Does Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” Preach the Gospel?
In a word, Yes. Would we recommend the film? Absolutely. (except for young children) Jeff: As I sit to write a response to the film, I contemplate a third Ash Wednesday Liturgy, and a first set of the Stations of the Cross (tomorrow) and I find it difficult to figure out how God will make those things possible. I am emotionally and spiritually exhausted after seeing this film. I went with Michael to see the film, because we agreed that it would be important for “Preaching Peace” to respond to it as soon as possible after it opened. I went in as a skeptic, as one sincerely worried about the “gratuitous violence” and potential “anti-Semitism” that others have objected to. I came out of the film, enormously glad that I went to see it. I have to admit that, aside from the intensity of it, my experience of the film was not a lot different from my response to the Stations of the Cross. (You can experience the version of the Stations that we do at Church of the Advent by clicking here.) I was
