Vol. 4 no.9, April 3, 2005

A kinder, gentler crucifixion?

Written By Christopher Mentzer

At the beginning of March we found ourselves once again in the midst of Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of The Christ. However, this time around, the movie is shortened by six or seven minutes and “softened” if you will. Here’s an excerpt from USAToday:

The two sections getting the most trimming: a scene of flagellation (which had a notable shot of a whip ripping skin) and the scene in which Jesus is nailed to the cross, says the Rev. John Bartunek, a Roman Catholic priest and friend of Gibson's who screened the revision last weekend.

"I was surprised because I was expecting only visual alterations, but there were also some audio adjustments," says Bartunek, author of the book Inside The Passion. "I wasn't aware before of how much the sound effects added to the graphic nature of the scenes." (USATODAY, 03/11/05) (http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-03-10-passion-main_x.htm)

The movie is dubbed, The Passion Recut and Mr. Gibson himself stated in a video introduction on the home website that people were concerned last year about taking their aunt or grandmother who may have been squeamish at all of the gore and violence portrayed in the original version. Now I understand this to a degree but if you notice in the excerpt, one of the scenes that was softened was Jesus being nailed to the cross. Isn’t that the whole purpose to the film? The idea was to give people a better understanding of what Jesus suffered on our behalf.

Next people will be going to their local congregations and request preachers to soften their sermons. Not to preach so much on sin and controversial subjects like: Homosexuality, Divorce and Remarriage, and alcohol. Rather preach a kinder, gentler lesson of the love of God and His saving son, Jesus. I’m sure you’ve heard such phrases as: “Preach the man and not the plan” or “Preach the Saviour and not Salvation”.

Then the next step is to make the sermons more of an inspirational lesson and one that motivates people to just get along regardless of their religious backgrounds. They’ll say things like, “It doesn’t matter what church you go to because we all worship the same God.”

In conclusion, you’d have to ignore such passages as:

“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” Titus 1: 13 (KJV)

“…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16: 18 (ASV)

“There is' one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.” Eph. 4: 4-6

No, I still haven’t seen the movie and I most likely won’t. I’ve gone through an extensive study on the physical death of Jesus and that, besides the scriptures, is all I really need to understand what He did for me. I don’t need a movie, no matter how realistic, to explain His sacrifice. Paul said in Acts 20: 28, “Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.” Jesus purchased the church with His blood. You won’t see THAT in a movie.