The Passion Of The Christ Movie

Facts and figures re Mel Gibson’s ’Passion’ movie

12 years ago he started thinking about it

1774-1824- German nun’s life

$25-$30 million of his own money

$48m- box office gross by day three

48- Mel Gibson’s age

38053 page views of discussion site since January

$27.99 xtra large Nail pendant

124- amount of minutes spent showing Jesus being flogged, slashed, thrown off a bridge, nailed to a Cross and speared

4- amount of words used in Luke to describe the crucifixion of Jesus

2- amount of minutes in film spent showing Jesus raised from the dead

53- verses in last chapter of Luke, detailing Jesus’ resurrection

1- how many ways Jesus said there was to God (John 14:6)

Just suppose… Jesus is right and He is the only one way to God.

Just suppose…there is a staggeringly intelligent Devil who hates us all and want to prevent us getting right with God.

What tactics would the Devil use?

Why we should not watch the passion of Christ

1. The film is a 2-hour commercial for Catholicism [show McCarthy leaflet]. I LOVE CATHOLICS AND WANT THEM TO GO TO HEAVEN.

a. Why is this bad? Because Catholicism adds and takes away from the truth.

i. It adds: good works on top of faith in Jesus to earn our salvation; Mary is the sinless co-redeemer of mankind; purgatory; paying money to get people out of purgatory; praying to the dead; praying for the dead; it adds tradition and the Pope to the teachings of the Bible, and claims them both to be infallible. The RC church teaches there is no salvation outside of itself, and so Mel Gibson believes that all non-Catholics are going to hell, including his wife

ii. It takes away: it says that Jesus’ death on the Cross is not sufficient to do away with our sins, and we need to eat Jesus in the Mass as much as possible. Mel and J.C. went to Mass every day during filming to be “squeaky clean.” Catholics do penances and various other rituals (infant baptism, extreme unction, etc.) to do away with our sins; through its many additions it entirely undermines the Bible’s authority and the uniqueness of the teachings of Jesus and His disciples

b. The film follows the 5 sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. What is the problem with this?

i. 50 Hail Marys (“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”) and 5 Our Fathers (55 beads)- Jesus forbids, Matthew 6:7. Also, The Rosary proves Catholic idolatry of Mary, for they pray ten prayers to their mother of God for every prayer to God Himself. They believe Mary hears prayers better than God, and she can touch His heart by reminding Him of the breasts he suckled as an infant. Jim C says This film is something that I believe was made by Mary for her Son."

ii. 1) Agony in the Garden, (2) the Scourging, (3) the Crowning with Thorns, (4) the Carrying of the Cross, and (5) the Crucifixion. These are not mysteries in the Bible, they are descriptions of Jesus’ last hours. The Bible doesn’t focus on Jesus’ physical suffering as much as it does His spiritual sacrifice: Mark 15:16-25; Romans 5:6-11.

c. The film also follows the 14 stations of the Cross and exalts Mary way above the Bible’s depiction of her. It includes Veronica wiping Jesus’ face and a lot of focus on Mary urging Jesus to Calvary. Why is this bad?

i. There is no such thing in the Bible

ii. We are not to remember His death in this way- rather through the Lord’s supper- 1 Corinthians 11:26

iii. The Bible forbids old wives’ tales (1 Timothy 4:1-7)

iv. Veronica’s towel is worthless and Mary regards herself to be a sinner and like all human beings in need of a Saviour (Luke 1:47). There is nothing in the Bible that said she urged her Son to his death. Mel Gibson describes her as “the morning star”, which is a title reserved for Jesus in the Bible. "I’ve been actually amazed at the way I would say the evangelical audience has – hands down – responded to this film more than any other Christian group." What makes it so amazing, he says, is that "the film is so Marian."

d. It invites the adoration of the Crucifix: “Catholics adore the crucifix. What is a crucifix? It is a cross with a longhaired man wearing a loincloth hanging on it. It cannot be Jesus: He had short hair, no loincloth, and is on a throne in heaven. You have seen it in Catholic churches, hospitals, and homes. It is a crucial icon in Catholic worship. They must have one with them at all times, and they must be buried with one. If they pray before one, they get a reduced sentence in Purgatory. What is Purgatory? Another one of their ten thousand inventions!” God forbids making objects to ‘assist’ our worship of Him (2nd Commandment), as they actually turn into idolatry. Jesus is not on a Cross, He is risen and seated in heaven, and will come again as a victorious King. The Bible says that anyone who is hung on a tree is cursed- Jesus was cursed for us, but now he is blessed forever with His Father and all the angels in glory.