At a time when most of the Apologetics Press staff normally would be involved in researching and writing material to defend New Testament Christianity, typesetting new books, working on graphics for upcoming issues of Discovery, preparing illustrations for new publications, or responding to e-mail inquiries, we found ourselves gathered together at a local movie theater in Montgomery, Alabama. It was opening day for Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ, and we were all present for the very first showing.

For two-hours and fifteen minutes, the audience was utterly spellbound. No one in the theater where we were visited the concession stand or took a restroom break during the movie. Every eye was glued to the screen as we watched the onslaught of physical suffering Jesus endured from Gethsemane to Golgotha. Upon Christ’s death, the screen went black for about ten seconds, and no one made a sound—as we all waited anxiously to see if the movie was going to end there. Fortunately, it did not. Although it was short, the message was clear, death could not contain the Christ.

For several weeks, the movie had been receiving a steady stream of negative reviews. It appeared that Hollywood and mainstream news magazines were having trouble accepting a hero figure Who did not fight back, and one Who boldly reminded them of the reality of sin. Jewish leaders were proclaiming that the film cast Jews in a damaging light, and was not historically accurate. Some reviewers praised Gibson for having the courage to make such a film, but many scorned and criticized him, commenting that the film was anti-Semitic or too gory. New York Times columnist Sharon Waxman lamented: “Mel Gibson’s provocative new film, ‘The Passion of Christ’ is making some of Hollywood’s most prominent executives uncomfortable in ways that may damage Mr. Gibson’s career” (2004). Richard Corliss noted: “The Passion may be unique in movie history in devoting most of its length to the torture of one man who doesn’t fight back. He takes a flaying and keeps on praying. This is Gandhi as Rocky. It’s Bloodheart” (2004, 163:65).

But one of the strongest reasons those in the secular community find the film so appalling is because they believe it misrepresents what they view as the foundation of religion—love and grace. They would prefer to focus on the notion that God loves everyone—Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, even atheists. His love and grace are sufficient to ensure that everyone will one day live in heaven—it does not really matter whether or not you are obedient to His will. The media have successfully supplied Americans with the ideology of, “if it feels good do it,” and thus they are having a hard time looking into the eyes of a Man who died for their sins. Pop culture is not ready to focus on the fact that morals do exist, God is in control, and we will all one day stand before Him in Judgment.

Sadly, we have forgotten that men who were not afraid to express their belief and dedication to their Almighty Creator founded this country on Christian principles. Instead, we are surrounded by a society that is preaching tolerance before anything else, and some within that society are doing everything within their power to eradicate belief in the existence of God. We live at a time when intellectual freedom and politically correct acceptance reign supreme. It appears, however, that we have become too intellectual for our own God-given morality. We no longer consider our own actions, and we live in a society that places a much higher emphasis on “things of this world” than on spiritual matters.

Recall the warning Moses delivered to the people prior to their entering that land of “milk and honey.” He warned:

When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 8:10-14).

Have we, in our own land of milk and honey, forgotten God? Gibson’s film is stirring a great deal of “passion” because it brings people out of their four/five bedroom homes and luxury cars, and reminds them that there is a God in heaven Who had to give His Son for their sins. Some people do not want to be reminded of that fact.

Make no doubt about it—the film is “gory” and “graphic.” Having tutored medical gross anatomy and viewed human autopsies, the “blood and guts” did not affect me as it did some. But having to remain seated while watching a human being (who was acting in the movie as God’s Son) receive that much maltreatment and abuse was emotionally exhausting. The nine-minute scourging scene displays one of the cruelest assaults ever inflicted on a human being. But maybe that is what our society needs to bring to mind the agony and suffering of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Maybe our society needs to look into the eyes of Christ after Peter denied Him the third time. Or maybe we need to be reminded that, in fact, this “gory,” “graphic” film truly is a message about the love of God—the passion of the Christ. For without His blood on that cross, there would be no redemption.

Unfortunately, many individuals will get caught up in the emotional aspects of the film, and it will end there. Countless Americans will be drawn in by the “heat of the moment.” But how many will truly reflect on why Christ had to go to the cross in the first place, and why we should be thankful that He did so? And more important, what should our reaction be to that “passionate” gift? I cannot help but wonder how many of those solemn people with whom I walked out of that theater, will bother to pick up God’s Word and read “the rest of the story” regarding the foundation of Christ’s church and how to become a New Testament Christian. As many are often inclined to point out, the book is always better than the movie—and that certainly is the case with The Passion of the Christ. As the New Testament points out, His death is not the “end of the story,” but rather the beginning. How many people will ponder that fact when the curtain has closed and everyone has gone home?

Corliss, Richard (2004), “The Goriest Story Ever Told,” Time, 163[9]:64-65, March 1.

Waxman, Sharon (2004), “New Film May Harm Gibson’s Career,” The New York Times, February 26, [On-line], URL: >http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/26/movies/26GIBS.html?ex=1078462800&en=df5d5f5d0c50f4e9&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVER.