Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Luke 24:14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 24:14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. |
Subject: What about "The Passion of the Christ"? |
Bible Note: Rowdy: While I share something of your zeal for Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ," and in a former review of it on this Forum urged everyone to view it, nevertheless I, like my friend BradK, fall short of placing the viewing of this film in an obligatory category for anyone, Christian and pagan alike. To see or not to see "The Passion" is a matter of personal choice and taste, not a proper benchmark by which to measure anyone's dedication and committment to Christ. The initial strong showing at the box office has attracted a great of national and world-wide attention. It has pleased many and surprised more. It is perhaps too early to predict what lasting impact the film will have on both the church and the secular world. I expect and certainly wish for a significant impact on evangelistic efforts, to be sure. But the greater impact may well be on the church. Christianity today to a greater or lesser degree has veered from the fundamental message of the Cross. It has fallen prey to a message, not so much of the Passion of Christ and His finished work on the Cross that offers to fallen man his sole hope for redemption, but to a message of easy believe-ism that offers to man the temporal and self-centered benefits of buoyant physical health and abundant financial riches. Biblical theology -- the message of the Cross -- has in many quarters been largely replaced by a humanistic me-ology that asks and attempts to answer the question, "What's in it for me?" If the film impacts churches sufficiently to lead them back to the message of the Cross, thus renewing their resolve to go into the world and preach the Gospel, and to lay aside and view as heresy their perverse quest to find in the Gospel message the formula for material success, it will have accomplished much indeed. --Hank |