Nearly 2,000 years following the crucifixion of Christ, the intriguing story of Jesus continues. His incomparable life has fascinated people of all generations and faith groups.
But the much-anticipated and highly criticized Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” may have sparked the greatest debate about the pinnacle figure of Christianity yet.
“The church meets several times each week, but we haven’t been able to do anything to cause a stir in this country like this movie,” said Ricky Creech, director of missions for Birmingham Baptist Association (BBA). “People are talking, whether good or bad. People are going to go see what all the hype is about,” he said, noting BBA plans to help make sure people see the movie.
Intentional evangelism
While the movie debuts Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, BBA partnered with Youth for Christ to rent out two Regal theaters in Homewood Feb. 24. One is for the general public, while the second one is reserved for ministers and their spouses.
Calhoun Baptist Association also rented theater space Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. to offer a similar opportunity for an early viewing of the movie.
“Once pastors view it, we hope they will go back to their people and promote it and encourage people to take a friend with them,” Creech said, noting the opportunity for intentional evangelism. “This is an opportunity for Christians to take a lost, unchurched friend to see the movie. It is an easy evangelism tool for Christians.”
Donnie Arrant, associate pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, agreed.
“This is a real opportunity for people to understand,” he said.
Arrant, who saw a pre-screening of the movie Jan. 20 in Chicago, said, “You are going to have an emotional response to the film. There is no way to see it without impact and change.
“The movie is very strong,” he said. “I was speechless. I felt like I had spent the afternoon at Calvary.
“I don’t think anyone will have the same response to their relationship with Christ after viewing the film,” Arrant said.
He added that there is a different level of emotion associated with this depiction of Christ. “I was able to get into the heart, eyes and mind of Christ,” Arrant explained. “You understand some of the pain. Some of the old hymns like ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ will never have the same imagery as they do now.”
Arrant acknowledged that some people will feel the movie goes too far with its scenes, but “I didn’t see any violence that I would consider gratuitous. It was all necessary.
“There are some very creative ways [Gibson] shows things where he could have been more realistic and that would have been even more disturbing,” Arrant said.
Arrant also said the Aramaic and Greek languages “gave it a lot more strength.” While subtitles are used throughout the movie, “there are places where they are not used,” he said. “But you can understand it. It is that powerful.”
Dale Younce, associate professor of religion at the University of Mobile, said “The Passion” has caused such a stir “because Jesus is the most exciting personality in world history.
“A quality and historically accurate movie about Him will stir interest,” Younce said. “Jesus will always be an intriguing figure. He is the central figure of human history.
“Hopefully the response from those who don’t attend church regularly will be favorable toward Jesus and the message, not a religion,” Younce added.
Still, the fact that Gibson’s religion is a form of Catholicism continues to surface.
He has been accused of anti-Semitism because some say the film is hard on Jews. And most recently, he has generated new controversy by saying that Protestants may be doomed to hell, according to Evangelical Press (EP).
EP reported Feb. 12 that Gibson said in an interview with the Herald Sun of Melbourne, Australia, “There is no salvation for those outside the [Catholic] Church.”
Reportedly, Gibson said that even his wife, an Episcopalian, may not go to heaven. He explained in the article, “My wife is a saint. She’s a much better person than I am. Honestly. She’s, like, Episcopalian, Church of England. She prays, she believes in God, she knows Jesus, she believes in that stuff. And it’s just not fair if she doesn’t make it.”
Attempts to confirm these statements with Gibson were unsuccessful at press time, but Creech said this latest report should be “taken with a grain of salt.”
“That is uncharacteristic of any comment he has said before,” Creech said, noting Gibson spent $23 million of his own money making the movie.
Arrant, who attended a question-and-answer session with Gibson following the pre-screening of the movie, agreed these unconfirmed reports should not take the focus off the movie.
“[Gibson] shared with us and talked about his personal relationship with Christ,” Arrant said. “He talked about the battle he fought making the film, and he was talking about a spiritual battle.
“His personal walk was evident to me, and I believe he desires to follow Christ,” Arrant said, adding Gibson’s explanation about the movie’s beginnings.
“He told us that he did not set out to make a religious film,” Arrant said. “He said, ‘My goal was to tell a true story that would change and impact lives.’”
Longtime dream fulfilled
“This has been a dream of his for 12 years,” Arrant explained. “He has been thinking about, writing and producing it for 12 years.”
And while Gibson realizes his career could take a hit from the making of this movie, he told Arrant and the other ministers Jan. 20, “I’m bored with my career. This is something important. This is something I’m supposed to be doing. Let the chips fall where they may.”
So far the chips that are falling indicate Gibson may have produced the largest grossing independently produced movie in history. And much of this support has come from evangelical Protestants in the United States.
Creech said, “If the movie is a success, it will be because of the grassroots movement — evangelicals supporting it.
“We need to send a signal that we want movies that are made in good taste and about faith and hope and abundant life coming out of Hollywood,” Creech said. “We don’t need all the violence and vice and sex coming out of there,” he said.
Creech said he plans to have trained counselors at the Feb. 24 early showing of the movie. “We will ask everyone to remain after the movie and will offer a time of commitment or recommitment,” he said.
In the theater reserved for ministers and their spouses, Creech said he would talk with them before the movie and encourage them to go back to their congregations and gather support for the film’s use as an evangelistic tool.
“I think for the pastors, it will bring back the reality and stir their hearts of what we are all about,” Creech said. “We get so caught up in the business of the church that we forget about what the church business is all about. As we view the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life, it helps put in perspective our priorities.
“It is so easy for us to get twisted up in the small stuff,” Creech said. “Peripheral issues really don’t make a difference of whether people go to heaven or not, but they tend to dominate our time. I want this movie to rekindle the passion of me and my colleagues to recommit ourselves to evangelizing and discipling.
“I want pastors to reconnect with the basic mandate of the Great Commission and make that a priority in our lives,” Creech said. “I also want ministers to begin preaching and dreaming about how such a production can be used in intentional evangelism. This has the potential of being the next ‘Jesus’ video,” he said. “Churches will be able to use it in their evangelism efforts.”
And as this movie continues to spur dialogues between the secular world and people of faith, Creech asked, “What lesson can the church learn from this?
“It goes to show that God still uses things outside the church to bring attention to Himself,” Creech said, noting Luke 19:40: “The stones will cry out.”
“Rather than shun the movie because it comes out of Hollywood, let’s see how to embrace it in order to further the work of the Kingdom,” Creech said. “You have a man known worldwide for his movies and one of the longest-lasting marriages in Hollywood. When people find out he put $23 million of his own money to make this movie, they will ask, ‘Why?’ And we need to be able to answer the question.”
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