A Chorus of Witnesses

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I have had some who are on the Heart4God mailing list express an interest in what other people are saying about the movie, and the article sent out on it, and because I believe there is positive value in sharing these responses I am going to make them known. Some have already written to me and told me to feel free to share their words with others. For the sake of privacy, and to not offend those whom I have not asked if they are willing to have their names made known, I am in the habit of only providing the first initial of a person's name. In this way those who choose to do so can remain anonymous. </div> <bR> <div> I am going to include the responses I have received here, having edited out personal items and leaving only that which is relevant to the discussion of this movie. I am also going to provide some links at the bottom of the page to articles of others who have written about their concerns about the legitimacy and value of this movie. In all of the articles have found some merit, some of it profound, though I am not endorsing every aspect of what has been shared. I am desirous of answering the petition of those who have an interest similar to that expressed by the following reader: </div> <bR> <div> Would you consider passing on the reponses of several people. I too have a check in my spirit and I would like to hear what a "multitude of counselors" are saying. thanks, M.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Here are the responses: </div> <bR> <div> Dear Joseph, </div> <div> Hello once again... I wanted to let you know how timely your email was to me.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I received a postcard today from the local Methodist church, informing the community that "The Passion" is to play at one of our movie theaters, and as a courtesy, their church is offering a series of seminars on Christianity to help those who may have questions about becoming a Believer after seeing the film. </div> <bR> <div> I've been reading a few articles & early reviews of the film off and on for several days, but didn't really feel one way or another about it. When the postcard arrived, I thought "well, maybe this is something to go and see?" but felt an immediate unrest in my heart. I couldn't put my finger on what exactly bothered me, so I pushed the feeling aside & proceeded to wash the dishes. (smiles) </div> <bR> <div> While reading your article, I heard the Spirit speak to my heart by saying, "I'm drawing a line. My people have to choose one way or the other. You're either for me, or against me. You cannot remain on both sides any longer." These are the same words that I've *heard* over the past few weeks--both in my heart, and through other's sharing their hearts. You've confirmed His words once again to me, with your writings. </div> <bR> <div> Thank you for sharing your thoughts once again with all of us. I pray that both you and your dear family are continually, and abundantly, blessed!<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Sincerely, </div> <div> D.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> ------------------------------------------ </div> <div> Joseph,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> whew... amen to all that! I also have been getting tons of emails from believers in support of this movie and you put into words what I have been feeling.... i'm also cutting a pasting an email for you that I received and forwarded to a friend this morning.... "beam me up Jesus! there's no intellegent life here!" LOL<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> be blessed<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> J.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="583" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#008080 HEIGHT= 21 ><NOBR><div> <B>Prophetic Roundtable Online</B> - with Don & Bonnie Franklin<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1199 WIDTH="579"><div> <B><U>Subscribe</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><B><U>Unsubscribe</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><B><U>Archives</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><B><U>Home</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><B><U>Donations</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Read what these Christian Leaders are saying about 'The Passion'</B> </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b70104ff000000.png" HEIGHT="17" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Pat Robertson</U></B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT>"Without question, this is the finest work that has ever been done on this subject." </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7010400008000.png" HEIGHT="17" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jack Hafford</U></B></FONT><B> </B>I found it deeply moving, factually accurate and unprejudiced in its presentation. </div> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7010400008000.png" HEIGHT="17" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Tim LaHaye</U></B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" >"No film in my lifetime has the potential of impacting more people with the world's greatest story than 'The Passion'. " </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>MEL GIBSON IS MY APOSTLE "John the Beloved of Hollywood" </B></div> <div> by Bill Yount</div> <div> I sense the Lord saying. "I am first beginning to visit the movie industry with My crucifixion. But soon you will begin to see My Resurrection Power come through movie screens world wide. There are other films that I am dropping into the hearts of film producers and actors. Mel Gibson is My Apostle, "John the Beloved" of Hollywood but there are other disciples already hearing My call to follow Me in the film industry! I am beginning to lay a new foundation built upon the Apostles and Prophets to build Me a House in theatres beginning in Hollywood! On Holy ground I will build a House of Refuge for My gifted chosen people there! I sense Jesus calling forth His Hollywood disciples and commanding them.... "Build Me a House in a Theatre!"</div> <bR> <div> In the Spirit I saw the wonder working power in just one drop of Jesus' blood in "The Passion of the Christ" penetrating right through theatre screens staining seats, sinners and saints and many were seeing it as though it was in "3-D" Technicolor!" Major deliverances were taking place as conviction ran into the aisles and between rows of seats, as the blood of Jesus seemingly ran down off of the screens and into the audiences. Repentance began exploding inside of hearts! In the Spirit I saw the blood of Christ simultaneously take out three demonic strongholds in many lives that were present in theatres watching the crucifixion. The first stronghold was discouragement. The second stronghold was depression. The third was deception. </div> <bR> <div> As the theatres were exited at the end, I saw angels putting the blood of Jesus on the doorposts of theatres and marking them for the Kingdom of God proclaiming, "we'll be back!" In fact some angels were assigned to stay behind and set up camp right inside those theatres! I sensed the atmosphere in these theatres was forever changing for the "spiritual" blood stains on seats and floors could not be washed away by man - oh those precious blood stains! </div> <bR> <div> "The Holy Spirit is going to begin falling upon secular movies magnifying truth and righteousness to overcome the evil in them with good. Even the lost attending the most degrading movies will come away with such emptiness because of My convicting presence that will begin to reside inside of theatres around the world! Many theatres will be redeemed into My Kingdom to display My Glory in the arts."</div> <bR> <div> Just when we thought for sure that God would never allow us to put Him in a box, He puts Himself in one to be found by many! When you put God in a box in Hollywood, you end up with a "box office" hit!</div> <div> <B>Bill Yount</B></div> <div> <B>Hagerstown, MD</B></div> <div> <U>blowtheshofar@juno.com</U></div> <div> <U>www.billyount.com</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 447 WIDTH="579"><div> -------------------------------------------------------- </div> <div> Hi Joseph,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> I agree with what you've said. There was a conversation going on about this over at the anabaptist bookstore forum. Someone pointed out that she'd rather see The Passion 2---the Ressurection, if there were to be such a movie. The danger I see is that only the last 12 hours of Jesus' sufferings is shown...and too graphically at that -- I do not want to see the movie........But they aren't showing Jesus afterwards - His ressurection - that's where the power lies - in defeating death - the very purpose of Him dying for our sins. </div> <bR> <div> I also cannot believe all the approval of this movie from the clergy. Are they blind? As you well know, if the majority approve of something, it's probably not right. This movie is just going to lead people, Christian or not, into a false idea of why Jesus came, and an easy believism type of faith.....or over to the false Catholic church.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I DO see this as the very subtle work of Satan, to take people's eyes and hearts away from the Truth.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Thank you for standing up,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> G.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> ------------------------------------------------------------ </div> <div> <B>Mr. Herrin - I'm a little stunned.....but I thank you for sharing your very honest, if unpopular, view about this movie. Like everyone else, I have been overwhelmed with praise for this movie. No one has had a negative thing to say, until you.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>I have never seen a Mel Gibson movie. But I believe what you have said about them, which is why we have never cared to view them. Perhaps you are right and The Passion of the Christ movie is just a way he has found to depict the ultimate in violence and brutality. If so, his motives are totally wrong, impure. But God often takes what satan means for evil and turns it to good. As I have been praying about this and staying open before God since reading your email I believe I have sensed this from God. This movie is for Christians. Christians need to be confronted with the brutality of the cross. Most Christians don't have a clue what Jesus went through for us. We have made the cross a thing of beauty. We wear it as jewelry around our necks. We place it high on our church buildings. We decorate our stationary with it. </B></div> <div> <B>The cross was a cursed thing. Death on it was an execution, a brutal thing. I think it is time we saw that. Mel Gibson, who knows so well how to portry violence and brutality, may be being used by God, even unknown to him, to bring this to the screen where Christians will have to be confronted with it. And with all the hoopla going around, Christians will flock to see it. </B></div> <div> <B>Do you know if Mel Gibson is a Christian? If he is, is it possible that he is a new believer and has found the Lord SINCE he did those awful films?</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Thanks for being bold and giving us food for thought and prayer - B.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister, </div> <div> If you will read the follow-up message to this first email on Mel Gibson's movie, you will find that there is much more wrong with it than merely the things I have written at the first. Mel Gibson is a professing Catholic, and has had no recent encounter with Christ that he accredits this movie to. He was raised as a Catholic by his father and he attributes his faith to his father's teachings. </div> <bR> <div> Gibson has said that he has dreamed of making this movie for twelve years, during the same time that he was producing many debauched, sexually impure, extremely violent and profane movies. I see this no differently than Catholic priests who are serving their congregations, partaking of the Eucharist, and preaching to congregations while they are molesting little children and involving them in homosexual and deviant practices. There is a great disconnect between Mel Gibson's life and his profession of Christ. </div> <div> It is possible that God can use what Satan has intended for evil and bring some good out of it. He has done so before, and it is my hope and prayer that this will be so. Yet as for me and my house, we will not be patronzing this movie. I have a 14 year old son and a 16 year old daughter, and I could not subject them to two solid hours of brutality, cruelty, and physical abuse played to the greatest effect to produce shock in the minds of the viewers. Though I do agree that the church does not appreciate the sacrifice of Christ, there are some things that must come to all men and women by faith. </div> <div> Sadly, I expect the result of this movie to be an increase in acts of extreme violence and cruelty in the months and years to come. </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <div> Joseph Herrin </div> <div> ------------------------------------- </div> <div> Shalom Joseph,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Thanks for your thoughts in your latest email - especially about Gibson's movie, <I>The Passion of the Christ</I>. Supposedly, he is not going to make any more movies and is a bit repentant about his past. I have raised some other issues at the following web addresses. You might find them of interest or helpful to others.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <U>http://www.gnfi.org/html/rational_about_passion.html#Top</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> <U>http://passion-movie.gnfi.org/</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Continue in keeping the faith!<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> C.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister, </div> <div> Thanks for writing and offering your encouraging words. I did go and check out the links you provided, and I think all of the debate about the movie being anti-semitic has caused the saints to become distracted and fail to look more closely at all the issues relating to it. So many "big names" have signed onto this venture, and have done so without seeking a word from the Father first. I feel like they are like the Israelites under Joshua when they made a covenant with the Gibeonites before consulting with God on the matter. The Gibeonites ended up deceiving them, and Israel was never able to dispossess these enemies in their land. </div> <bR> <div> Regarding Gibson making more movies, a quote found on the website you provided a link for included an interview where Gibson was asked about what he would do next. Following is his response: </div> <bR> <div> In the interview, the New York paper said, he spoke of his passion for the new film, the gospel and what he wants to do next – "something light and funny, and nobody'll be angry at me!"<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> So, it apears that he is not intending to give up his career at this time, and it will be insightful to look at the content of the movie he makes that follows this current one. I suspect that it will be back to coarse jesting, profanity, sexual impurity, and the like. </div> <bR> <div> I hope all is well with you and your family. May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <div> Joseph </div> <div> -------------------------------------------------------- </div> <div> This man who rebuffed you is a Christian? I don't see him walking in any of the gifts of the spirit in his letter. I'm not anybody important, just a keeper at home, but I would like to commend you for your stand against this movie. I think you are right on the money about it desensitizing us further to violence and gore. The devil is so sneaky, what better way to do this than use a big name movie star and make the movie about Jesus!!!! The mainstream church, I'm afraid for the most part, has swallowed it, hook, line and sinker. Just putting the name of Jesus on something does not make it okay. And, we ARE called to judge and to discern whether something be of God or not. I for one, will be running as fast as I can in the opposite direction of this movie. I sent your email to all my brothers and sisters and friends and I'm sure I will also be reproved for believing that this movie is not the greatest thing since sliced pie. I was laughed at for believing that Pokeman and Power Rangers and heaven forbid, Harry Potter were and are evil influences on children. But I expect it, seeing that it is coming from unsaved people and even from a few saved ones too.Its all part of the "I'm okay, you're okay conspiracy." The Bible says the Godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution. I count it an honor and a priviledge to stand along side with you and your review of this movie. Please feel free to use this email for the support of your cause.. </div> <div> S., from South Texas<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister, </div> <div> Yes, the brother who rebuked me is a professing believer, and he also is a host of a Christian forum on the Internet. I was very much grieved by the tone of his response, as well as his false reasoning. </div> <bR> <div> I do appreciate your taking the time to write and share your words of encouragement. I am blessed to hear that the Spirit of Christ has been bringing you to the same convictions, and that you are standing true to these convictions. Christ never said His disciples would be popular, only that if the world hated Him that they would hate us as well. It is grievous, however, when we find that Christians also are against us, yet this is a sign of the last days when men will not endure sound doctrine, but will heap up to themselves teachers to tickle their ears and tell them the things they want to hear. What they want to hear is that they need only be confessors of Christ, that a transformed life is optional and not worth troubling oneself about. </div> <div> Yet God has His faithful ones, even homemakers such as yourself, who are seeking with all their heart to walk in obedience and truth, being espoused to Christ as a pure virgin. May you be blessed with peace and understanding as you continue in this walk, </div> <div> Joseph Herrin </div> <div> ---------------------------------------------------------- </div> <div> Dear Joseph,</div> <bR> <div> I just want to challenge you a little bit about your take on this movie. I agree with you that Mel has been in very bad movies, and has done bad things. This cannot be denied. The point that I would like to look at, is was this movie done in reality or not. </div> <bR> <div> If this is reality, and based on the four Gospels for a script, then the actual viewing of such an event would have been at the least just as traumatizing and desensitizing, don't you think? If this film, which depicts extreme violence, is bad to see, then was not the event itself wrong to see? Should not man know and understand what happened and to what Christ was put through to bring about the salvation of mankind? To a world that has all but forgotten the old rugged cross, and its meaning, don't you think that this is like a wake-up call? </div> <bR> <div> Another aspect of this. God used men of old, hard men, men of violence, to promote and bring about His judgment and His purposes. Consider King Nebuchadnezzar. God used him to judge Israel, and allowed him to rule over the kingdom of earth. At the end, God proved His point to the king, that no one could do things unless God allowed it. That He indeed ruled over all. I am sure this king was full of war, full of violence, and full of wickedness. But God used him. Back to the point of this movie. It would be very difficult to produce this movie on a large scale like Mel Gibson is doing, without a renown author/director/actor. Even Mel Gibson has been subjected to widespread persecution and pressures to get him to budge off of the reality of this movie. To sugar-coat, or otherwise change the message and direction of the film. He could not even find anyone to help him back this film, so he used 25 million of his own money to make it with. I read somewhere ( a while back), that they were not even sure if they would get this movie into the theaters, because of what kind of movie it was, and the widespread resistance, from Hollywood and from all over, because he would not back down from the original script, which was based mainly from the 4 gospels. How much harder would it have been to have used someone who was not very well known to put out this movie and get people to watch it? God can do anything, that is true, but God uses people like this to fulfill His purposes. I know that this movie is quite a hot topic, and a controversial film, which allot of non-Christians don't want to be produced. Could all of this just be a decoy? Why use Jesus as a catalyst for just more violence? I don't see this as being a very good way to promote more violence. It would seem that violence on this level can easily be displayed in many more interesting ways (to the world) than that about the Gospel and the salvation of mankind. Could it be a ploy to get Christians to view violence? I suppose it could be, but to what profit? Since it will most likely strengthen their faith. Were this to occur, then they would watch less violence. Why use something that would cause more honor and adoration for the Lord Jesus Christ, when something worse could be used? I am not sure I agree with you. If I went to watch it (and I have been planning on doing that) I would not care to see so much violence, but on the other hand, I would watch it for its reality, just so I could have a glimpse of what Jesus went through. Just to get a vision of the cross. Not because I desire in any way to see more violence. If they had taken the violence out of this movie, I would have been apauled, and would probably not watch it, not because I desire to see the violence, but because I would feel like it was a sell out(betraying its cause), to not show what Jesus really went through.</div> <bR> <div> There is widespread praise throughout Christianity for this movie. This should cause the raising of a few eyebrows, since many Christians have become apostate or fellowship with apostate churches. </div> <bR> <div> There is a flip side to this, that I was considering before I got your email. Could the anti-christ use this film, and the image of the man who is portrayed in it as Christ, to deceive the mass peoples who are not walking with Christ that he indeed was the Christ? The 'After all, he looks just like the Jesus in the movie' kind of idea. This could be possible. I don't know for sure. I surely don't want to have allot of people seeing this, not doing anything with their knowledge (like getting saved), and then when anti-christ comes onto the scene, they embrace him as their christ. That would be terrible. But it could also work both ways. To those who loved the truth, to edification, and to those who did not love the truth, to a grand delusion. Something to think about.</div> <bR> <div> What do you think?</div> <div> L.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear L., </div> <div> You have raised some interesting points concerning this movie, and I will answer them as I am able. In your letter you wrote: </div> <bR> <div> If I went to watch it (and I have been planning on doing that) I would not care to see so much violence, but on the other hand, I would watch it for its reality, just so I could have a glimpse of what Jesus went through. Just to get a vision of the cross. Not because I desire in any way to see more violence. If they had taken the violence out of this movie, I would have been apauled, and would probably not watch it, not because I desire to see the violence, but because I would feel like it was a sell out(betraying its cause), to not show what Jesus really went through.</div> <bR> <div> Consider that we have an account of the crucifixion of Christ in the gospels, as well as related Scriptures in Isaiah, the Psalms, and elsewhere. Yet the Bible merely gives us glimpses of the suffering of Christ. The gospel writers tell us the facts of his scourging, his mocking and physical abuse, of his image being marred above all men until he could not even be recognized as a man. Yet the gospels do not give us a two hour long narration of every gory detail. These gospels were inspired by the Holy Spirit and they reveal as much as God wanted us to have revealed unto us. For the past 2,000 years these Biblical accounts have been sufficient to lead all sincere believers to an appreciation of Christ's suffering. </div> <bR> <div> Consider also that the gospels did not merely focus on this one twelve hour slice of the life of Christ, but upon His entire 33 year life on earth, and in particular upon His ministry years. We are also told that of the twelve apostles, only John was at Jesus side durng His crucifixion. Judas was dead and the other ten had fled. So they did not all witness this tragic and gory scene. </div> <bR> <div> Now, we should also consider what an impact viewing such a scene would have upon the minds of those observing. They would be led to great grief and despair and tremendous sorrow of heart, for they were witnesses of the death of the Savior, the Son of God. It would then be very necessary that they have something to counteract this horrible experience, and this they had for they were also witnesses of the resurrected Christ. Yet Mel Gibson is offering only the trauma of the crucifixion without the equally glorious experience of observing the resurrected Christ. I have read that the movie does end with a resurrection, scene, but it is fleeting and somewhat ambiguous. I think this is a mistake, for we do not merely serve a crucified Lord, but we serve a resurrected Savior. If He is not seen clearly in His resurrection then we are among men most miserable. </div> <bR> <div> You have also asked: </div> <bR> <div> Should not man know and understand what happened and to what Christ was put through to bring about the salvation of mankind?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Yes, I think that all men should know what Christ experienced, and many movies before have portrayed the entire life of Christ along with the crucifixion, though they were somewhat restrained in depicting all the agony and cruelty and suffering of the cross. For example, you may have seen the movie Ben Hur which ends with the crucifixion of Christ. Yet this movie, like the gospels, only gives us glimpses of His suffering, not a protracted and torturous portrayal of the most graphic violence and cruelty. </div> <bR> <div> I do not know that it is necessary for the children of God to witness every lash of the whip across the body of Christ, every physical trauma that He suffered. If it were necessary then God would have provided a means to experience these things for the past 2,000 years. But I know you are not arguing that it is necessary, only that it could be beneficial. Perhaps it will have a beneficial effect upon some, but on many others I am convinced that it will have a dulling and desensitizing effect. Others will be emotionally scarred. I am concerned that in the months and years that follow that we will witness an increase in extreme violence and cruelty in our society as many become callous to all but the most extreme forms of brutality. </div> <bR> <div> I do not condemn you if you should choose to see this movie. I have merely sought to share those things which I believe I have received from God's Spirit. Does it not seem incongruous that Hollywood should be hailed as the champion of Christianity and the great evangelizer when she has been a great fountainhead of all that is evil, debauched, sexually perverted, profane and evil? Can a fountain bring forth both fresh and bitter water? Can men gather good fruit from a bad tree? </div> <bR> <div> These are my concerns. May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <div> Joseph </div> <div> ---------------------------------------------------------- </div> <div> Your message of yesterday was a confirmation of what I have also been sensing from the Spirit of God regarding this movie. Thank you for being bold enough to make this truth known to others. The very fact that "Christianity" has jumped on the bandwagon is enough to validate the concerns of the remnant. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> <I><B>Matthew 24:24. NKJV</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> The "strong delusion" <I><B>[energeian planees],</B></I> "effectual deceit" that God has sent (2 Thess. 2:11-12) to those who do not believe the truth is an extremely strong spirit that produces rage, anger and tirades among those who are deceived. It is going to get worse as the bad seeds that have laid dormant in the souls of the unsanctified begin to spring forth.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake." </div> <bR> <div> Keep standing on the Rock, for "all other ground is sinking sand."<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> On Higher Ground,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> J.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear J., </div> <div> Thank you for writing with yopur encouragement. Sadly, this brother who first objected to the article I sent out wrote me back with even more reviling and condemnation, but the words you have sent are like a healing balm. You wrote: </div> <bR> <div> The "strong delusion" <I><B>[energeian planees],</B></I> "effectual deceit" that God has sent (2 Thess. 2:11-12) to those who do not believe the truth is an extremely strong spirit that produces rage, anger and tirades among those who are deceived. It is going to get worse as the bad seeds that have laid dormant in the souls of the unsanctified begin to spring forth.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake." </div> <bR> <div> I must count myself blessed, for these are but momentary light afflictions, not worthy to be compared to the glory to be revealed in us. </div> <div> I also appreciate the article you sent from "The Cutting Edge". It is very interesting that I prayed specifically that God would give me a specific Scripture that related to this movie by Mel Gibson, and God gave me the very one that they have also used. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit."</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > [Luke 6:43-44] </FONT></div> <bR> <div> This is a strong confirmation that we are hearing from the same Spirit. May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <div> Joseph </div> <div> ------------------------------------------------------------------ </div> <div> Mr. Herrin: I am one whose disturbedness was confirmed by your article. The Set-Apart Spirit of our Father has kept me away from movies and the theater for many years. (The last trip to the movies was in 1990 and I cannot allow myself to watch most movies even on video or television because of the implications, if not outright offensiveness.) Since I had heard about the movie, I have put it before the Father; something was bothering me and I knew it wasn't the accusations of anti-semitism being broadcast. Everytime I get a glimpse of Mr. Gibson on television, it stirs something in me that is grievous. I just read another article, too, that mentioned how the emphasis is put on the violence done to Yahshua, but none about His resurrection, which is of utmost importance. I, of course, have not seen the movie, so I know only what is told by those who have.</div> <bR> <div> I have also read your email regarding responses to your article. I encourage you not to defend yourself. As you know, we are instructed "Beloved, do not revenge yourselves, but give place to the wrath, for it has been written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay,' says YHWH." (Romans 12:19) As you write directed by the Spirit of YHWH, He will prove your obedience in time. I just wanted to share with you what I sensed as I read the other email....<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> E.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister, </div> <div> I thank you for writing and sharing your encouraging words. I might have erred in speaking words of defense in the second piece on the movie by Mel Gibson, but in truth I was not concerned much for my own reputation, but merely sought to point out the unjust reasoning this brother was using. I have received so much criticism in the past years that I have become much less sensitive to the opinions of others, and I seek to please only Yahweh in the things I write and declare. At times I feel like Paul when he began to defend himself and said that he was mad, and beside himself in doing so, but that the Corinthian believers compelled him to make such a defense, though in truth it was folly for any man to seek to justify himself before others. So please accept my words in the spirit they were given. I too know it is folly to seek to justify oneself in the eyes of others, and this was not my purpose even though such things were said.... </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <div> Joseph </div> <div> ------------------------------------ </div> <div> Dear Mr. Herrin,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> We have been praying for you and hope that your physical circumstances have improved. We ache to hear of your sufferings in whatever form, but trust that they are working out the salvation of the Lord in you and your family. I too am grieved for all that has been said here about this movie. I believe in the cross in my life and in separating ourselves from the world and its uncleaness. And I do see where you are coming from on that point. God has called us to be separated from anything that is of Him. But what I feel is missing in this discussion is in fact the cross of Jesus itself. Somehow that has gotten lost in every discussion I have heard. Even the world i.e. Diane Sawyer can look at Mel Gibson's life and work and find it incredible that he would do this film. They too find it hypocritical. It is not a great leap of understanding to see that. The Jew would be fearful and offended and the church is rejoicing over what this will "get for them." But in it all, where is the cross of Jesus? We would take a stand on the subject and be quick to have an opinion but the cross should be the central figure still. The work of the Cross separates us from unholiness. The work of the cross separates the wheat from the chaff. The work of the Cross justifies the believer. The work of the Cross teaches love, through much pain, and much persecution. We do not either have to affirm it or despise it for it to go forth and do the work it was sent to do. Regardless of the man or the movie, let the cross of Jesus be glorified and be glorified in us. I see much of the work of the cross in your life, and I know God has given you so much truth. Yet, the eagerness and willingness to expose a brother in Christ whether he is wrong or right, to public ridicule is troubling. Must we be knowledgable and righteous and our ideas not be refuted or must the cross be glorified. The truth is, that whatever God gives you to speak is His and not yours, and it needs no defense, if it is of Him. Defending the I AM adds no weight to Him. He simply is and His cross simply is. And His love which was so profoundly exhibited at the cross, should resonate in our own lives, if we say that we love Him. Those who see our lives should see the holiness of God, yes, but should see also his great love. Please note that I am not defending the movie in any way, but only seek to bring the controversy into perspective. If we take any stand at all, let it be for Jesus, and Him crucified.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Again, we are praying for you and for your family. May God find you faithful in all things,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> M.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister M.,</div> <bR> <div> I do thank you for taking the time to write and share your opinion in this matter. I know that you desire to walk in truth and to find yourself obedient before Christ. I would like to speak to a couple of things you have</div> <div> written here. You wrote:</div> <bR> <div> But what I feel is missing in this discussion is in fact the cross of Jesus itself. Somehow that has gotten lost in every discussion I have heard.</div> <bR> <div> If you will consider the things I have written you will see that I have not neglected the importance of the message of the cross. In fact, an understanding of the cross (both Christ's and the disciple's) is one of my</div> <div> chief objections to this movie. In all of Mel Gibson's films he has portrayed a rampant fleshliness. In the first article I sent out on this matter I spoke of the debauched and sexually immoral content of his movies, also of the great profanity, and of the senseless and extreme violence. All of these are symptoms of a man who believes that it is enough to be a confessor of Christ, while he refuses to embrace the cross himself. There is</div> <div> a great incongruity between his confession and his lifestyle and movie portrayals.</div> <bR> <div> As multitudes discern the discrepancy between Gibson's life and his confession they will be led to conclude that it really does not matter whether the children of God take up the disciple's cross and live crucified lives. They will be led to despise the cross instead, thinking that it is enough to merely maintain a confession, while neglecting any real transformation. Gibson is already being depicted as a champion of Christianity, a leader among the saints. One prophet (false prophet) has even testified that God has declared Mel Gibson to be His John the Apostle of love in Hollywood. What an abomination this is! What a tragedy! Many are being led to believe that Gibson is an example of one in whim God is well pleased. That his life with all of its rampant ungodliness is somehow satisfying to a holy God, even to the point of his being declared an apostle.</div> <bR> <div> What will the impact be upon the millions who go to see this movie? Indeed, what is the impact already? Consider that the ministry of Focus on the Family has spent decades fighting against the very things that Mel Gibson has brought into millions of homes through his debauched movies, yet this very ministry is now singing the praises of this man while turning a blind eye to all of his immorality, his ungodly influence through dozens of movies, and even in his including a porn star in the movie that they are now vigorously supporting. Do you not see the subtlety of Satan in all of this, for he has made a ministry, that was formerly a scourge to everything that Mel Gibson has stood for and portrayed, into a leading proponent of this man and his works? Where is the censure for all the evil he has already committed? Where is James Dobson's concern for the effect that will certainly result as young men look further into the career of the movie's principle characters such as Monica Bellucci and they find that the Internet is strewn with her pornographic images, ensnaring many?</div> <bR> <div> No, I have not ignored the value of the cross. The message of the cross is visible in every book that I have written. But Mel Gibson is not advocating a crucified life among the saints, nor is he even proclaiming the message of the cross of Christ. He is merely setting before the masses a picture of brutality and ceaseless cruelty that is given without explanation, for it is detached from the entirety of the rest of the life of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> I would also urge you to consider that what I wrote about this movie came only after much prayer and asking for God's mind on this movie. I asked God specifically to give me a Scripture that revealed His thoughts, and as a result the Spirit strongly brought to me the following passage:</div> <bR> <div> Luke 6:43-45</div> <div> "For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."</div> <bR> <div> I was amazed then when a seventy-ish Christian sister sent me an article yesterday where another man had written of this movie and God had given him the very same Scripture. The issue at hand is not whether the cross of Christ is an important matter, but whether God has sanctioned this depiction of the cross of Christ. Satan himself appears as an angel of light (messenger of truth), and he is very able to cause his servants to also appear as messengers of light. Yet we are told to judge by fruit, and the fruit of Mel Gibson's life testifes against him. It is bad fruit, and bad fruit comes from bad trees. How then is it that so many saints now expect to pick the most delicious, wholesome, nourishing, and righteous fruit from a tree that has been bearing poisonous and destructive fruit for years? I say that the fruit will not be good at all, and that the agenda of Mel Gibson is not what the majority of the church wishes to believe. He is no champion of righteousness, nor a defender of the Kingdom of God.</div> <bR> <div> You also wrote:</div> <bR> <div> Yet, the eagerness and willingness to expose a brother in Christ whether he is wrong or right, to public ridicule is troubling.</div> <bR> <div> Does the Spirit testify to you that Mel Gibson is a brother in Christ? The Spirit testifies to me that he is a false brother, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Even in the early church such men were already present causing Jude and Peter to write:</div> <bR> <div> Jude 4</div> <div> For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.</div> <bR> <div> II Peter 2:1</div> <div> But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies...</div> <bR> <div> Do you know of all the leaven that is present in this movie? Are you aware of the destructive heresies that guided Mel Gibson as he leaned heavily on the writings of Anne Emmerich who elevated Mary Magdalene above all the apostles, showing her to be the only faithful one among them. Mel Gibson has interspersed many Catholic dogmas into the movie that are extra-Biblical, such as the stations of the cross, and even the intervention of Teresa of Avlia. He shows Christ being thrown off of a bridge after His arrest, and he adds many other non-Scriptural details, such as the wife of Pilate giving Mary a towel to wipe up the blood of Jesus.</div> <bR> <div> How many will be drawn to the heresies of the Catholic Church through this movie? How many will be led to read the writings of Emmerich and to seek out information on the apparitions of Medjugorge? Destructive heresies are tied up not only with the movie, but with all of its principle advocates, and I have no witness in my spirit that Mel Gibson is a fellow saint. We shall know them by their fruit.</div> <bR> <div> You have written to me that it is improper to "expose" the evil deeds of a man like Mel Gibson, but what does God's word tell us?</div> <bR> <div> Ephesians 5:11</div> <div> Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them...</div> <bR> <div> Paul used the very word you have used, but his conclusion was the opposite of your own. You say it is a shame to expose the evil of another, while Paul says "expose them". We must judge with righteous judgment concerning these things. I know the attitude of the church is that it is the greatest of transgressions to judge another, and I spoke of this in the e-mail you are responding to. I ask you, did you read the article to which I provided a link ("The Issue of Judging"). If you have not, then I would strongly encourage you to do so. You will find that there are myriads of Scriptures that COMMAND the saints to judge, and even to expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness.</div> <bR> <div> I ask you to please consider these things. We are called to be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. Many false brethren, and false anointed ones are present in this hour. There are many servants of the evil one who desire to appear as messengers of light. It is for this reason that we must wait patiently before the Spirit until we receive a witness from Him on these matters. I have heard, and I have written that which I have received.</div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days,</div> <bR> <div> Joseph </div> <div> ------------------------------------------ </div> <div> Dear Brother Joseph,</div> <bR> <div> Your letter about Mel worries me, for it IS TOO JUDGMENTAL.</div> <bR> <div> The only people Christ ever judged were the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees,</div> <div> because they KEEP THE PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO THE TRUTH by falsifying the meaning of the scriptures and putting human 'law', 'customs', and 'tradition' before God and His will. He embraced EVERYBODY else!!</div> <bR> <div> Would you rather that Christ plays Christ?</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 12:31, 32</div> <bR> <div> Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven</div> <div> unto men: .... And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it</div> <div> shall be forgiven him: ....</div> <bR> <div> LOVE thy neighbor as thyself, and remember that Paul was Saul once, and</div> <div> Christ used him, too.</div> <bR> <div> We must look at what Jesus The Christ Said and Did, more than ever, for He</div> <div> is God as man, and must be the only source. Even though the scriptures in</div> <div> Hebrew and Greek were dictated by God, the apostles and disciples were still</div> <div> carnal men, in the process of BECOMING like Jesus Christ, the One Truth can only be in Christ.</div> <bR> <div> Warm regards,</div> <div> I.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> My Response: </div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister,</div> <bR> <div> Thank you for writing and sharing your concern with me. Have you read "The Issue of Judging" which I provided a link to at the end of the second email that I sent out regarding this movie? If you have not I would encourage you to do so. I would also like to share a portion of another corerspondence that I sent out this morning to another sister in Christ who felt that it was wrong to expose the bad fruit of another.</div> <bR> <div> Please know that I am not upset that you should challenge the things I have written, for as long as any saint will continue to look to the Scriptures for discernment, and rest before the Father until He gives them His mind on a matter, we have nothing to fear or be troubled about. It is only when we close our minds to what God would say that we get into problems, yet I trust that you and I both desire to be found pleasing to the Father and to arrive at His mind in this matter. With this in mind I share the following correspondence:</div> <div> (Letter quoted is the one immediately above.) </div> <div> ---------------------------- </div> <bR> <div> Some very good articles on this issue: </div> <div> <U>http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/endtimeissues/passion_of_christ.html</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> <U>http://www.banner.org.uk/news/Flash.html</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> <U>http://www.watch-unto-prayer.org/passion.html</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> --------------------------</div> <div> Below are some excerpts from a review from "The Cutting Edge" that discusses some of the extr-Biblical content of the film.</div> <bR> <div> "The Passion" is everything we have said about it -- and much, much more!</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><I>"A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church]."</I></FONT> [Galatians 5:9; Parallel Bible, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary</U></FONT>] </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> YOU ARE NOW ON </div> <div> THE CUTTING EDGE </div> <div> Based upon the solid foundation of what people who previewed this movie reported, plus Mel Gibson's interview with Dianne Sawyer, plus journalistic research into various aspects of the making of this movie, Cutting Edge issued the following articles:</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1895</U></FONT> -- <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>"SECULAR EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF "THE PASSION": </B></FONT>"Relentlessly savage, 'The Passion' plays like the 'Gospel according to the Marquis de Sade' "- the French sexual deviant from whom we get the term "sadism"! </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1894</U></FONT> -- <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>"THE PASSION" ALREADY STARTED THE "PARADIGM SHIFT" OF RELIGIOUS VALUES AND ATTITUDES IN OUR CHURCHES? </B></FONT>Part 2: Baptist pastor was so profoundly "shaken up" for three weeks after previewing "The Passion" that he began to completely change his church to a drastic Ecumenical basis -- including portions of Catholicism, Charismatic, New Age, and Mainline Denominations!</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1893</U></FONT> -- <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>"WILL MEL GIBSON'S MOVE "THE PASSION" PRODUCE THE LONG-AWAITED PARADIGM SHIFT IN CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH WILL PRODUCE "THE CHRIST"?</B></FONT> -- Part 1: Is "The Passion" movie the logical outworking of the "Spear of Longinus" Card in the Illuminati Card Game -- published in 1995?</div> <div> Based upon our viewing of this film, we can confidently assure you that these articles were perfectly on target, except for one major matter: the film is much worse than we thought it ever could be! What upset us the most was not the relentless blood, gore, crushing of bone, and agony, but the horrific manner in which the film does damage to the genuine Biblical account! In fact, this film might be subtitled:</div> <div> <B>"The Passion of The Christ According To The Catholic Stigmatist, Anne Emmerich"!</B></div> <div> If you have not read the account we gave of Emmerich's book in <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1895</U></FONT>, we encourage you to read it now. Otherwise, you will not understand much of what we shall have to say as we recount the contents of this movie. Simply put, this movie portrays a Jesus Christ who would never have gotten through his ordeal were it not for his mother, the Virgin Mary. This movie is about Mary nearly as much as Jesus! The Catholic "Stations of the Cross" are clearly represented here, as in the fictitious account of Veronica and her linen cloth with Jesus' facial imprint on it. Mary is clearly pictured as "Mother" and "Co-Redeemer" of mankind.</div> <div> The rest of the movie is a dangerous mix of Biblical fact and unbiblical Roman Catholic Tradition!</div> <div> <B>Gibson Set The Standard</B></div> <div> We need to set the standard by which Gibson asked this movie to be judged. In his interview with Dianne Sawyer, Gibson said that this movie is based upon the four Gospels [<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1893</U></FONT>]. Furthermore, we posted an article on Daily News Updates (2/24) from James Dobson, <I><B>Focus On The Family</B></I>, in which he wrote:</div> <div> "...the script was 'adapted from a composite account of the Passion assembled from the four biblical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John' ... The movie is designed to provide an authentic representation of the events surrounding Christ's death ... I had the privilege of viewing a 'rough cut' of the movie last fall during a writing trip to California. I can say that, in addition to being faithful to the essentials of the biblical account, it is easily the most heart-wrenching, powerful portrayal of Christ's suffering that I have ever seen ... Mel Gibson also traveled to Focus on the Family headquarters last year to show an early version of The Passion of the Christ to several members of our executive staff. After seeing the film, our ministry President, Don Hodel, and Executive Vice President, Del Tackett, (Shirley and I were out of town at the time) issued statements praising the movie for its historical accuracy and its powerful portrayal of Christ's sacrifice. Gibson himself has said that, in making the movie, 'I wanted to bring you there and I wanted to be true to the Gospels'." </div> <div> Then Dobson addressed the concern that this film was strongly Catholic.</div> <div> "There are no specific references to unique Catholic doctrine in the film — it is a straightforward depiction of what both Protestants and Catholics agree ..."</div> <div> As we go through this movie, recounting key dialog and portrayed events, you be the judge as to whether Dobson was speaking correctly and advising his faithful viewers truthfully. Within the first ten minutes of this film, I was so angry at the gross misrepresentation being portrayed that I found myself thinking, "This is not my Jesus". I realized that Dobson, and Billy Graham, and Rick Warren had not spoken the truth when they reassured everyone that this movie was true to the Biblical account!</div> <div> Therefore, I was less moved by the depiction of agony, the blood and gore than I might have otherwise been. I was moved by the incessant crying of the women and other followers of Jesus as He struggled along the way. But, I made a major effort to follow my own advice to watch the movie with my intellect while keeping my emotions in check. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>"THE PASSION" - THE PLOT</B></div> <div> <B>Scene: Garden of Gethsemane</B> -- Jesus is standing with his back to the camera, and is obviously in great emotional difficulty. His body is bending over at the waist time and again, while he can be heard groaning and uttering words (in Aramaic). After a few moments, Jesus walks over to his sleeping disciples, uttering Peter's name. All three sleeping disciples jump right up. One disciple asks Jesus if anything is wrong? Jesus answers, "why couldn't you watch with me for just one hour"? Another disciples asks Jesus, "Master, is anything wrong? Are we in danger, should we flee"? Jesus answered that, he just wanted them to pray with him. Another disciple asks Jesus, "Should we get the other disciples"? </div> <div> Jesus said, "No, I don't want them to see me like this. Just pray". </div> <div> Jesus walks back to his isolated spot in the Garden, beginning to agonize once more. He looks very human, very frail. John asks Peter, "What is wrong with the Master?" Peter replies: </div> <div> "He is acting afraid." </div> <div> The disciples then sneak up close to Jesus, clearly within earshot range, and watch him. Jesus was definitely a man in extreme emotional agony, for you could see him agonizing, swaying back and forth. Jesus begs God to defend him and save him from the traps "they have set for me". Jesus is definitely afraid. </div> <div> Suddenly, a female Satan whose voice sounds distinctly male, taunts Jesus saying:</div> <div> "... do you really believe that one man can really bear all the burden of sin forever? No one man can bear that burden; it is too heavy, too costly."</div> <div> Jesus suddenly changed his countenance. Suddenly, he stood more upright, with his face very different. He seemed suddenly infused with a new attitude. Speaking toward heaven, this Jesus said: </div> <div> "Lord if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me; nevertheless, not my will be done, but thine."</div> <div> Since this scene represents the first heresy of the film, let us stop right here to examine what we have just learned.</div> <div> <B>First, the true Jesus was not afraid in the agony of Gethsemane.</B> Jesus suffered great agony because He began to feel the weight of all the sins of the world -- even those sins not yet committed by people not yet born -- upon His body and soul. Listen to a commentary: </div> <div> "Now, the grand expiatory sacrifice begins to be offered .. in this garden Jesus ... begins to offer his own body- his own life- a lamb without spot, for the sin of the world. Luke observes, Luke 22:43, 44, that there appeared unto him an angel from heaven strengthening him; and that, being in an agony, his sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground ... The prospect of death could not cause him to suffer thus, when he knew that in less than three days he was to be restored to life, and be brought into an eternity of blessedness. His agony and distress can receive no consistent explication but on this ground- He SUFFERED, the JUST for the UNJUST, that he might BRING us to GOD. O glorious truth! O infinitely meritorious suffering! And O! above all, the eternal love, that caused him to undergo such sufferings for the sake of SINNERS !" —Adam Clarke's Commentary [Emphasis was in the original]</div> <div> <B>Secondly, notice the mild, but unmistakable, change in wording here.</B> In the movie, Jesus says, "let this chalice pass from me", a clear reference to the Roman Catholic chalice with which the priest conducts Mass and Communion. The KJV clearly says, "cup", not chalice. Admittedly, this matter seems small, but this clear reference to Catholicism is just the first of much, much more to come...</div> <bR> <div> <B>Fifthly, the True Gospel Message is terribly muted</B> -- The essence of the Gospel is that Jesus' death on the cross is a <I><B>substitutionary sacrifice</B></I> -- that a person who receives Jesus as Savior, repenting of his sin, will not have to pay an eternal price for that sin. The only time in this movie in which the substitutionary doctrine is ever mentioned is in the Garden when Satan sneers terribly at the idea that one man's sacrifice could possibly pay for the sin of the entire burden of the whole world. Surprisingly, Jesus did not rise to a defense! He said not one word in defense of this sneering accusation by Satan! He merely said, "If possible, let this chalice pass from me..."</div> <div> One of the major facts we learned as we studied the Six Step Attitudinal Change Plan (<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1055</U></FONT>) is that the original shocking proposal must come from a proper authority figure! Listen to the way in which the Illuminati chose to word this all-important concept. Step #1 of this Six-Step plan reads as follows:</div> <div> "Some practice so offensive that it can scarcely be discussed in public is advocated by a <B>RESPECTED </B>expert in a <B>RESPECTED</B> forum." [Emphasis was in the original]</div> <div> Thus, in this movie, it is very important that a proper authority figure never did state the substitutionary sacrifice doctrine! Only a sneering Satan stated this concept, without Jesus strongly defending it! Please take a few moments to really meditate on this very, very important concept. </div> <div> A person who knows their Bible well will look at Satan's sneering statement and relax, thinking that the movie has made this key point of a substitutionary sacrifice. However, an unchurched person who knows nothing about the Bible and has never had the Gospel presented to him is not likely to make this connection strongly enough to be moved to be saved! Such an unchurched person is likely to see a sneering Satan impugn the idea that one man's sacrifice could possibly atone for the sins of the entire world and believe that Satan was right! The chance that an unsaved, biblically illiterate person is likely to come to the conclusion that Satan was right is immeasurably increased by the fact that Jesus did not strongly rise to defend the substitutionary principle!</div> <div> This principle is so key you must understand it fully. An unchurched person is likely to see a tortured, brutally crucified Jesus, and say in his heart, 'what does that mean for me?' Most people will never make the connection between Jesus' sacrifice and what that means for their eternal soul. For this reason, we believe this movie has little to no real significance in an evangelistic outreach. So many apostate churches like Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven churches are attempting to bring people who have seen this movie into their churches, where they will never hear the proper Gospel. We believe that little genuine spiritual seed is likely to come from this movie.</div> <div> The greatest recipient of this movie will be the Roman Catholic Church. This movie is so strongly Catholic that it will reinforce Catholic doctrines in the minds of the devout and lukewarm alike. Family members of Catholics who have spurned the Church are likely to be drawn back because of this most emotionally draining movie.</div> <div> In fact, Catholics may look at the weak, indecisive Jesus and realize that Roman Catholic doctrine is correct -- "She (Mary) completes in her flesh as already in her heart what is lacking in the suffering of Christ." [Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Salvifici Doloris, n. 25) Satan was entirely correct: Jesus' sacrifice was not enough to save the sin of the whole world! His sacrifice had to be augmented by Mary's suffering! Jesus was, and is, "lacking"!</div> <div> Finally, we have to remind you of the Biblical doctrine that God will not allow a holy result to come from an unholy source. He cares just as much about methods as He does about results. Listen to the Scripture:</div> <div> "<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><I><B>And if anyone enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully, fairly, according to the rules laid down."</B></I></FONT> [2 Timothy 2:5; Parallel Bible, KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]</div> <div> And, make no mistake, this movie was conceived and produced by unholy, Roman Catholic professionals! A Jesuit priest was one of the script writers and an Opus Dei supernumiary was an assistant director to Mel Gibson. Unholy methods never can achieve holy results. </div> <div> In fact, you have to remember how genuine salvation occurs. Jesus stated: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" ><I><B>"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."</B></I></FONT> [John 6:44]</div> <div> Did this Scripture say that a person is brought to the point where he/she desires to receive Jesus as Savior because they are emotionally whipped and sawed by a movie which brutally depicts the torture and crucifixion of Jesus? No, it says that only when the Father calls a person can that person come to Jesus! Therefore, is God going to use an unholy movie -- created by unholy Catholic priests, whose assistant film director is a member of a blood-oath secret society -- as a means by which to bring people to His Son? Of course, not.</div> <div> But, that old deceiver Satan, loves to fool people into thinking this fundamentally Catholic movie is going to be a great Evangelistic tool. Be careful of the supposed conversions, for Satan is expert in creating the false tare plant rather than the genuine wheat! Remember that a tare plant looks exactly like a wheat until the very end of the growth cycle, when the wheat grows a full head of seed and the tare grows a very tiny head of inedible seed. From the beginning all the way to the setting of the head of seed, the tare plant looks exactly like a wheat plant!</div> <div> Satan also loves to jerk people emotionally so they will make a shallow decision for Jesus that will die out just as quickly as the shallow plants of which Jesus warned in His parable of the Sower and the Seed [Luke 8:5-18] </div> <div> At the End of the Age, Jesus foretold in this parable, Satan would plant many false tares in the fields of the world. This movie is likely to produce "tare conversions".</div> <div> <B>Mary is psychically connected to Jesus </B>- Jesus is seized. As soon as Jesus is led away in chains by Caiaphas' soldiers, the camera quickly switches to Mary sleeping in bed. Suddenly, she jolts awake, knowing in her spirit that something is not right. She seemed to be psychically connected to Jesus, so much so that she shared in His sufferings. Of course, this is plainly Roman Catholic teaching. Remember what Pope John Paul II stated:</div> <div> "She (Mary) completes in her flesh as already in her heart what is lacking in the suffering of Christ." [Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Salvifici Doloris, n. 25)</div> <div> Throughout this movie, the Virgin Mary is connected heart-to-heart with Jesus. When He hurts, she hurts. When He suffers emotional pain, she suffers the same pain. At the cross, Mary cries out to Jesus, "Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone, I want to die with you". The Bible uses this term, "Flesh of my flesh" only once in Genesis 2:23, describing the marriage relationship between Adam and Eve. However, this is standard Roman Catholic teaching about the Virgin Mary, that she suffered in her flesh with a "sword piercing her heart".</div> <div> When Jesus was led out of Caiaphas' courtyard, and once the yard was completely emptied of people, the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene came into the courtyard. Mary carefully walked around the yard, seemingly seeking something. Suddenly, she stopped, got down on the floor and put her mouth to the floor. Then, she went limp on that floor. The camera then panned through the width of the floor to a dungeon beneath. Jesus is shown hanging from the ceiling with his hands firmly attached to a large chain. He was directly underneath the spot where the Virgin Mary was lying! Clearly, this scene was meant to reinforce the early scene, described above, where Mary knew in her heart that something had happened to Jesus. They were connected, heart-to-heart, so completely that the sufferings and tortures of Jesus become sufferings and tortures to Mary.</div> <div> The Virgin Mary followed Jesus all along the processional route from Pilate's courtyard to Golgotha. Along the route, Jesus repeatedly fell because of the beating he had taken from Caiaphas' men and from Pilate's torturers. (Notice that the Biblical account does not show Jesus falling even once!) On several occasions, Jesus seemingly just lacked the strength to go on, or to get up; yet, when his eyes met Mary, He suddenly received an infusion of strength. This scenario was most powerful when Jesus was being scourged at the pillar in Pilate's courtyard. At one point, he was beaten so much he simply collapsed -- totally. His entire body was either on the ground or leaning against the pillar, except his hands which were tied to the top of the pillar. </div> <div> Suddenly, Jesus' eyes met Mary's. Renewed strength flowed through him, and He immediately got back up on His feet.</div> <div> Time and time again, Mary infused strength into Jesus. A totally Catholic teaching!</div> <div> At the cross, Mary suffers so deeply with her son that she kneels down, almost lying on the ground, and suddenly grasps a hand full of stones in each hand, a sign of her emotional distress. Mary stood close enough to the cross that her face was splattered with Jesus' blood. Mary also approached the cross to kiss Jesus' face, getting his blood all over her lips and cheeks. Later, when the Roman soldier thrusts the spear into Jesus' side, a tremendous, bloody spray ensued, splattering Mary's face and that of the soldier.</div> <div> Through all these visual means, the movie depicts that Mary "co-suffered" with Jesus, "Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone, I want to die with you". Mary is clearly Co-Redeemer!</div> <div> <B>Virgin Mary becomes a nun and is Peter's first Confessor</B> -- As soon as Mary saw Jesus led into Caiaphas' courtyard, she prayed, "Has it begun, Lord"? She was pictured in an outfit that clearly and closely resembled that of a nun. We saw a scene in which Mary was not wearing a nun-like habit when Jesus had a flashback at a time when he was constructing a high table while his mother fixed lunch. Mary was wearing a simple black dress with a matching black scarf, with no white linen slightly protruding from the scarf.</div> <div> However, from the time Jesus was arrested, Mary and most of the "holy women" were wearing outfits that made them look like Roman Catholic nuns.</div> <div> Also at this time, both the holy women and the Apostles John and Peter began calling Mary "Mother". One of Catholicism's favorite titles for the Virgin Mary is "Mother of God". But, the worst is yet to come! After Peter had denied Jesus three times (no cock crowed), his eyes met Jesus' eyes and Peter was terribly remorseful. As he fled the courtyard, he came upon the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and the Apostle John. Crying out his remorse, Peter admitted he had sinned, repented, and then confessed that sin directly to Mary. </div> <div> Peter received pardon from the Virgin Mary!</div> <div> What a Catholic concept! The first Pope -- Peter -- and the man upon whom Jesus supposedly built his church, received his first confession from the Virgin Mary! Even an unchurched, non-Catholic is likely to get this message!</div> <div> <B>The Gospel According To Saint Anne Emmerich</B> -- In Mel Gibson's televised interview with Dianne Sawyer, he admitted that he had taken much material for this movie from the mystic, Stigmatist nun, Anne Emmerich. Her book, the "Delorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ", was the book from which Gibson took much material. I listed a significant portion of Emmerich's book in <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1895</U></FONT> simply because I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit. I was not sure how much of this book was actually incorporated into the movie, but I listed significant sections anyway. Am I glad I did!</div> <div> If you want to understand how severely Jesus was beaten in this movie, just read the portions of Emmerich's book I set into <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1895</U></FONT>.</div> <div> Beyond that, Gibson incorporated several key elements in Emmerich's book into this movie, none of which are in the Bible!</div> <div> First, we saw the scene in which the Virgin Mary sopped up Jesus' blood with the linen cloth given her by Pilate's wife, Claudia! You can read this in the segment of <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1895</U></FONT> entitled, "Scene: Mary during the Flagellation of our Lord". In this movie, just as in Emmerich's book, Claudia sees Mary in the courtyard and is moved to compassion, enough so that she takes a white linen cloth to Mary. After Jesus is dragged out of Pilate's courtyard, the Virgin Mary goes into the yard and strides immediately to the flagellation pillar. Taking the white linen, the Virgin Mary sopped up the pools of blood with one piece of the linen; then, taking the other piece of linen, she began to physically scrub the blood from the stones. Mary Magdalene took off her white scarf to help the Virgin scrub blood. Thus is Emmerich's mystic, unbiblical vision exactly fulfilled in this movie!</div> <div> Another part of Emmerich's vision revolves around a girl named Veronica. Even though I neglected to include this section in the Emmerich writing I placed in <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1893</U></FONT>, Emmerich clearly reported this story about a girl named Veronica. </div> <div> "… when the procession had advanced about two hundred steps from the spot where Simon began to assist our Lord in carrying his cross, the door of a beautiful house on the left opened, and a woman of majestic appearance, holding a young girl by the hand, came out … and was afterwards known by the name of Veronica … she made her way through the mob, the soldiers, and the archers, reached Jesus, fell on her knees before him, and presented the veil, saying at the same time, 'Permit me to wipe the face of my Lord.' Jesus took the veil in his left hand, wiped his bleeding face, and returned it with thanks. Seraphia (Jesus) kissed it, and put it under her cloak … No sooner did she reach her room than she placed the woolen veil on a table, and fell almost senseless on her knees. A friend who entered the room a short time after, found her thus kneeling, with the child weeping by her side, and saw, to his astonishment, the bloody countenance of our Lord imprinted upon the veil, a perfect likeness, although heartrending and painful to look upon ... Veronica kept this veil until her death, and hung it at the head of her bed; it was then given to the Blessed Virgin, who left it to the Apostles, and they afterwards passed it on to the Church." ["Delorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ", p. 240-241]</div> <div> The movie sequence followed this description exactly! Veronica came out of a building along the processional route holding a young girl by the hand. When she saw Jesus, She dropped the girl's hand and began to work her way through the soldiers and the crowd. As she made her way, soldiers almost magically moved to the side just when Veronica came to them, thus allowing her to press toward a fallen Jesus. She took her white scarf off her head and placed it in Jesus' hands. He pressed the cloth to His face, and then handed the scarf back to her. Suddenly, a Roman soldier roughly and rudely yanked Veronica to her feet, forcing her to the side of the road. As Jesus walks by her, she stands meekly, holding her scarf open so it is visible as it hangs down her front. You can clearly see Jesus' face imprinted in this cloth!</div> <div> Once again, we see an unbiblical, but thoroughly Catholic, story presented in this movie!</div> <div> <B>Emmerich depicts Jesus as wearing a scapular under his clothing</B>. Listen to her description:</div> <div> "Next they (Roman soldiers) put a crown of reeds upon his head, took off his robe and scapular, and then threw an old torn mantle, which scarcely reached his knees, over his shoulders; around his neck they hung a long iron chain, with an iron ring at each end, studded with sharp points, which bruised and tore his knees as be walked. "(Ibid., P. 158)</div> <div> For those of you who do not know what a scapular is, and how worthless and unbiblical it is, let us provide this bit of history. Quoting our article, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>NEWS1334</U></FONT>:</div> <div> 8. Invention of Scapulars, Medals, and Edible Religious Stamps -- 1600 A.D. -- People are so eager to think they can obtain eternal salvation without having to change their hearts and minds through Jesus' Blood. And I can think of no better way to provide false "assurance" of easy salvation than through Scapulars, Medals, and Edible Religious Stamps. Listen to its "assurances" to the gullible pagan believer.</div> <bR> <div> "Whosoever dies clothed in this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire." [Mary's promise to St. Simon Stock, July 16, 1251]</div> <bR> <div> "Our Lord taught us to say the 'Our Father'. Mary taught us the value of the Scapular. When we use it as a prayer, Our Lady draws us to the Sacred Heart of Her Divine Son. It is well, therefore, to hold the scapular in the hand while addressing Our Lady." ["The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima", Washington, NJ 07882, ImprimaturL +Thomas M. O'Leary, D.D. Bishop of Springfield]</div> <div> Notice that the Virgin Mary is said to have taught the value of the Scapular. Since this movie depicts that the Roman Catholic Church began at Jesus' arrest, it makes sense that we should see a scapular somewhere, worn by someone!</div> <div> Therefore, as I watched this movie, I was paying close attention as to whether Jesus was depicted as wearing a scapular. The first time Jesus was stripped of his outer garment was at the flagellation post in Pilate's courtyard. When the garment was removed, I could see that Jesus was not wearing a scapular. However, at the very end of the movie, on Golgotha, I suddenly realized that the penitent thief was wearing a brown scapular! Now, why would the penitent thief be portrayed as wearing a scapular?</div> <div> Suddenly, I understood completely. Look back at the promise of the Virgin Mary to St. Simon Stock, July 16, 1251. "Whosoever dies clothed in this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."</div> <div> Clearly, the penitent thief richly deserved Purgatory. You see, the Catholic Church teaches that, even though Jesus' sacrifice provided forgiveness of sin, a taint of sin remained on the soul. To "purge" this sin stain off a person's soul, that person has to spend some time in Purgatory, whose fires burn just as hot as hellfire! However, Catholic theologians have a real problem with Jesus' promise to the penitent thief. Jesus said to this thief:</div> <div> "Today, you shall be with Me in Paradise."</div> <div> Obviously, this promise negates the teaching of Purgatory. So, how does an Jesuit script writer solve this problem? Since Purgatory is hellfire, the penitent thief on the cross could escape the fires of Purgatory by wearing a scapular! Most Catholics do not realize this invention did not come into the Catholic Church until 1600 A.D.! A devout Catholic would look at this scapular on the penitent thief and understand completely -- the thief would be able pass into Paradise that day because he was wearing a scapular when he died.</div> <div> <B>Virgin Satan Mother Carrying Divine Child</B> -- This depiction of Antichrist is the most unbiblical and shocking part of this entire movie, in my opinion. As we stated earlier, Satan is depicted in this movie as a female who speaks in a male voice, thus possibly denoting androgyny. When I discussed this version of Satan during the Garden of Gethsemane portion, I said that we would discuss a time in the movie in which Satan was definitely fulfilling a feminine role. Listen to how this scene plays out.</div> <div> During the time when Jesus was being flogged by Pilate's professional torturers, a considerable crowd gathered. The Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene had pressed to the front, when the Virgin carefully watched every detail, aiding Jesus with her spiritual strength when he got especially low. The camera suddenly panned to the opposite side of the crowd. The female Satan was carefully winding her way through the crowd, looking very menacing; she passed behind the back of the Roman officer in charge of the flagellation. Like the Virgin Mary, this female Satan was wearing black, but without the white linen that denoted a nun's habit. </div> <div> Suddenly, as this female Satan moved away from behind the officer, you could see that she was carrying a very large, white, almost-albino child. Clearly, this female Satan was depicting a Virgin Mother and Divine Child. On the one side of the crowd, the Virgin Mary was contemplating her Divine Child, Jesus. This female Satan was obviously being pictured here as the opposite of the Virgin Mary, which would make her Divine Child the opposite of Jesus, whom the Bible calls Antichrist.</div> <div> The message can be no other. Now, why was an Antichrist scene included in this movie which was created to be consistent with the four Gospels? This scene is most definitely not Biblical and as far as I know, is not Catholic. Therefore, why was it included? Frankly, I do not know for certain. But, the world is hurtling toward the fulfillment of prophecy relating to the End of the Age and the appearance of Antichrist. We can see that Jesus is near, "even at the doors". Was the inclusion of this Virgin Satanic Mother and her Divine (Antichrist) Child meant to signify that the appearance of the Antichrist is near, even at the doors?</div> <div> <B>Finally, the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation is graphically portrayed</B>. This false Catholic doctrine teaches that, at the time of the Eucharist, the bread literally becomes the body of Jesus Christ, and the wine literally becomes His blood. Thus, Catholics eat their daily sacrificed savior, just as the pagans eat their daily sacrifice. Few doctrines are more spurious than Transubstantiation. How does the movie depict this doctrine?</div> <div> As Jesus is fastened to the cross and as His body is raised upward, the scene abruptly shifts to a flashback where a disciple picks up several slices of Middle Eastern bread and carries them in a basket to Jesus. The Lord takes one of the pieces and raises it to His disciples, saying, "This is My body, broken .." </div> <div> A few moments later, a large amount of blood drains from Jesus' body, running down the upright staff of the cross in separate streams. Abruptly, the camera shifts to a flashback to the same scene of Jesus with His disciples. After wine is poured into a chalice, Jesus says, "This is my blood ..."</div> <div> Former Catholics who viewed this movie instantly realized that the Catholic dogma of Transubstantiation had just been pictured. Once again, how much purely Catholic dogma will it take for an unchurched person to gravitate toward Catholicism if they have been emotionally drained by this movie?</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>CONCLUSION</B></div> <div> Time and space are filled for this article, but we have so much more to share with you. We shall be posting Parts Two and beyond next week.</div> <div> Let us allow the official Roman Catholic Vatican Website the last quote in this most Roman Catholic depiction of Jesus' trial and crucifixion:</div> <div> "The film, for its author, is a Mass ... But the radical 'Catholicity' is also in the Eucharistic aspect ... The blood of the Passion is continuously intermingled with the wine of the Mass, the tortured flesh of the 'corpus Christi' with the consecrated bread. It is, also, in the strongly Marian tone: the Mother and the Devil (who is feminine or, perhaps, androgynous) are omnipresent, the one with her silent pain, the other with his/her malicious satisfaction. From Anne Catherine Emmerich, the stigmatized visionary, Gibson has taken extraordinary intuitions." ["The Passion -- for Its Author, is a Mass", ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome, 2004-02-18]</div> <div> Can God use an unholy movie to achieve holy results? </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>