"For We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood..."

  by Hank Beymer

Two thousand years ago, the forces of evil and darkness marshalled together in a small, mostly unknown and particularly dusty corner of the world called Jerusalem, in Israel. Their purpose? To incite the hatred and passions of people against one man. These malignant "principalities and powers" sought nothing more than to cause the death of Jesus of Nazareth, the one whom they knew as the Son of God.

They believed that by causing His death, they would defeat the plans of God to arrange for the redemption of mankind. To this end, they prodded, aggravated, agitated, lied, misled and otherwise did what ever they deemed necessary to cause some individuals and crowds, politicians and priests, soldiers and shopkeepers, to reject and murder the Prince of Peace.

Today, the forces of darkness are still prodding, aggravating, agitating, lying and misleading whoever will listen, and they have really gone overboard to attempt to stifle and prevent the release of a movie.

A movie you say? Since when has Hollywood ever done anything that would get the devil and his minions upset? Usually they (the forces of darkness) are extremely pleased with what comes out of Hollywood.

Well, it's because of Him....again.

This time, though, it is a compelling and intense look at the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ, done through the eyes of director Mel Gibson, fueled by a book of visions by 16th century nun Ven. Catherine Emmerich, but solidly grounded in the four Gospel accounts of the crucifixion.

  Gibson, a devout traditionalist Catholic, read Emmerich's book some 13 years ago while dealing with his own personal spiritual crisis, and was consumed with the stark reality and description of the agony and pain endured by Jesus as He bore the sins of the world. He has plotted and planned since that time to find a way to bring that vision and story to the public eye for only one reason....so that more people will somehow come to a personal understanding of the horror of their own sin and separation, and the love that compelled Jesus to undergo His scourging and crucifixion.

Since Gibson began casting and filming, there has been an unending stream of innuendo, harsh accusations and outright lies circulated about this film. The mainstream media has relentlessly badgered Gibson, accusing him of propagating "historical blasphemy" and fostering "anti-semitism." All of this, mind you, before the film had ever been completed, and with no one having seen it in anything even remotely resembling a finished cut. The resulting rumors, innuendo and outright vilification resulted in a refusal by all of the major Hollywood distributors to take the film on for distribution.

But hey! What's a lie or two (or three) to the devil? Same ole, same ole, right?

In recent weeks, major papers in New York, Los Angeles and Washington have printed editorials accusing Gibson of playing fast and loose with Scripture, emphasizing "unnecessary" parts, pandering to "gratuitous and graphic violence", trying to "pin the blame" for Jesus' death on a particular race, "fostering racial hatred", and playing political games with "important personages" (speaking of Pope John Paul).

What is not getting reported in the media are the commentaries made by hundreds who have been invited to private screenings of the film. From the famous to the unknown, from movers and shakers and empire builders to Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public, the screenings have brought home to almost all that have seen them the overriding conviction that it was the sins of the world that killed Jesus, and it was for the world that He gladly gave up His life.

  Well known commentator Paul Harvey said:

"I really did not know what to  expect. I was thrilled to have been invited to a private viewing of Mel  Gibson's film "The Passion," but I had also read all the cautious articles  and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much of my own faith journey to  the influence. I have a life long, deeply held aversion to anything that  might even indirectly encourage any form of anti-Semitic thought, language  or actions.

I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion", held  in Washington DC and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was  typically Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming  to look beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words.. The film was very  briefly introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened.

From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very human and  tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the betrayal,  the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced. In addition to being a masterpiece of  film-making and an artistic triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep  reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction within me than anything since my  wedding, my ordination or the birth of my children. Frankly, I will never  be the same. When the film concluded, this "invitation only" gathering of  "movers and shakers" in Washington, DC were shaking indeed, but this time  from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were woefully inadequate. We had experienced a  kind of art that is a rarity in life, the kind that makes heaven touch  earth. Suddenly, the purpose of the pain was so clear and the  wounds, that earlier in the film had been so difficult to see in His face,  His back, indeed all over His body, became intensely beautiful. They had  been borne voluntarily for love. At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a question and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the film, from a rather diverse crowd, was as astounding as the compliments were effusive. The questions included the one question that seems to follow this film, even though it has not yet even been released. "Why is this film considered by some to be  'anti-Semitic?' Frankly, having now experienced (you do not "view" this film) "the Passion" it is a question that is impossible to answer. A law professor  whom I admire sat in front of me. He raised his hand and responded "After watching this film, I do not understand how anyone can insinuate that it even remotely presents that the Jews killed Jesus. It doesn't." He continued "It made me realize that my sins killed Jesus." I agree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found anywhere in this powerful film. If there were, I would be among the first to decry it. It faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically beautiful, sensitive and profoundly engaging way. Those who are alleging otherwise have  either not seen the film or have another agenda behind their protestations. This is not a "Christian" film, in the sense that it will appeal only to those who identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ.  It is a deeply human, beautiful story that will deeply touch all men and women. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its producer is a Catholic Christian and thankfully has remained faithful to the Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behavior than we are all in trouble. History demands that we remain faithful to the story and Christians have a right to tell it. After all, we believe that it is the greatest story ever told and that its message is for all men and women. The greatest right is the right to hear the truth. We would all be well advised to remember that the Gospel narratives to which "The Passion" is so faithful were written by Jewish men who followed a Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching have forever changed the history of the world. The problem is not the message but  those who have distorted it and used it for hate rather than love. The solution is not to censor the message, but rather to promote the kind of gift of love that is Mel Gibson's filmmaking masterpiece, "The Passion." It should be seen by as many people as possible. I intend to do everything I can to make sure that is the case. I am passionate about "The Passion." You will be as well. Don¹t miss it!"

David Limbaugh, another well-known commentator, had this to say:

"How ironic that when a movie producer takes artistic license with historical events, he is lionized as artistic, creative and brilliant, but when another takes special care to be true to the real-life story, he is vilified. Actor-producer Mel Gibson is discovering these truths the hard way as he is having difficulty finding a United States studio or  distributor for his upcoming film, "The Passion," which depicts the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ. Gibson co-wrote the script and financed, directed and produced the movie. For the script, he and his co-author relied on the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as the diaries of St. Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) and Mary of Agreda's "The City of God." Gibson doesn't want this to be like other sterilized religious epics. "I'm trying to access the story on a very personal level and trying to be very real about it." So committed to realistically portraying what many would consider the most important half-day in the history of the universe, Gibson even shot the film in the Aramaic language of the period. In response to objections that viewers will not be able to understand that language, Gibson said, "Hopefully, I'll be able to transcend the language barriers with my visual storytelling; if I fail, I fail, but at least it'll be a monumental failure." To further insure the accuracy of the work, Gibson has enlisted the counsel of pastors and theologians, and has received rave reviews. Don Hodel, president of Focus on the Family, said, "I was very  impressed. The movie is historically and theologically accurate." Ted Haggard, pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and president of the National Evangelical Association, glowed: "It conveys, more accurately than any other film, who Jesus was." During the filming, Gibson, a devout Catholic, attended Mass every morning because "we had to be squeaky clean just working on this." From Gibson's perspective, this movie is not about Mel Gibson. It's bigger than he is. "I'm not a preacher, and I'm not a pastor," he said. "But I really feel my career was leading me to make this. The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope the film has the power to evangelize." Even before the release of the movie, scheduled for February 2004, Gibson is getting his wish. "Everyone who worked on this movie was changed. There were agnostics and Muslims on set converting to Christianity...[and] people being healed of diseases." Gibson wants people to understand through the movie, if they don't already, the incalculable influence Christ has had on the world. And he grasps that Christ is controversial precisely because of WHO HE IS - GOD incarnate. "And that's the point of my film really, to show all that turmoil around him politically and with religious leaders and the people, all because He is Who He is." Gibson is beginning to experience first hand just how controversial Christ is. Critics have not only speciously challenged the movie's authenticity, but have charged that it is disparaging to Jews, which Gibson vehemently denies. "This is not a Christian vs. Jewish thing.  '[Jesus] came into the world, and it knew him not.' Looking at Christ's crucifixion, I look first at my own culpability in that." Jesuit Father William J. Fulco, who translated the script into Aramaic and Latin, said he saw no hint of anti-Semitism in the movie. Fulco added, "I would be aghast at any suggestion that Mel Gibson is anti-Semitic." Nevertheless, certain groups and some in the mainstream press have been very critical of Gibson's "Passion." The New York Post's Andrea Peyser chided him: "There is still time, Mel, to tell the truth." Boston Globe columnist James Carroll denounced Gibson's literal reading of the biblical accounts. "Even a faithful repetition of the Gospel stories of the death of Jesus can do damage exactly because those sacred texts themselves carry the virus of Jew hatred," wrote Carroll. A group of Jewish and Christian academics has issued an 18-page report slamming all aspects of the film, including its undue emphasis on Christ's passion rather than "a broader vision." The report disapproves of the movie's treatment of Christ's passion as historical fact. The moral is that if you want the popular culture to laud your work on Christ, make sure it either depicts Him as a homosexual or as an everyday sinner with no particular redeeming value (literally). In our anti-Christian culture, the blasphemous "The Last Temptation of Christ" is celebrated and "The Passion" is condemned. But if this movie continues to affect people the way it is now, no amount of cultural  opposition will suppress its force and its positive impact on lives everywhere. Mel Gibson is a model of faith and courage."

Christine "Christy" Nockels, husband Nathan, and Lisa Bevill, three musicians who attended a private screening of the movie at a church in Tennessee, have written their thoughts about the movie in e-mails now circulating the internet among Christian musicians. "Neither of us were really prepared for what we viewed. It's hard to find the words to tell you how life-changing this film was for both of us," Christy wrote.

"This movie changed our lives forever. The room was full of the sound of weeping and sobbing, including our own. I told Nathan on the way home that I only wish that I would have seen it as a young teen," she said.

Christy said: "I fell in love with Jesus on Monday night. Either for the first time, or all over again. It is so amazing that the same King who endured that cross and was broken for me, lives inside of me! I am in Him and He is in me."

Lisa Bevill wrote: "I know that I am changed...and I pray that what I saw will be etched on my brain forever...and Lord, help me to never forget the price you paid for us all. Whenever I begin to argue, or complain....shut my mouth Lord. And help us all to remember...we are not home yet...that heaven awaits all of us who believe in Him....and that we all have a part to play, a heart to share, a burden to carry...and a story of love and hope to spread..."

Probably the most telling review of the film, and it¹s accuracies and portrayals, is the one made by David Horowitz. Here's what he had to say.

"Mel Gibson's film, 'The Passion', which is about the last twelve hours of Christ's life is the object of campaign of vilification and book burning by a committee of Christians and Jews who want to shut it down before it is shown, or edit it to their own politically (or religiously) correct standards. Paula Fredriksen is a spokesman for this committee. The New Republic has shamed itself by printing her ill-informed and bigoted attack on the film."

"Unlike Fredriksen and others who want to destroy film before they have seen it, I have. It is not an attempt to portray the historical Jesus ‹ which is the subject of Fredriksen's entire screed ‹ nor could it be. By Fredriksen's own account there is no evidentiary basis for such a portrait and if anyone tried to create one it would be eviscerated by the same Savanarolas, precisely because no one can know what the truth is."

"Gibson's film is an artistic vision and must be judged that way. Like others who have seen the film, I am sworn to keep details confidential so that it gets its chance when the distributors present it to the viewing public next Easter. However, I will say this: It is an awesome artifact, an overpowering work. I can't remember being so affected by a film before. It is extremely painful to watch and yet the violence is never gratuitous. You never feel like you want to take your eyes off the screen. It is a wracking emotional journey which never strays from its inspirational purpose. It is as close to a religious experience as art can get."

"It is not anti-Semitic, as the film-burners have charged. Two illustrative details: Jesus is referred to in the film as "rabbi," and there is never any distancing of Jesus or his disciples from their Jewishness. (One point missed by ignorant bigots like Fredericksen whose only familiarity with 'The Passion' is with a stolen script) is that while the film is in Aramaic ‹ a brilliant effect that enhances the symbolic resonance of the story ‹ it has subtitles. Second detail: A Jew carries Jesus' cross along the terrible route to Golgotha and shares his miseries. But yes the film is also faithful to the Gospels and therefore the Pharisees are Jesus' enemies and they and their flock do call for Jesus' death (and why wouldn't they since Jesus was a threat to their authority and their beliefs?)."

"But all this is to miss the point. This is a Christian parable. The cruelty, intolerance and lack of compassion of human beings is limitless ‹ and we who have lived through the Twentieth Century know this all too well. The moral of this Christian story - of Mel Gibson's film - is that we all killed Jesus - Jew and Gentile alike - and tortured him, and we do so every day. But if you believe the vision that Gibson has rendered so searingly and so well, Jesus forgives us for that very act. Whosoever will give up cruelty and love his brother will enter paradise. That is the message that Gibson has framed in his extraordinary work. The effort to shut down his film before it opens is just another station of the cross."

A good example of the negativism being engendered by a few comes from none other than His Beatitude Metropolitan Michael of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church-Sobornopravna of Europe and the Americas, who expressed regret that the movie may encourage barriers among people. "I have not seen the film yet," his Beatitude said, "but it is causing much concern among our Jewish sisters and brothers. I am troubled that the film, though unintended, may further bigotry, ignorance, and the shallow disregard for another member of the family equally loved and accepted by God."

It sounds to me as if the "bigotry, ignorance and shallow disregard" referred to is that being displayed by none other than "His Beatitude."

At least he had the decency to admit that he had not seen the film before uttering his magnanimous condemnation and opinion.

It is more than apparent that the kingdom of darkness, the forces of evil do NOT want this film to be seen, and are doing everything within their power to foster controversy where none exists, to create false images and ideas of what it is about, and to try to sway Christians and the general public into staying away from it.

Why? There could only be one reason. This film, depicting as it does in harsh reality the pain, separation and burdens endured by Jesus Christ, will show to a hard-hearted generation the depth, breadth, height and full-scope of Gods love for sinful humanity.

For centuries, men haved devised ways and justifications to deny the atonement of Christ, His deity, and His love. This film will graphically illustrate those facts, and by doing so will leave observers with no other choice than to accept or reject Jesus.

It is my prayer and hope that not only will all professing believers go to see this film, but that they will take others with them, and that they will see it more than once...taking special care and steps to bring others that don't know the truth face to face with Him.

It is also my belief that this film, and the controversy surrounding it, is the ringing of the bell for the final round of the battle that has raged for millennia. It, in not so small a way, is a clarion call for repentence and salvation...."for there is no other name given under heaven and earth, by which we must be saved."

The movie is scheduled for release on Ash Wednesday, February 25, in theaters nationwide. Check the theater nearest you for details. Special showings are available for church groups.