wfn.org | Commentary: Brutal 'Passion' worth seeing, discussing

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March 5, 2004	News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
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NOTE: A photograph of Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster is available at
umns.umc.org.

A UMNS Commentary
By Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster*
 
Like millions of other people, my wife, Deborah, and I went to see Mel
Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ" when it opened. This motion
picture was preceded by plenty of hype and has certainly generated a lot of
attention since its debut. Gibson himself seems to be everywhere giving
interviews and talking about his movie. Having seen it, I want to offer a few
personal observations and join my voice to those of others who are doing the
same. 
 
This is not a two-hour entertainment story to be enjoyed. I found it to be an
intense, powerful and very emotional motion picture. It was gut-wrenching,
and it did not let up much during the entire two hours. Deborah and I were
drained when we left the theater.

The movie not only took our breath away, but it took away any words that
either of us could speak for some time. I was moved to tears and yet also to
a deeper, more vivid awareness of the agony that Jesus endured for me - and,
indeed, for the whole world. There were times when I had to turn my head or
close my eyes. The graphic nature of the flogging and scourging at the hands
of the soldiers was overwhelming. None of us can know for sure what it was
actually like, although the references in the Scriptures and historical
records tell us this was a harsh form of punishment. 
 
Given that very little of the beating is left to the imagination, I would
strongly urge parents not to take their children to see this movie. There is
a reason it is rated R, and we should pay attention to that. I am not sure
about the appropriate age for a person to view it, but be warned ahead of
time that there are some disturbing scenes. 

I hope there will be conversations, dialogue and a reading of the Scriptures
before and after seeing this film. I do think the movie is worth seeing, and
Sunday school classes or small discipleship groups may find it a helpful tool
to explore the meaning of the suffering and death of Jesus.
 
What about anti-Semitism? Those of us who are believers in and followers of
Jesus Christ must always be very attentive and sensitive to that issue. Over
the years, Christians have matured in the understanding and relationship that
exists between us and people of the Jewish faith. Anyone who harbors anger,
resentment, hostility or outrage toward Judaism has not heard the whole story
of the love and mercy of Jesus himself. The film does depict Jesus offering
forgiveness, extending love, practicing grace and renouncing retaliation. I
hope we hear that very carefully.
 
One piece of the picture that I found particularly inspiring was the word of
forgiveness that Jesus offered at several points. I was moved in those
moments of seeing Jesus beaten and nailed to the cross and yet offering
forgiveness to those who were inflicting the worst upon him. Forgiveness is
difficult. In the midst of the extensive violence and the mocking and
humiliation Jesus endured, his voice and prayer of forgiveness were powerful.

 
I fear that we have lost some sense of the suffering and death of Jesus in
our effort to entertain, to be acceptable and to be comfortable with the
Gospel. We pay lip service to sacrifice and suffering but couch it in terms
that go down easy. This movie calls us to a different perspective. Perhaps
Gibson went to an extreme in this attempt, but in an era when many
auditoriums and centers for praise and worship are being built without any
sign of the cross, we need some course correction. 

I am sure that the crucifixion was bloody and a particularly cruel form of
death, and we dare not sanitize or gloss over that reality. Remember that the
Passion and the crucifixion are not the end of the story. Without the
resurrection, as Paul points out in Corinthians, our faith is in vain. I
found myself profoundly thankful for the last 30 seconds of the movie and
wished that part had been longer, but it was enough. God raised Jesus from
the dead. After all the suffering, the pain and the cruelty of humanity, God
redeems and transforms it all. 
 
I came away with a belief that you really had to know the story to catch some
of the symbolism contained in the scenes, or even to understand some of the
moments in the picture. Because of that, I am not sure how many nonbelievers
will get it. However, we in the church need to be prepared to answer
questions about the meaning and purpose of the suffering, the Passion and the
crucifixion. 

For all that has been written or spoken about this film, I hope that if it
does anything at all, it will drive us all back to the Gospel accounts, and
to our reflections and contemplations about the mystery of our faith: Christ
has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

# # #
 
*Goodpaster is bishop of the United Methodist Church's Alabama-West Florida
Area.

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org