A few thoughts...

We saw The Passion of Christ last night with our church and a few friends we invited.

THE BEAUTY
I was struck by the symbolism that Mel Gibson used in the movie. Jesus was a man on a mission! This was evident throughout the movie, especially when he stood up after the first whipping. It was like he was saying, "Nope, this isn't enough punishment yet...sin costs more than what I've received." Even though it was out of the context of the Gospels, when Jesus tells Mary "Behold, I make all things new" was the most striking part of the picture for me. All of what Jesus went through was to heal creation of the damage done in the Fall. How beautiful was it to go to the Last Supper during this time and listen to Jesus tell the Disciples the New Commandment. The film was visually stunning.

THE DANGER
My concern is the film's is portrayal of the trial and Crucifixion out of the context of Jesus' life. Dallas Willard says that the cross wasn't used as a Christian symbol until around the time of Constantine. For the past 1700 years the Church has focused almost exclusively on the cross as the symbol of atonement. I believe Evangelicalism is a logical result of this focus. Like Chris Marshall points out, there is an unhealthy focus on the future and very little focus on the "here and now." So, we Christianity has become about "saying a prayer so you can go to heaven" rather than a transformed life.

Jesus lived a lifestyle that empowered and focus him to do all we saw in the film. We only got a glimpse in the Garden of Gethsemane scene of Jesus' prayer life. It was Jesus discipline in fasting, studying, praying, community etc. that prepared him for what he would endure.

THE MISSING
We invited some friends that we have been hanging out with. Good people, but have a bad taste in their mouth for institutional religion, and can't really see the need for Jesus in their life at this time. I asked them what they thought about the movie without being to pushy. He said, "It was a great experience, but an awful movie." I got the feeling that he saw the movie through very different eyes than mine. It was more a historical piece about the crucifixion of a man, there was really no thought that "He did this for me". I'm not sure that this film is going to be the evangelistic tool that some church leaders think. I think the best hope is that it will evangelize the church.....