[TruthTalk] The Passion of the Christ

[Judy Taylor]

Well folks I went to the movie and saw parts of it; it was much more disturbing than I had anticipated so I averted my eyes from a lot of it as did one of our daughters.  It was violence from start to finish, the soundtrack one of punching, slapping, and whipping and the atmosphere decidedly RC. The costuming reminded me of a monastery - either black or monk like brown. I had hoped that with all the expert help it would be more like a living Bible Dictionary with history and authentic lifestyle portrayed, preparing for the Passover etc.  but this wasn't the focus. More and longer flashbacks would have helped considerably.  My husband thought so too.   As for accuracy, the scripture was wrested from the start when only the first part of Isa 53:5  showed on the screen: "He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquity" after which the flesh fest was on and an important point lost which is that the crucifixion was not only a physical sacrifice; he was a guilt/sin offering.  Isa 53:10 says that God made his SOUL an offering for sin.  This is how "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed"    I found it difficult to believe the Roman soldiers could have acted in the way they were portrayed which was totally chaotic and out of order, drinking on the job, laughing, and whipping him all the way up this steep hill to Golgotha with him bloody, staggering, and constantly falling; it was plainly sadistic and must have been part of the mystic nuns vision because Rome would never  have conquered most of the known world acting like this, surely there were  some protocols - They completely left out the one Roman soldier at the foot of the cross who said "Surely this is the son of God"   The screening we attended was put on by an Assembly of God Church who were using it for evangelism. They had pkts of kleenex on every seat and they gave out pens and response cards, they wanted reactions. IMO Mel Gibson should have left well enough alone and so should the Church leaders... because this portrays a whole religious scenario that is another  reality. Noone in our generation was present and IMO the visions of the mystic nuns are from another spirit; they have Mary saying "This is flesh of my flesh" and Jesus calling himself the "Son of the handmaiden". Why  not let it be finished.  We no longer know Jesus after the flesh.  Last I heard the movie had already made $200,000.00 - so Mr. Gibson has his reward.   Let God be God and every man a liar....   Grace and Peace, Judy