Although this thread appears to have run its course, which I find disconcerting, given that it has to do with one of the fundamentals of the faith; the person and nature of the Lord Christ, I think the following article by Andrew Webb, pastor of "Providence PCQ Mission Church" is worth including to counter those other reviews by those who find the movie most positive.
You know, one of the most "moving" portrayals of Jesus in the movies I ever saw (pre-God-given-reason days, back when I was with Rome, I mean the AoG) was in Ben Hur, or Quo Vadis, or whatever the movie is where Jesus gives Charleton Heston, or whomever, a drink of water, but you never see his face . . . but, it's still wrong. You're making an idol, that's the issue, and even if you just look at his backside, it doesn't make it not an idol, right?
In a sermon Sunday, the Rev. Mark Dever told his Capitol Hill Baptist Church congregation in Northeast that his church will not plan special outings to see the film. "If this movie is so emotionally engaging, I'm going to be very careful before I give it an entree into my mind about the most important thing in my life," he said from the pulpit. "Because I have a question of whether it's sin, I probably shouldn't go see it."
True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
Lately I have been talking to a few people about the fact that Mel Gibson used a Roman Catholic mystic for the film and he doesn't even dispute that fact. Despite that fact, these people say that the only way to know the truth about the film is to see it for themselves.
The quote that the pastor made is basically what I replied back to them, but so far my comments have gone to in one ear and out the other. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Why would I need to go see the film to find out the facts, when Mel Gibson himself has given enough facts about the film to know I shouldn't go to it? If I went to it, I would be afraid that the emotionalism that I felt, would affect my judgment. Not to mention the fact that I believe the film breaks the second commandment.
Despite that fact, these people say that the only way to know the truth about the film is to see it for themselves.
Is it not amazing how illogical people can be sometimes... hmmmm...... most of the time? "Gee, I simply won't believe that heroine is addictive until I try it and see for myself. That's the only way you can really find out the truth about heroine addiction."
When people reject the objective standard of God's holy law and the authority of the Bible, regardless if they claim to be Christians or not, then you are going to see such statements as your "friends" have made, which are actually just plain stupid.
<p align="center">[color:"purple"]You don't have to jump into the sewer to know that it stinks![/color]</p>
not sure....was Christ not a man? Is the only thing being conveyed is that Jesus was a man...and a compassionate one at that? Is this not wholly consistent with the biblical text...adding nothing of import, taking way nothing?
Are we prohibited from preaching about the horrid nature of the Crucifixion because of fear people will create images in their mind of what it must have been like and therefore be guilty of idol making?
Is the voice of God on Mt Sinai heard on movies also an idol?
Off topic I know <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />but heroin is only "addictive" if you like it btw <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
But you shouldn't try and see if you like or dislike it in the first place. The way you said it sounded like a bit of an excuse to me- that we don't know if something is "addictive" until we try it.
True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
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