Passion or Commercialization of the Christ?

[D1]

yes .....I used to consider myself a christian too because a Priest sprinkled Holy Wateron my head and said a few Hail Marys(grew up catholic) .....until I found out that you have to ask Jesus to be your savior and live in your heart

so I guess the only true question is;HAVE YOU ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR..I mean have you really came to the place where you knew you are a sinner and prayed for Jesus to to come into your heart and live and repent of your sins Romans 3:23,5:8,6:23,10:9-13

[SoftCall]

I'll weigh in here because I think that I see what Homer is trying to say. My mail box was stuffed full of direct mailers saying "go see the movie then come see our church". I am not knocking this approach, but several churches have used this as a tool to promote themselves - be it it right or wrong, I am not one to judge them.

Views on organized religion are personal as is one's relationship with the Lord. Just because he doesn't agree with some folks on how one should approach religion, it doesn't mean that he may not live his life day to day as the Lord would have him to.

An interpretation by Oswald Chambers sums it up for me...

"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things" Isaiah 40:26.

Isaiah made people whose imaginations were starved look unto the heavens and use their imagination. He also says that nature to a saint is sacramental. Every sun rise, gust of north wind, flake of snow, ice on the water, and experience in the field is a personal reminder to me of who our creator is. How you choose to serve him is between you and the Lord.

I don't think that the purpose of the movie (I have not seen it) was to pit Christian against Christian.

[Hammer]

I have not yet seen the movie but I will and I look forward to it...The fact that Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, etc have endorsed it, tells me that there is at least some redeeming value in the movie, which cannot be said for about 99.9% of the crap that comes out of Hollywood or is on TV, Radio, etc...

I FEAR THAT THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN, MUCH LESS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN, HAS NO IDEA THE EXTENT TO WHICH SATAN IS ACTIVE IN THE WORLD TODAY...I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT SATAN HAS NEVER BEEN MORE ACTIVE THAN HE IS TODAY AND THAT HE EXPRESSES HIMSELF EVERY MINUTE OF EVERYDAY ON THE TV...

Try this sometime: Turn on your TV, then turn off the Volume and just watch the images...Note that with the sound and vision going, the TV puppetmasters control your mind, but with the sound off, you can view the IDIOT BOX in a detached manner...You wont believe the degree to which the TV programming shocks your sense of decency...

Murder, sodomy, rape, drugs, disrespect for everything and everybody, blasphemy, false idols, etc...Every possible sin that a human being can committ is glorified on the TV on a daily basis...

Since GARBAGE IN=GARBAGE OUT, it is no small wonder the extent to which our country and our world are literally going to hell in a handbasket...

Getting back to THE PASSION, Mel Gibson has proven that there is an unbelievable thirst for movies and other entertainment about things that are REAL...Nothing is more real than the story of the CHRIST, although Gibson has only told part of the story...I'll bet yall dollars to doughnuts that the sequel is already in the works and I cant wait for the sequel, the story of the RISEN CHRIST...The CHRIST that is very much alive today...I would love to see Gibson make a movie that starts with his interpretation of the Resurrection and then fast-forwards to the present showing Gibson's vision of how CHRIST is alive today...

FINAL THOUGHT: For me, the real story of THE PASSION is not that Jesus died for our sins or that He was crucified, died and was buried and rose again on the third day....The real miracle is that Jesus did not hate us for killing Him and that He does not hate us as we kill Him a little bit more everyday with our smug human centered lifeview...

On the contrary, He loved us then and He loves us today despite the unbelievably malicious death we subjected Him to...Never forget that at any time He could have stopped it all, he could have killed everyone there, He could have erased all evidence of the existence of the human race- not just in the here and now but throughout time and space- past, present, future, etc...

He is master of the universe, of all that IS, SEEN AND UNSEEN...He had the power then and He has the power now...He chose to use that power to love, not to hate...That is the greatest love of all...Faith, hope and love, the greatest is love...Praise You O Christ.

HAMMER

PS The story of mankind is the same today as it was in the Garden...Sin results from putting ourselves- as individuals and as a species- first, instead of putting God first...The only way out of that trap is salvation through His son, Jesus, The Christ...I dont see how a realistic portrayal of my Lord's death can hurt my belief in the Father or His Son...

[go24]

There's a lot of good points you guys are making, but don't assume that churches are all about marketing their place OVER another. Remember, they have the mandate to reach the world. Some unchurched people/seekers will step in and take a look at the Gospel if they feel the church to be warm and inviting.

Mailings are not the best way, but they are A way to say, "You are welcome here". Evangelism is one beggar telling another where the bread can be found. I, for one, ain't gonna be so critical of the church/Body Of Christ.

PEACE

[Wingman]

Most churches are using this as an invitation to visit, not to open your pocketbooks or "buy in" to their club.

How does a church "promote" itself? You can go every Sunday and Wednesday for absolutely free. If you choose to become a member or not, that's up to you. God is the one who tells us to give the 10% that we owe Him.

Don't bicker about this guys.

Wingman

[booger]

Fellas, I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that Homer is our well know "new" member but operating on a slightly different dosage of med's. He waited for the other "Passion" post to fall off and then started yanking the chain again.

[BLUE ROOM BOY]

get me a drink!

[go24]

What if Homer, Ben A, Jim Walker, Benny, Yo Benny, and any other aliases I'm not aware of go form a new board and talk amongst themselves .

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I'm schizzophrenic,
and so am I!

[BLUE ROOM BOY]

ITS NOT BENNY

[BLUE ROOM BOY]

ITS