Movie Review

Will “The Passion of the Christ”

Bring Revival to the USA?

By Wm. Thomas Bray

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Here’s my advice on Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ” starring Jim Caviezel. See it as soon as you can. See it again and again. Watch it devotionally. Pray daily for the impact of this movie.  Don’t hesitate to take your children and teenagers.

            Ivy and I had the opportunity to preview it in a pre-edited version at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, and we both left the theater feeling that we had one of the greatest devotional experiences of our lives.  In fact, this is not a movie like any I have ever seen on the life of Christ.  And I think I have seen them all.

            This was essentially a devotional experience.  For Christians, it allows us to see the love of our Lord for us more intimately than I have every experienced.  For non-believers, it preaches the meaning of the cross and Calvary in a wonderful way.  I predict that this film will bring many to Christ, and it could help bring a revival to our churches which have lost their love for the Lord.

            First, see it.  There is a flood of articles questioning the films agonizing, “violent” portrayal of what Christ suffered.  Some critics say it might promote hate rather than love.  Other cynics question the accuracy of Gospel accounts of what happened and Mel Gibson’s motives for making the movie.  Since when have these Hollywood film critics and journalists become experts on the Bible, theology and the sacrifice of Christ for our sins?  Don’t let them put you off.  In the long run, this film is going to impact our culture more than any Hollywood film ever.

            Second, see it again and again.  Since the preview, my wife has gone back to see it again and she says it was much better the second time.  I realized that from the beginning.  Not only is the portrayal of Christ’s determination to go to the cross powerful beyond words, there are many subplots and sidebars throughout the film as the other characters are expertly portrayed.  I thought the role of Mary, the Mother of our Lord, was especially well done.  As was Mary Magdaline, the disciples, the devil and all the others in this drama.  I expect to learn more from future viewings.

            Please note that while the film is remarkably true to the Biblical record, Mel Gibson is also influenced by European church traditions such as the “Stations of the Cross” devotionals so there is a little bit of speculation and tradition that creeps into the film.  However, those who know their Bibles will spot it quickly for what it is.

            Third and this is important.  Watch the film devotionally.  It is essentially meant to be a devotional experience.  I talked with Jim Caviezel, who played Christ, and this is how he acted out the film.  He wanted to portray Christ’s suffering so that we can appreciate it and appropriate it into our own lives.

“The Passion of The Christ” helps you see the determination of Christ to lay down his life for you, and to take your sins upon him.  It helps you see the truth.  It answers the question of Pilot, “What is truth?” in a visual way.  That is why it has such a strong evangelistic impact as well.

I believe that it is appropriate to see this during the Easter season every year.  I hope that I will be able to do so the rest of my life.  As soon as it comes out on DVD, I hope to have it in my private library and to use it as part of my regular devotional life.

Fourth, from a mission’s perspective, pray daily for the impact of this movie in the USA and around the world.  In my youth, millions of us were affected and influenced by the film and Broadway versions of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”  In fact, the film and the music from that film contributed to the Jesus People Movement in the 1960’s.

I think the same thing could happen from this film.  One of our Chinese staff members in the San Jose office of World Children's Fund went to see the film in Ohio the first week it opened.  He accepted Christ in the backseat of the car afterwards as one of our staff couples explained the plan of salvation to him.  I have heard that this is happening all over, wherever the film is being shown.

Although the film is not primarily produced to be an evangelistic medium, whenever the cross of Christ is preached, it attracts broken people to our Lord who loves and forgives on Calvary.

Not only should we pray for the film, but for Mel Gibson and the actors and everyone associated with this film.  We need to pray for our pastors and evangelists that they will use the film wisely and that it will have a long life and be translated into the 6000 major languages of the world.  Pray for the entertainment industry and the distributors of this film that they will use every channel possible to get it out and that they will find it profitable and easy to do.

In Europe, where like the USA, the love for the Lord has grown cold in the hearts of His people, let us pray that this film brings revival.  In Africa and China where the story of Christ is not yet known, let us pray that this film will introduce the story of Calvary to billions of people.

There is a great spiritual warfare going on around this film.  Please bathe it in constant prayer.

Finally, take your children and teenagers to see this film. The smaller children may need special counseling before seeing it, and parents need to know when the right time comes to expose the children to it.  Surely, the youth and teenagers need to see it.

Don’t let the hypocrisy of the Hollywood critics and media people keep you or your children away from this film.  The benefits of seeing this realistic portrayal of the crucifixion and suffering of our Lord for our sins is a blessing.  Unlike the usual sex, lies and violence that the entertainment industry vomits out upon us day after day, the violence in this film is redemptive.

(Updated March 1, 2004 © 2004 by W. T. Bray, May be reprinted and distributed freely.)