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About Mel Gibson and
"The Passion of the Christ"
Movie:

In Summary - What you need to know:
Lengthier version:

I am so grateful that my parents told me the truth despite my objections. I am so grateful for the people who have come across my path, who took the risk of losing my friendship for the sake of my soul. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend."

We only get one chance at this life. We have to get it right the first time. 'Now is the hour of salvation.' We're near done. Once we step off this planet, it is forever too late to change course. May God help us to be faithful.


Resources (that do thorough research) used to write this article: (Disclaimer, on behalf of those whose resources were useful to write this article--they may not all agree with this writer's views.)

(1) Roger Oakland's website www.understandthetimes.org , his books and video New Wine and the Babylonian Vine are excellent resources. His timely articles on this topic provide desperately needed insights.

(2) James McCarthy's website Good News for Catholics, and his book The Gospel According to Rome, as well as his video, Catholicism, Crisis of Faith, are excellent helps to understanding Catholicism.

(3) Berit Kjos has excellent material with many good links about this topic at www.crossroad.to .

(4) Dave Hunt of The Berean Call has a newsletter, website, and many resources available that deal with the ecumenical movement, how Islam, 'Christianity', Judaism, and all the religions will unite, etc. There is no charge for his monthly newsletter. His materials make the gospel and the eternal security of the believer, readily understood. Read TA McMahon's article in the update about the image of Sister Veronica in the movie, at thebereancall.org (Feb 27/04).

(5) David Cloud at Way of Life Literature Crusade website deals well with this and similar topics. His site has well documented helps regarding Bible versions.

(6) Fred Hartman's book Drumbeats to Eternity, Israel & God's Promises is helpful in gaining an understanding of Bible prophecy. (Box 2010, Buffalo,NY 14231)

(7) Thank you to all that emailed me about this topic, with many valuable insights. You may recognize some of your ideas here...after stacks of info, it all began to look alike! One need-to-read article is Richard Bennet's (www.bereanbeacon.org) and Virgil Dunbar's (VDunbar@aol.com) article, The Passion of Christ: Mel Gibson's Vivid Deception.

(8) Prove all things. Do your own homework.

(9) The quotes used are from the articles cited, and are only as accurate as the articles themselves.

Bible quotations are from the only not-copyrighted Bible available in English, that I know of, today, the King James Bible, also called the Authorized Version. God jealously guards His Word, and the gospel is not for sale. It is a gift.

*Neo-evangelical: "new" type of evangelical, that has been around for a long time. One would have to say, that there is a form of godliness, but 'denying the power thereof'. They also tend to use strange bibles that have veered off the mark. Unhappily, most of the popular movements fall into that camp. They sound like Christians; who can judge the heart but God? Their associations and endorsements are open to question. They are very tolerant. How is it possible to befriend those who preach a false gospel, promote their wares, and be at the same time a friend to the true and jealous God who will share His glory with no other? Have those evangelicals who have had private interviews with Gibson, witnessed to him, told him the truth? Is it likely? Could it be they no longer understand it themselves? Delusion is a fearful thing. False shepherds creep in 'unawares', and you may feel very good after you have been in their company for a while. But it can't last. Their music is often difficult to distinguish from that of the world's music. The whole thing is, well, blurry. You can't tell the difference between the neo-evangelicals and the world too easily.

Today, Catholicism teaches evangelical language to its adherents. The words sound the same, but have different meanings. So now, when we think we understand each other, we do not. It is also a challenge to tell apart Neo-evangelicals from Catholics. Soon they will be the same...

Many of my Mennonite forefathers were killed or had to remain in hiding for refusing to recognize the Eucharest--the little wafer--as God. Menno Simons said, "O intolerable abomination and infamy! that the praise of God, the glory of Jesus Christ is converted and changed into such feeble idol, which can neither avenge, speak, hear, see, stand nor walk; which worms eat and time consumes; and must be locked up, preserved, assisted, and carried about by the hands of men, like the idols of Babylon..." (from the Complete Works of Menno Simons, pg. 49) (Check some of the Catholic online sites for pictures of the Eucharist, monstrance, etc. being carried about) What a travesty, that today some Mennonites (typical of all or most major branches of 'christianity') actively seek to reunite with Rome. (See one example, online 'Joint News Release, Mennonite World Conference and Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity', Jan 28/2002. Helmut Harder, Mennonite, of Winnipeg and Bishop Joseph Martino, Catholic, co-chaired this 4th Mennonite-Catholic dialogue in Assisi, Italy. One of the topics for discussion was that of sacraments. (Unity with fellow believers in the Biblical Christ happens when we are born again. It cannot be contrived.)

**Tim Lahaye co-authors (somewhere between trips to the bank, one would guess) a seemingly endless series of popular books about the 'Rapture', (referring to the moment when Jesus comes to take believers home to Himself). The books stray from Scriptural truths in a number of places. Perhaps the most dangerous element is the 'Second Chance" idea, (almost like purgatory, come to think of it) that would be possible if one uses a skewed bible version that twists the 2 Thessalonians account of this very real and imminent event. It seems Satan has a lie for every occasion. Some ' bible' versions change 'damnation' from the KJV account, to 'judgment', thereby giving themselves a loophole not to be found in the KJV. This series is an example of the extrabiblical waves of strange doctrines that are sweeping across this world. I will be criticized for saying this. So be it. God can use this series, Mel's movie, the NIV (not inspired version), Balaam's donkey, or even me, if He so please. Not all are necessarily His choice servants....but by His grace, He uses us anyway. Beware of popularity. Remember too that " the love of money is the root of all evil".

(NO! I did not see the movie. Whenever one involves oneself in what God's word forbids, one opens oneself up to deception. To deliberately place in front of my eyes something that may have been inspired by the demonic 'queen of heaven', when Jesus WARNS us of end-time delusion, is sobering. Think carefully before you decide to see this film. Images that will not be easily erased-- images that go by quickly and of which the viewer is not even initially aware -- are being put into peoples' hearts and minds.) (You will also be ill-using someone's hard-earned dollars that would be more wisely spent getting out the TRUE gospel.)

Addendum:
Since this movie (which in the first few days is proving to be a huge financial success) has been showing--the reactions are mixed. It seems those who go in with a mind to be touched, are. When asked 'how has this movie affected you personally', a typical response is 'I can't explain it'. (This should be a red flag.) Many tears are being shed. Not that salvation comes by tears. Some admit that the gospel has not been told. One reviewer states that the film is more about how man hates God than how God loves man.

Despite all the protest to the contrary, some say it will cause a further revival of anti-Semitism. (In Europe, anti-Semitism is becoming akin to what it was during the Second World War.) This we expect, as we know that the world will become increasingly hateful to Israel, until that hatred reaches a crescendo during the coming 7- year (Daniel 9, Matthew 24, Revelation 11) post-rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) tribulation period in what the Bible calls 'Jacob's trouble'. (Jeremiah 30:1-10, Daniel 7, 11, Revelation 7:14, Zechariah 13:8)

Controversy draws attention--it is a good crowd-getter/money- maker. How this came to be so controversial is not something to which we will quickly know the answer. The fact that there is Jesuit 'input' may have something to do with it.

When the actor who portrays Jesus, was interviewed on Pat Robertson's television program, he seemed to have something of a martyr attitude--'I may never get another acting job', etc. He then told of how he was struck by lightening, had an aura about him, how one of the other actors was struck twice by lightening, how a Muslim had converted (is it safe to assume to Catholicism?), how people were healed, etc. In a news cast, opening day, people in line-ups were interviewed. One gentleman said he was going in with the hope of being healed of disease, and more. The general impression this leaves on this writer (remember this is my opinion only and may be worth nothing), is that we must at least consider the possibility that this may have a powerful mind-altering (similar phenomenon as charismatic crowd manipulation, same unholy spirit) effect on those who want to 'experience' 'christ' without regard for the truth, while the world who are perishing (to whom the cross is 'foolishness') look at this and are appalled at the bloody violence of it all, presented with no clear gospel.

Yes, His "his visage was so marred more than any man"(Isaiah chapters 52-53). Isaiah states prophetically that 'as a lamb to the slaughter', Jesus took upon Himself 'the iniquity of us all'. That includes all the mass murders throughout history, that includes your sinful pride and mine, every unimaginable sin ... At the time of His death, there was darkness 'over all the earth', and 'the sun was darkened'. (Luke 23:44-5) Did God choose to obscure some of the awfulness of what happened there? Only our Redeemer could bear it.

A visual image cannot come near to what actually happened there. It is blasphemy to attempt such a thing.. Israel still has trouble spelling out the name of God, possibly rightly so, using rather, G-d, recognizing that it is a name above all names. Yet 'christians' thing nothing of playing GOD! No wonder our Lord is nearly done with the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21) and that He soon will again use Israel to proclaim His name (Zechariah 8:20-23, 12:10, 14:16, Romans 11:26-7), for His name's sake.

As for the argument that the movie Scripture, God can use it if He will, (at least many are asking questions) but be cognizant of the fact that Satan is adept at quoting Scripture for his own ends.

One thing is certain. It is part of the great divide that is in progress.

For all that -- remember Joseph. His brothers sold him into slavery, setting up a chain of events that would eventually bring about deliverance from famine. Genesis 50: 20: "ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." This movie has already proven to be a valuable tool with which to open a conversation, about the real soon-coming Jesus Christ our Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-- Messiah (Proverbs 30:4: "what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell." See also Psalm 2:12.). We must be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us. The enemy that means to do us harm is Satan, not some poor (what profit if ye gain the whole world and lose your won soul?) movie producer who thinks he is on to a good thing. As for me, like one email to me stated, "no-- I haven't seen the movie, but I have read the BOOK!"

What is 'the gospel' (the word means 'good news')?
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth life to all, and breath to all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from any one of us: For in him, we live, and move, and have our being..." Acts 17: 24-28.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one..." (Romans 3:10)

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23)

"for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"...now commandeth men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

"...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that he was buried, rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that he was seen..." (1 Corinthians 15:.3-5)

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." (Acts 3:19)

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"Jesus saith...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..." (Titus 3:5)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 11:9)

"...Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying if thou be the Christ" (said in unbelief)...But the other...said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when" (said in belief) "thou comest unto thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)

Hebrews 4:3: "For we which have believed do enter into rest..." Rest! Secure in Him, whom to know is to love, who knows every secret thing about YOU but loves you anyway!


All Scripture taken from the KJV. You may copy this article but preferably in its entirety.
In His love, by His grace,
E. Kalteck - March 2004


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