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by Fred Price
The tables are being turned on us in the debate concerning Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ"; with some in the secular world asking - What would Jesus do? We'd better be ready with some answers.
Some ask if Christ were to make a movie about himself, would the focus be on the last twelve hours of his life or would it concentrate on his love, tolerance and forgiveness as well as the selflessness he expects his followers to emulate. Would he really want man's inhumanity to man portrayed in such graphic detail? Would he risk inflaming passions against his countrymen by depicting their role in his death?
This has in turn fanned the flames of debate between those who believe Jesus died on the cross for all men's sins, making it the central aspect of his life - the resurrection giving credence to his words, power to his life and authenticity to his claim of Sonship (Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 1:18); and those claiming that Jesus' most powerful message was conveyed in the legacy he left through the manner in which he lived and treated others. (Making him no less yet no more than any other great man with a good message we might choose to follow or ignore - albeit one with delusions of grandeur in claiming to be God's Son.)F1
Still others question the veracity of the Bible, while citing no proof of historical error in it's rendering of the gospel story. Gene Veith, World Magazine's culture editor, sums up many of the negative reviews as nothing more than veiled objections to the Bible's message of salvation through Christ.F2 He notes that besides Mr. Gibson's movie, which focuses on the final hours of Christ's life, Garth Drabinsky has produced a full-length movie from the Gospel of John. He too has attempted to be sensitive to the possibility of anti-Semitism in identifying the antagonistic "Jews" of John's Gospel as the "Jewish authorities." Alan Segal, a Jewish scholar who collaborated on the making of the movie noted that the book of John unflinchingly details Jewish complicity in bringing about Christ's death but is in fact, "…the most Jewish in (all) it's subject matter.".
For some, these efforts make no difference. According to critics such as Donald Akenson, both movies are full of hate as a result of Jewish and Christian monotheism; making them exclusivistic and intolerant. ( 34:15,16; John 14:6 and Acts 4:12 giving credence to the claim of exclusiveness - but not as result of hate-filled intolerance but rather as a means of protection from ungodly influence and the supremacy of Christ as, "…the exact representation of (God's) being." Hebrews 1:3) Mr. Akenson further states that, in his opinion, Phariseeism and Christianity continued as mere rival Jewish sects after Jerusalem's fall in 70 A.D. until Christianity became the favored religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century, continuing to insinuate itself in successive governments, influencing Western thought and culture. His casual dismissal of the One God of the Bible and the Judeo-Christian influence on civilization's perception of human rights, political freedom and the value of every individual - to name just a few of its contributions to society - is ignorant, bigoted and according to Bruce Waltke a result of poor scholarship. Mr. Waltke, a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary of Orlando, Florida and a member of The Gospel of John's film advisory panel characterized Akenson's scathing editorial as an example of genuine hate speech. (Which is unconscionable - unless directed at Christians.)
Mr. Veith ends his article by advising, "…we had better get used to it." He's right. These films will be misunderstood by some, misrepresented by others, and used for ulterior purposes by still more. (John 15:20; Luke 21:8-19) Yet we must persevere as the early Christians did through tremendous persecution and pressure to conform or be silent. Of them was said that they had turned the world upside down! (Acts 17:6 KJ); which was not meant as a compliment but true none-the-less in depicting the impact of Christian principles on a pagan world. Our commitment, desire and energy must be as unflagging as theirs in our resolve to use all available resources as evangelistic tools to reach the unsaved for Christ. (Galatians 6:9)F3 "…remember this: Whoever turns a sinner form the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:20
Jesus, in warning his disciples about the deception of the world and the fallacy of some in the church, calmed their fears and focused their minds by assuring them of his presence and ultimate control. "…they will lay hands on you and persecute you. (See also 2 Timothy 3:12) They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. (See also John 15:18,19) This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." (See also John 16:33) Acknowledging the possibility of betrayal by intimates as well as the possibility of death, he none-the-less re-assured them that, "…not a hair of your head will perish." For, "By standing firm you will gain your life." Luke 21:8-19
May we respond as they did, turning our present age right side up through the cross of Christ.
F1 Tribune Star, Feb. 22, 2004
F2 World Magazine, Culture
editor - Oct. 11, 2003
F3 Contact Campus Crusade's, HeresTheStory.org, for material and ideas to be used in conjunction with this movie.
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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