THE PASSION

The Passion police
Doug Giles
February 28, 2004

Is it just me, or did Mel Gibson make Satan out to look like Sinead O’Connor in his latest movie, “The Passion of the Christ”?  Coincidence?  I don’t think so.  And what about the baby with the old man’s face that Lucifer was carrying around in that unholy Madonna-like scene during Christ’s scourging?  I swear it was Andy Rooney.

And while we’re on the subject of Mr. Rooney … hey, Andrew, it’s really time to give up the “60 Minutes” gig.  Your screed against Mel officially augers for your retirement, forced if necessary.  For you to call Gibson a “nut job” is like Michael Jackson calling Peggy Noonan “freaky.”  Give it up, Rooney.  Don’t “ruin-e” your career more than you have already.  Just move down to Miami, get a tan, eat the early bird at Wolfie’s, continue to grow those fertile eyebrows and keep convincing yourself that Bertrand Russell was right.  Most important, do us all a favor … zip it.

What is up with the violent knee jerk regarding “The Passion”?  Man, has this film struck a nerve, or what?  The two top criticisms leveled at “The Passion” are that it’s anti-Semitic, and too violent.  They’re the spoken critiques, but I really think there’s another agenda.

Let’s dissect the above three amigos.

First off, “The Passion” is not anti-Semitic, its pro-history.  Do the Jews want to erase from the historical record the carnage of the holocaust and its perpetrators because it makes Germans uncomfortable?  I don’t think so.  Just because a few bad first century religious leaders yielded up Jesus to the Romans for crucifixion doesn’t mean that well modulated 21st century
followers of Christ will condemn an entire race.

I guarantee the Germans are not thrilled over Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”.  Nevertheless, the story had to be told and the movie had to be made.  To shade the historical evidence of the holocaust atrocities because it might offend some Germans is ridiculous and does a disservice to the past, the present and the future of both Jews and Germans.

Think about it.  Christians don’t particularly like the fact that at every turn Hollywood, the media “elite”, the educational “elite” and the Liberal Left seek every opportunity to trash Christianity … but it happens unremittingly.  Modern Christians are immediately linked to the Inquisition or the Crusades every time they speak out publicly on an issue or pray over their lunch at the Olive Garden.

Christians know what Jews go through regarding persecution.  There are rabid monosyllabic anti-Christian and anti-Semitic sentiments at work in the world brought on, primarily, by the WWF tag team of Islam and liberal secularism.  If Orthodox Jews and committed Christians want to get defensive, these are your two main detractors, and that’s where the ADL
should focus their energy and resources.

All families, religions and nations have creepy stuff we would like to forget, that our ancestors did.  We can’t re-write the past just because it isn’t soft focused and flowery.  We would never learn if we were never forced to look in the ugly historical mirror.

Secondly, we come to the “too violent” charge.  This is too funny.  First of all the film is about a crucifixion, it’s not about a Wal-Mart Assistant Manager’s Day sale.  It’s supposed to be bloody, Captain Not-so-Obvious.  Isn’t it ironic that the critical squealers who disapprove of Mel’s R-rated reenactment of Christ’s death are usually the same one’s who are okay with
the gratuitous fake blood-dripping cans of celluloid AKA “Natural Born Killers”, the "Scream” trilogy, the "Hannibal Lector” series, “Dracula”, “Texas Chain Massacre”, “Pulp Fiction”, and “Desperado”?

The majority of movies nowadays are bathed in a sea of blood.  Most sport a slew of voluptuous, high-heeled, screaming coeds running from a butcher-knife-wielding, slow-moving, hockey-mask and blue-jumpsuit-wearing oaf.  Heck, if it’s not mildly to wildly pornographic, screaming and bleeding … it just can’t be fun!

And these morons who laugh and eat popcorn while watching meaningless death are now offended at Gibson’s meaningful, historically accurate portrayal of Jesus’ scourging and crucifixion?

My ClashPoint is this:  I can understand the Jewish concern of anti-Semitism, although I believe in this movie and from proper New Testament exegesis, it is unfounded and there is nothing to worry about.  It is undeniable: the Jews do not have a stronger ally on the planet than
Christians as we honor, look to and protect our spiritual, ancestral covenant roots.

And all this stuff about “unnecessary violence”?  Hey, that’s the way it was!

But what are these critics really concerned about?   What is it about “The Passion” that really worries the secular liberal left?  What’s up with the Christophobia, guys?

Are you afraid that Jesus Christ and his principles are going to have a national/global renaissance?  Are you afraid the film is going to assist a Judeo/Christian effort to bring truth and dignity back to this country?  Are you afraid that righteousness is once again going to be re-introduced into our land before you secularly sink it?

Are you afraid that biblical absolutes will be strongly resurrected into the public arena and thus potentially ruin your randy relativism?  Are you afraid of personal accountability and responsibility in an age of blame shifting and bovine scatology?  Are you afraid that the moral law is going to wreck your amoral life?

That’s it, isn’t it?   That’s why you’re working so passionately to vilify “The Passion of the Christ.” That’s your real agenda.

Doug Giles’ latest book, “Ruling in Babylon”, is available via Amazon.com. He pastors a church in Miami and hosts two award winning radio programs. 

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Another review:

"Let me begin by saying that the circumstance surrounding my seeing this film last night was wonderful. Yesterday afternoon (Thursday) as I was in the Mall a young (22yrs) Muslim man I have been getting to know sat down to talk with me. As we talked about the Bible I asked him if he was planning on seeing the Passion of Christ. "Yes," he replied, "I was going to go see it by myself tonight." "Do you want to go together?" I asked. "Yes." So we met at the movie theatre at 6PM. I was very surprised by this, because it has taken a long time to befriend him.

As we sat in the theatre waiting for the movie to begin, we talked about his country (Afghanistan) and what the consequences are for a Muslim to become a Christian. AS the theatre filled to capacity I thought to myself, "This is the way it should be." Regardless of what you think about pictures of Christ, actors playing Christ, and movies about Christ, I was very glad to see a movie theatre filled to the brim for a movie about the King of Kings. I saw the Gospel of John a few months ago in the theatre and there were only a hand full of elderly folks scattered in an empty theatre. Last night, sold out, from every walk of life.....

I have no problem with some of the "artistic license" things that were in the film. In fact, I thought some were very good. My favourite (which I think was actually brilliant) was a baby Pilate in the arms of Satan smiling at Jesus when he was being scourged; very C.S. Lewisish. It was really powerful because without that scene, you would almost think Pilate was a decent man trying to do the right thing. He doesn't want to punish Jesus, but he is stuck, "If I don't Caesar will kill me, that's my truth!" He says to his wife. But then, when you see the baby in Satan arms you realize that he is the child of the devil who cannot see the truth. Very powerful.

Another powerful scene was when Judas hangs himself right by a dead donkey that had worms and flies eating it.... Very powerful and sobering.

The film does emphasize the physical suffering of Jesus over the spiritual (I.e. being forsaken etc.). However, the other is present. And the gospel is very present.

AFTER THE MOVIE

            Here is the wonderful thing. My Muslim friend was very impacted by it (in a good way). It was interesting because he was impacted by what Jesus said (i.e. the Scripture quotes).

            When we were leaving he said, "Wow, there is something that Jesus said that has really hit me (imagine a strong afghani accent), 'He who lives by sword will die by the sword.'" In my country that is what it is all about, living and dying by guns." He went on to say, "Why haven't you Christians come to my country and make us Christian?" We talked.... Another thing that impressed was that Jesus said to love your enemies, "This is not what we are taught..... Jesus is more than a prophet."

            Needless to say, I did not, nor will I, speak to Matin (Mah-teen, that's his name) about the theological error in the film. He was not aware of it. He said he is going to bring his father to see it. "I have so many questions; I need to write them down..." I hope to see him again on Tuesday.

            So, whatever we say about the movie (being sinful or not), At least I am very happy that it has been used to give me an opportunity to speak of Christ with Matin.

In Christ, Scott"