as a great chance to evangelise...but surely if it is unbiblical in any way and portrays his death in the wrong way then surely even if it does lead people to be interested in it...they're drawn in to the wrong thing!Also i dont think its helpful is the actor is attractive as it gtes attention for totally the wrong reasons...obviously. I've also heard that not much is mentioned about WHY he died...that there is little about salvation and our sins...but focuses mainly on the physical suffering of Jesus as the catholics do, rather than the pain of him taking our sin onto his shoulders. I havn't seen it though so i can't say thats definitely true. yeh point well made Jon...I'd not thought about that in that way before, I guess i have more of a poblem with someone acting as if they were Jesus. If we're goign to stick to never making images of Jesus...we shouldn't really have a doll in nativity plays.
orange 01 Apr 04, 17:28	+ still think ur missint the point
Jon 01 Apr 04, 20:42	+ Well you can't even write properly...
james 01 Apr 04, 22:15	+ i am just going to write a few points, drawing from loads of things that I have read and written myself. Firstly, Jon said on his blogspot a while back that why aren't we complaining about all the films that break the third commandment. So really, the second commandment argument isn't the main reason not to see the passion. I am not entirely sure about whether or not it does break it. Will decide later. As a side point, with all this debate about the passion, where are the evangelical christians out there protesting against the re realease of the life of brian, something that is far more damaging. The film has a profoundly catholic perspective. You can't say that this is not going to affect it. I haven't seen it so won't be judgemental, but to exalt Mary and add in parts from a book written by an 18th century nun isn't going to do anyone any favours. The film doesn't show us many things... 1. It doesn't explain that because God chose to save sinners, Christ had to die on the cross to save us. 2. It does not show us the total depravity of human nature in particular, ourselves and how it was our fault that Christ died just as much as it was the Jews and the Romans. 3. It doesn't show that Christ died ultimately because of the envy of the Jews, not because of any crime he had committed for he was perfect, not because of the weakness of Pilate but ultimately because God loved sinners. (John 3:16) 4. The film doesn't show the epitome of Christs suffering. It focuses on the physical aspect which indeed was terrible, but surely when you read the gospel narratives you see the ultimate suffering was the emotion of having your Father with whom you share the same essence turn his back on him. This point highlights something at the depth of human thinking. We are alwyas forgetting the spiritual side and focusing on earthly things (physical suffering) 5. The film does not show the ressurection. Surely, if there was no ressurection in the bible the Christian Religion would be pointless if Christ had not defeated death. Leaving the film, many people will see it as a defeat, but that is completely the wrong impression to give. The Passion of Christ ultimately acheived a victory. The passion may well be a good tool for evangelism but only if we make it to be so. Someone seeing the film wont be saved i am persuaded because it tells very little. We have to be prepared to witness. After all, the films out, doesn't God use everything for his glory? Just one verse from scripture now... "we live by faith and not by sight" (1 Corinthians 1:21) surely the bible preached powerfully is the best median to tell people of the gospel. At the end of the day, when alls said and done i would more tend towards being anti passion but not passionately anti passion. On a plus note, john Piper has written an evangelical book that accompanies the film which gives loads of reasons why Christ died and what that means. That has sold over a million copies. And that is useful. So lets pray that it will be used ultimately to Gods glory but focus more on witnessing as we live our lives and telling people of the Bible not "the passion"... just some thoughts, sorry that i keep repeating myself again and again. Hope that was clear enough.
markydude 01 Apr 04, 23:25	+ i shan't watch it anyway, someone told me what happens. Anyway, the film's never as good as the book.
Sweetmadness 02 Apr 04, 00:34	+ Orange:How are we missing the point?!? what do you think the point is? James: I read that whole post thinking it was Jon...you sounded very Jon-like or maybe he sounds very James-like...anyways!you said everything i wanted to say...and much more...except yours all made sense and was understandable.Tres helpful markydude: heehee good point!nothing like a good ending runined. its an 18 so i shouldn't really go to the cinema to watch it...