Iff you are interested in helpping promote the movie give me a line at jeff.barron@faithhighway.comIf you have seen the movie at a pastors conference or a pastors viewing tell me what you think.
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST MOVIEDirected and co-written by Mel Gibson, one of Hollywood's most respected actors and directors, The Passion of The Christ dramatically and graphically captures the last 12 hours of Christ's life on Earth, based on the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The film-a project in which Gibson invested 12 years of his life and $25 million of his own funds."My hope is that this movie will affect people on a very profound level and reach them with a message of faith, hope, love and forgiveness." -Mel GibsonTo view the trailer in three media formats go here:http://www.thepassion.tvheres another thread on this movie at sermonindex.net:Mel Gibson's "The Passion"--------------------here are quotes on what the Christian media and speakers are saying:Every time I preach or speak about the Cross, the things I saw on the screen will be on my heart and mind. -Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association The Passion tells the story of the twelve hours surrounding the Crucifixion. While The Passion is only the latest in a series of films about Jesus, it stands out for two reasons: First, it is unsparing and unsentimental. In Gibson's opinion, previous cinematic efforts had failed to capture the enormity of Jesus' suffering on our behalf. -Chuck Colson, Break Point Having viewed the film in Chicago, I see no basis for the ongoing allegation that the film is anti-Semitic in any fashion. Please express our deep appreciation to Mr. Gibson for his excellent work and assure him of our ongoing prayers in this important endeavor. (From an email to Icon) -Chuck Moore, President, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary It has been nearly three weeks since I saw the rough cut of The Passion. It is still impacting my life. I can't stop thinking about it nor can I stop talking about it. I have never seen a film that has so affected my life. -Del Tackett, Executive Vice President, Focus On The Family Three words summarize for me: Sobering, Stunning, Haunting. The film speaks for itself. I hope you keep the graphic nature of it complete in the film, because it will cause everyone to reflect on what His death was. The world tends to wash over this directness. The details are very accurate -- this is the kind of death our Lord died for me. (From an email to Icon) -Dr. Darrell Bock, Research Professor of New Testament, Dallas Theological Seminary As President of Young Life, I am pleased to voice my strong support for The Passion. The Young Life sphere of influence includes tens of thousands of staff and volunteers, as well as hundreds of thousands of adults and kids who would be lining up in an instant to see this film. In addition, I think the film will have mass appeal to people of any faith or no particular faith, simply because of the quality of the production and the historical nature of the content. -Denny Rydberg, President, Young Life I have no doubt that the movie will be one of the greatest evangelistic tools in modern day history. I think people will go to it and then flood into the churches seeking to know the deeper implications of this movie. -Ed Young Jr., Pastor, Dallas-Area Fellowship Church I believe The Passion of The Christ may well be one of the most powerful evangelistic tools of the last 100 years, because you have never seen the story of Jesus portrayed this vividly before. -Greg Laurie, Harvest Crusades The thing that I'm most excited about is the opportunity it's going to give those of us who preach the cross. -Jack Graham, President, Southern Baptist Convention I found it deeply moving, factually accurate and unprejudiced in its presentation. -Jack Hayford, Chancellor, The King's Seminary It is deeply moving, powerful, and disturbing. A film that must be seen - although the graphic scenes of the scourging of Jesus are emotionally wrenching. (From an email to Icon) -James Dobson, Chairman, Focus on the Family Mr. Gibson has attempted to painstakingly recreate the crucifixion of Christ, not to assail Jews, but to arouse in people a desire to understand the price paid for their salvation. I am praying that Mel Gibson's movie will have a powerful impact on our culture and that it will appeal to millions of movie lovers who are starving for a glimmer of honesty regarding the miraculous and life-changing story of the One who died for everyone, no matter their religious heritage, station in life, sexual preference or skin color. (From Falwell Confidential, Sept 24, 2003) -Dr. Jerry Falwell, The Liberty Channel It took a brave heart to make "The Passion". "The Passion" is the most graphic, gritty and gripping depiction of Christ's arrest, trial and execution ever made. As a film, it will become a classic work of art with dramatic lighting, authentic sets, compelling music, realistic dialog, believable actors coupled with a timeless story. (From an email to Icon) -Jim West, President, Faith Television Network The Passion will stun audiences and create an incredible appetite for people to know more about Jesus. I urge Christians to invite their spiritually seeking friends to see this movie with them. -Lee Strobel, Former Atheist & Author "The Case for Christ" & "The Case for Faith" This will do for "Jesus" movies what "Saving Private Ryan" did for war pictures. Every Christian MUST go see this movie and hold Mr. Gibson up in prayer. He's going to take a lot of heat for this project, but if we'll support him, this movie could have a profound spiritual effect on millions of people. -Paul Crouch, Jr., Trinity Broadcasting Network Brilliant, biblical - a masterpiece. -Rick Warren, Pastor, Saddleback Church and Author of "The Purpose Driven Life" I can't tell you how I admire, respect and applaud you. May God give you the blessing you need, where you need it most. The Passion is an awe-inspiring portrayal of the last hours of Jesus' life. It is an accurate account of Jesus' real sufferings for the sins of the whole world. This is not a film anyone should miss. -Dr. Robert Schuller, Crystal Cathedral / Hour of Power From a ministry perspective I tried to imagine what young people would think and how they would respond. My hope is that they will also be captured by the presentation. I believe they will because it is simply the telling of God's story. I am most encouraged by the fact that they will see a true representation of Jesus: fully God and fully man. (From an email to Icon) -Roger Cross, President, Youth For Christ/USA "The Passion" is simply fabulous. It is emotionally wrenching because it is brutally honest about the violence of Jesus' death. Never in my life have I seen any movie that comes even close to depicting what Roman crucifixion was really like. Long familiarity and theological explanation have leached out in our minds the awful brutality of Jesus' trial and death. John's simple words, "then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him" feel vastly different as you watch two brutal Roman soldiers go on minute after terrible minute bludgeoning Jesus near-naked body with flesh-gouging whips. Pious talk about Jesus' death for our sins takes on a whole new meaning. (From an email to Icon) -Ron Sider, President, Evangelicals For Social Action As a Jew, while I see why some Jewish leaders might be offended, I must say that the only reason they would be is because of how close to the Scriptures you stayed in the telling of the story. There are a whole host of reasons why we, as Jewish people, can feel a keen sense of rejection, offense or other things by what some Christians have done "in the name of Christ" during the last 2,000 years. But, let me assure you that Mel Gibson is not to be named in that number. Mel has chosen the narrow road of staying true to the Scriptures. (From a letter to Icon) -Stan Kellner, International Bible Society Everyone should see this movie.It could be Hollywood's finest achievement to date. -Tim LaHaye, Tim LaHaye Ministries ...if they're critical of the film, they would be critical of the Gospel. -Archbishop John Foley, President, Pontifical Council for Social Communications, The Vatican "I've read the Passion narratives of the Lord and contemplated them and prayed over them many, many times, and I've never thought of the crucifixion with the images that I received while watching this," George said. "I'll never read the words the same way again." (Chicago Sun Times, Aug 3, 2003) -Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago I thought it was an extraordinary work of art and extraordinarily faithful to the gospels. If I was critical of the film's detractors it's because I think it's unwise for any group to try to intimidate either the church or people of Mel Gibson's faith from speaking very clearly what they believe to be true. You know anti-Semitism is a terrible sin; it's a sin the church has repented from and will need to continue to repent from if and when there are examples of it in church life. But to clearly proclaim our belief that Jesus is the messiah and that he suffered, died and rose from the dead is for us something we have a duty to proclaim. (Rocky Mountain News, Aug 21, 2003) -Archbishop Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Denver I urge critics who have not seen the final film to keep an open mind and not prejudge it. -Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus I think what you have done in "The Passion" is extraordinary and will probably be recognized as the best religious film ever made. I will continue to pray for you and for the success of the film, and will ask our students to do so as well. (From a letter to Icon) -Thomas Dillon, President, Thomas Aquinas College From an aesthetic standpoint, the film is beautiful. Its visual narrative carries traces of the long tradition of Christian art, from the very earliest Christian styles and medieval iconography up to pre-Raphaelite images. My wife Theresa and I came away from the film with a sense that our faith had been revitalized. Make no mistake: this movie will convert and uplift hearts. Once you've seen it, you'll never again take for granted the words: "He suffered, died, and was buried." -Deal Hudson, Crisis Magazine I experienced moments of profound spiritual intimacy with Jesus Christ.I would gladly trade some of the homilies that I have given about The Passion of Christ for even a few scenes from this film. -Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, The Vatican, Worldwide Prefect of the Clergy [Gibson's film] represents by far the most moving, substantive and artistically successful adaptation of biblical material ever attempted by Hollywood. -Michael Medved, Jewish Film Critic and Radio Show Host It's a monumental accomplishment. It continues to impact me in ways I couldn't have imagined. (From a letter to Icon) -Pat Boone, Singer/Actor I thought Passion was a superior recounting of the 'greatest story ever told,' the last days of Jesus. There is in the film the gravity and seriousness it deserves. There are moments so heart-rending, the tears come easily. I cannot but believe that people of all religions will find this truly an impressive (and respectful) piece of art and realism, emerging from the New Testament. As a cinema artist, you have just reason to be proud of what you have done. (From a letter to Mel Gibson, July 2003) -Jack Valenti, CEO, Motion Picture Association The precept of freedom of expression often takes a back seat once the ideologues and pedants get involved. Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion," provides the latest and most vivid example. Though Gibson is still editing his film and has shown it to a very small number of people, there already are cries of protest and dark insinuations of an anti-Semitic subtext. .These blatherings strike us as irresponsible.... Some will be moved by this film, others disturbed. As with all previous films depicting the period, some scholars and theologians will doubtless challenge Gibson's historical accuracy - indeed he is an actor, not a Biblical scholar. But to condemn both the film and the filmmaker in advance reflects both bigotry and a disdain for free expression. -Peter Bart, Editor, Variety This may be the last movie Mel Gibson makes. This is the ultimate film. It's magical. Best picture I have seen in quite some time, and even people like Jack Valenti were in the audience in tears at this screening. There was about 30 of us. It depicts a clash between Jesus and those who crucified him, and speaking as a Jew, I thought it was a magical film that showed the perils of life on earth... They haven't seen the darn film and those of us, every single person in there, and I'm not talking about tears, I'm talking total tears. It is something Mel Gibson stood back at the end and took questions for about an hour, and he is -- he told me he's tired of Hollywood. That this is it. He's going to do it. He's going to do it his way, and this film, I tell you, is magic. It's a miracle. It's a miracle... (In an interview on MSNBC, July 23, 2003) -Matt Drudge, Drudge Report
The official website is http://thepassionofthechrist.com. I'm really excited about this movie, and have been following it for months now. At the official site, check out the "trailer", not the "teaser"...the trailer is longer and shows you more. Also, check out the fan packs they have for free -- you just pay shipping -- to help promote or if you want stuff for your own. It's STRONGLY recommended that if you want to see this movie, that you call your local theater and buy tickets in advanced (group rates are much cheaper). I think that The Passion of the Christ is going to be sold out for at least the first week with the amount of excitement it's evoked. It opens February 25, which is Ash Wednesday in the Roman Catholic calendar.What are your guys' thoughts on it?
thanks mary, i will call ahead to get our tickets. this may lead to a whole new move of God toward His holiness and toward repentance. i know many are praying that this is the case. hopefully it won't be a week or month thing (temporary)like 9-11 was for so many.when 9-11 happened I knew already in my spirit that people would not really change- that it would be a temporary thing- because they fell more on "patriotism" as God - than on the real God Himself.let's pray that this will be different!In Him, Chanin
It opens February 25, which is Ash Wednesday in the Roman Catholic calendar.What are your guys' thoughts on it?First off I would like to say that I rejoice that the name of Christ is being heard by many through this movie. It doesn't matter the motives of the people behind it good or bad Christ is heard so I rejoice.Philippians 1:18 - But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.But under this all there are some observations. One that as was stated it starts on 'ash wednesday' which is a roman Catholic holiday. In hollywood media I would have to say over 90% potrayal's of Christianity is done by showing Catholic priests. I have many people I meet who have a view that Christianity is just Catholism nothing else, that's because they have had hollywood media as there only real example to Chrsitianity in there day to day lifes. The movie will have catholic backdrops and could just help feed that idea of Christianity just being a Catholic faith. I am not against Catholism.. there are many catholics that are Christian, but the Catholic Church is not a good picture of what real biblical Christianity is all about.But beyond all of this my biggest concern is that we are resting on the arm of flesh rather than the power of the Spirit of God. This movie is great and is being and will be continued to be used by God in powerful ways. But it is tangible, a tool, something that if we have enough money to market! it WILL have an impact. I have just being hearing so much about this movie.. many Christian marketing groups have contacted me in helping them market this movie to the Chrisitan public and churches. Everyone is saying 'this is our opportunity!' and maybe it is in some ways. But how much BETTER would it be to seek God by faith and get on our knees and plead for sinners in our churches and communities. I believe the latter would be more successful. Are we willing to pay the price (not in mammon but in sweat and tears). I don't believe this movie will change the way americian and canadian society is going.. nothing short of a God-sent revival will do that.Do I sound negative.. I am just seeking what is better, it seems narrow-minded and against what is popular, but I know it is right in God's eyes. The days are short and time is growing thin.
But beyond all of this my biggest concern is that we are resting on the arm of flesh rather than the power of the Spirit of GodFunny you say this. I was going to mention this somewhere else on the forum.One night in the middle of the night last summer the Lord woke me up and said "Are you willing to give up your place in this world?" then "Choose whom you will serve this day- the arm of flesh or Me- the Living God."I was very sad about this at the time because I though I had already 'died" to much of "self' already. What "place' in this world was He talking about. I think it is anything we "think" we are going to do or are supposed to do. I think it is hiding ourselves in Him and letting him do what He wants with us- not our ideas of what is to be done in our lives.Greg, you may very well be right. I am usually the negative one because of my discernment and i know people get sick of it but in reality-the Lord must work miracles in lives and hearts today. And like that article I posted under Dominionism, I still wonder if it will not play out like the premillenial model where there is not a huge revival (at least seen by human eyes) before the END. There may be a huge revival in the hearts of many who are truly His Church.I wish I knew.In Him, Chanin
I believe we should use every tool that The Spirit of God makes available to let people know of HIS love. The Passion of the Christ movie is just that - a tool. The hope of Mel Gibson, is to use the movie to build a bridge from the movie house to the church house. Let us agree that not one person who sees the movie will be the same. I am a part of the ministry that is promoting the movie. We are partnering with Mel Gibson and produced a commercial using the actual film footage. We also produce 30 second high impact television commercials. These commercials have a 2 fold purpose, to reach the lost and help the local church grow. We help churches air these spots on secular cable t.v. stations like CNN, FOX News, MTV etc. They are powerful!!!Feel free to view our commercial gallery at: www.faithhighway.com (shameless plug huh?) Anyway bless you folks...
Here is an older thread as well:Mel Gibson's "The Passion"
yet another: www.passion-movie.com
Hey Yall,I know of a great website to get some great Gospel Tracts to give out: www.livingwaters.com they sell tracts that preach the Gospel using the Law of God (they aren't just "Jesus Loves You and Has a wonderful plain for your life" tracts). One tract they have is tract featuring the Passion Movie(they would be great to pass out at the theatre). They also have some other very eye-catching tracts at very low prices. It's were I get all the tracts I use in evangelism. Check it out. It is the ministry of Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron: www.livingwaters.com God bless Yalldanielcourtney
Oh, another great place to pick up some passion material for FREE (you only pay shipping) iswww.passionmaterial.com
This is my first attempt ever on this thing, so please be patient if I mess up.We seem to be fairly mature here, so I'll cut to the chase. Let's remember, "Faith without works... Now, consider for a moment our brother Mel has decided to show us his faith by his works. He has cast his bread upon the water and it looks as though, Catholic or not, God is going to bless his socks off. I don't know if you read the brief interview he gave to Brian Goins, Director of Creative Ministries of Insight for Living (Chuck Swindoll), but it's pretty deep!All in all this will be an excellent opportunity for us to share His good news. To quote, " But how much BETTER would it be to seek God by faith and get on our knees and plead for sinners in our churches and communities. " While that certainly has divine merit, here's an opportunity to do both.As far as revival is concerned, I think God may have closed that door to America. Instead, we will probably see more of His letting go of us as a nation. Like the nations before us, who have seen His hand of mercy, we too have turned away. We have relied on our own wisdom and refused to acknowledge God as God. Take heart though, ALL things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. His will will be done (one way or another) on earth as it is in Heaven.
As far as revival is concerned, I think God may have closed that door to America.NAAH, The door is still WIDE open for revival in America.I encourage you to download and listen to some of Leonard Ravenhill's sermons... unreal... the words he was speaking.bless you!!
As far as revival is concerned, I think God may have closed that door to America.If you note in Jeremiah, God still opens doors of hope, even till the last minute. I know that we are on the threshold of a great revival. The Lord said, "I want you to prepare for the revival to come and for the great influx of souls" to me back in 1981 when He showed me the way it would hit the US and I am preparing for it with even more anticipation than I would the birth of a child. Despite what is happening in some of the arenas of our world, I am believing and striving for a move of God that will reverse the tide in our country and know of people all over the country and world who spend all-night prayer meetings with the same purpose. Let's move toward that mark of the high calling!!!soulfire52 wrote:As far as revival is concerned, I think God may have closed that door to America.NAAH, The door is still WIDE open for revival in America.I encourage you to download and listen to some of Leonard Ravenhill's sermons... unreal... the words he was speaking.bless you!!
Here is an update I received through Christianity Today regarding a change at the end of the movie:http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36829
This is my first attempt ever on this thing, so please be patient if I mess up.great to meet you brother (The_Sower) glad you found this site.As far as revival is concerned, I think God may have closed that door to America.I think America is in prime shape for a huge revival. America is dead and therefore can be revived. People are realizing they need God not machinery in the church.I encourage you to download and listen to some of Leonard Ravenhill's sermons... unreal... the words he was speaking.Sometimes when I listen to Ravenhill's messages I can't believe that he preached these to people in america. What an impact it must have had. And praise God through this website his message of revival can come again to the body of Christ.
Received the following this morning and felt it was appropriate in light of some of the murmurings surrounding this upcoming movie:Christian Quotation of the DayFebruary 8, 2004 Some misapprehension, I say, some obliquity,or some slavish adherence to old prejudices, may thus cause us to refuse the true interpretation, but we are none the less bound to refuse and wait for more light. To accept that as the will of our Lord which to us is inconsistent with what we learned to worship in Him already, is to introduce discord into that harmony whose end is to unite our hearts, and make them whole. "Is it for us," says the objector who, by some sleight of will, believes in the word apart from the meaning for which it stands, "to judge the character of our Lord?" I answer, "This very thing He requires of us." He requires of us that we should do Him no injustice. He would come and dwell with us, if we would but open our chambers to receive Him. How shall we receive Him if, avoiding judgement, we hold this or that daub of authority or tradition hanging upon our walls to be the real likeness of our Lord? ... George Macdonald (1824-1905), "It Shall Not Be Forgiven" in Unspoken Sermons [1867]_______________________________________________________________ And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven. -- Luke 12:10. _______________________________________________________________Dear friends of CQOD, In the excerpt, George Macdonald is dealing with the idea of the unpardonable sin, a difficult subject at best. In particular, he objects to the notion that the unpardonable sin is an individual act, which was a common idea in his time, e.g., that someone who had committed the "unpardonable sin" was henceforth beyond the pale and could be permanently shunned. Some people have that idea even today. But Macdonald argues that this is inconsistent with the pattern of forgiveness for all other sins, as we know it from Scripture. Rather, he argues, the unpardonable sin must be a persistent rejection of the truth, an attitude that blocks the Spirit from His role of instructing the heart to repentance. The article is well worth reading in whole. See Macdonald's Unspoken Sermons in Believer's Desktop Companion 2004. But this blasphemy about the Holy Spirit (namely, asserting that the Spirit of God is not who He says He is, and is unable to do what He says He can do) is a commonplace in our society today. All the world's assaults on theSovereignty of God amount to this: God does not exist, and even if He exists, He cares nothing for us, and even if He cares for us, He is unable to help us, and even if He can help us, yet He depends in some way on our perfection or reform, and that is not forthcoming. These are the lies of the enemy, and they are trumpeted daily through all our media. Even the best of our public advocates and forums do not support the Body sufficiently in this spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. These times that God has sent to us surely try our hearts and our faith, and that is their purpose (James 1:3). Today, one vulgarity is heaped upon another, as Churches split and the shrill voices of pharisaical legalism raise their cries and their standards. There is no room left in the middle, it seems, where Christians can stand both for truth and for gentleness with those not of the same mind. (There never was any middle ground, not really; it was justuncontested for a while.) The matters that divide believers from one another are often difficult, and perhaps hopeless, to resolve; the matters that divide believers from the world are even more difficult and often must not be resolved. For the world's way, to seek worldly success, is not the believer's way, which leads to the cross. Ultimately, our ways must part. During the Lenten season that begins in a few days, I want to recommend that we turn again to the Word, to the Gospel, and dispel an aggravating myth, that to tell the Gospel story is to accuse the Jews for Jesus' death. Some who so assert cite times past, when this charge was used to justify persecution of our Jewish cousins. It was a lie then and it is a lie now. Let us tell the story straight. Some of the people who consented to Jesus' execution were Jews and some were not, and some who opposed it were Jews, and there may have been some who were not. What difference does it make? None of those people are here today. Frankly, I am never quite sure, at this remove, whom I should forgive and for what, e.g., Judas, but I know someone who is sure. On the cross, Jesus asked the Father to forgive them (who had crucified Him) on the grounds of their ignorance. The Father never says "no" to Jesus, and so they were forgiven -- all of them -- for everything to do with the crucifixion. We can rely on that. And with those words, the best news of all the Gospel, of all the world, the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, began to become reality. Join me this Lent in studying the written Word (an announcement about a study available through the Christian Quotation of the Day is forthcoming) and praying for the world to come to repentance before its Savior and Lord. RMA_______________________________________________________________Try out Believer's Desktop Companion 2004 -- free download at http://www.gospelcom.net/cqod/cqoddtcb.htmlBe sure to sign up for the BDTC2004 newsletter. _______________________________________________________________CQOD Compilation Copyright 2004, Robert McAnally Adams, CuratorExecutive Director, Arab Vision, Inc.Arab Vision Home: http://arabvision.gospelcom.netCQOD Home Page: http://www.cqod.org/Subscription info: http://www.cqod.org/cqodlist.htmComments and problems: email to curator@gospelcom.net_______________________________________________________________To unsubscribe, e-mail: cqod-unsubscribe@lists.gospelcom.netFor additional commands, e-mail: cqod-help@lists.gospelcom.net
Here is perhaps another viewpoint from Glen Pickren:" I, too, have been getting a queasiness as I have been seeing the hype building. While it sounds like this movie can be used powerfully by the Lord, from the beginning I felt that its target is the lukewarm, complacent Christian rather than the unsaved. This is not to say it may not be used by the Lord for the unsaved, but it is the Christian who professes to believe this story yet often refuses his own Cross that I thought might benefit the most.I had sent the following to a pastor friend yesterday:I have listened to what you have said regarding training the church to explain the Gospel to their unsaved friends and using The Passion as an evangelistic tool. I have read where thousands of pastors are doing the same. This is well and good for we are to have a ready answer for the hope we have within us. My concern is that in orienting the movie to those who are unsaved that we may miss the message the movie has for the modern day Christian, perhaps ourselves. This movie depicts in some way the price that was paid to redeem us, but most of all the love of the Father in offering His only begotten Son for us and the love of Jesus for His obedience to His Father. This is the One who called us to take up OUR Cross and follow Him. Despite the way the Gospel is generally presented today Jesus did not die on the cross just so heaven could be populated by a bunch of ambivalent Christians seeking refuge from Hell. On the way to Gethsemane He prayed "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24) There is a world of difference in desiring to follow the Lamb wherever He goes and desiring to avoid Hell so as to go to Heaven when we die. I don't know how to present this for the Lord does not want those who follow Him out of guilt. What bridegroom wants a bride who married him, not because of love, but guilt? I just know that if one follows Him down the narrow path there are times it gets very steep and rocky and I find it helpful to remember the cost of the One who passed that way before and in doing so became the Way. My hope is that in our excitement concerning leading those to the narrow gate, we do not forget that there is a narrow path that few find, and that in our hurry we do not lead someone to the broad way.When I was in high school each year they used to show a movie aboutlung cancer which showed surgery of a diseased lung due to cigarette smoke. Each year after the movie all the greasers would be turning in their cigarettes to the coaches, but two weeks later they would all be smoking again. I think we should not lose sight of the fact that movies can powerfully effect the soul while leaving the spirit untouched. Certainly Braveheart did that. The prospect of Christians eagerly leading the unsaved to pray the sinner's prayer (which prayer or procedure is nowhere mentioned in the Bible) while they are in a highly emotional state is a very real one and one that is giving me some indigestion. Surveys indicate that 90% of the "decisions for Christ"made at the Harvest Festival show no evidence of proceeding in the faith, yet if someone later asked them if they had ever "asked Jesus into their heart" many would say yes. As I said, I don't have the answer here, just a concern not to become a stumbling stone and when thousands of pastors get all excited and are quoted in USA Today about the "hundreds of thousands" who will become converted because of this movie, I get queasy and my discernment antenna goes up. I just hope we will approach this prayfully andreverently and not get caught up in the Jabez crowd mentality. I have decided to see this film alone, just me and the Lord, for Ithink we may have some business to do together. I don't think I want to be required to speak to anyone but Him about it for awhile. When He woke me up the middle of the night over six years ago, He showed me the cross in a very real but non-visual way. I experienced His heartache and came to understand that He died not in the way of a crucifixion, in weakness, but in power by the bursting of His heart. I had never known anything at that time of the nature of the cross, but have learned a great deal since then which confirmed this. Jesus died in the manner of a woman giving birth, for that is exactly what occured as He became the "firstborn from the dead." No wonder the centurion marveled and said "surely this was the Son of God." He knew. No man could die like that on the cross. Jesus chose to lay His life down. No man took it from Him. How badly Christians need to see this. How can we not follow this God?"Glen
Chanin,Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention.from the beginning I felt that its target is the lukewarm, complacent Christian rather than the unsavedWhat a pardigm shift in thinking. This brings to mind that subtle temptation to think "Oh, I pray the unbelievers will come to you Lord through this" Which is indeed what we would all like, but the catch is that we come into it with that mindset thinking it is only for 'them' and not for us. Just like when you hear a message and think "Oh, I know who could really use to hear this" and missing ' Thou art the man.'(2Sa 12:7) or 'is it I?' (Mat 26:22)The prospect of Christians eagerly leading the unsaved to pray the sinner's prayer (which prayer or procedure is nowhere mentioned in the Bible) while they are in a highly emotional state is a very real one and one that is giving me some indigestion. Surveys indicate that 90% of the "decisions for Christ" made at the Harvest Festival show no evidence of proceeding in the faith, yet if someone later asked them if they had ever "asked Jesus into their heart" many would say yes."Jesus, change my heart"This is excellent Chanin.
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