Before The Passion Fades - Christianity Today

(Editor’s note: I must admit I was surprised by the turnout when my congregation rented a movie theater and invited our friends to a Sunday morning showing of The Passion of The Christ. The place was packed with more than five times our usual adult worship attendance. The question for our church now is how do we follow up with our friends and co-workers who were interested enough in Mel Gibson’s movie to get out of bed and get to the theater by 10 A.M. on a Sunday morning? How do we make the connection between what they saw on the screen and our day-in/day-out faith?

I mention this because The Passion will be for us a terrific outreach opportunity—if we can make the connection from film to faith, from theater to sanctuary, from cultural phenomenon to the living Church.

In the past two issues of Leadership Weekly, we published opposing views on The Passion. Brian McLaren doubted the marketers’ claims that this movie was “perhaps the best outreach opportunity in 2,000 years.” Rick Warren saw it as an excellent venue and told how Saddleback Community Church is “riding the cultural wave.” (Click here to read the columns by Brian McLaren and Rick Warren.)

We received many, many responses. Here we share a sample of the replies, starting with two of our contributing editors.

—Eric Reed, Leadership managing editor)

» I am stunned by the phenomenally successful marketing of this film to a targeted audience of evangelical Christians. Apparently “outreach opportunity” worked quite effectively as a strategy to lure churchgoers into movie theaters. In my region some individual congregations bought huge blocks of tickets and provided bus transportation to enable their own congregants to view the film together. I suppose that some of these churches took full advantage of the promoted outreach opportunity and claimed souls for Christ in the theaters immediately following the screening of the film. I am all for taking advantage of every opportunity to present the claims of the gospel of Jesus Christ to people seeking salvation. It just seems strangely ironic to me that a Hollywood production can be so readily (and uncritically) endorsed as a vehicle for evangelistic outreach.

I resonate with the idea that uncountable great outreach opportunities exist in the world, and that American evangelicals are challenged to manifest the love of Christ to our neighbors and enemies in the emerging culture and elsewhere after the movie theater goes dark. Unlike the character depicted by the white actor in the film, however, the biblical Jesus is neither “in nor of the West.” I long for the day when American Christians will learn to emulate his character—honest, upright, peacemaking, compassionate, humble, generous—without feeling compelled to portray him as white.

—Cheryl J. Sanders, Third Street Church of God, Washington, D.C.

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» I’m skeptical whenever we evangelicals get all lathered up about anything. Many churches that are making The Passion such a box office smash were also among those that wanted to buy and burn every copy of Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of The Last Temptation of Christ back in 1988. That, too, was a controversial film in its day that dealt with another side of the oft-avoided humanity of Jesus.

Back then I found myself surrounded not by Christians but by what I assumed were non-Christians (or at least non-evangelicals). My brothers and sisters were too busy picketing outside the theater to wrestle with this equally disturbing film which asked, “What if Jesus chose not to die on the cross because he seriously doubted he was the Messiah? What kind of life would he have led if he’d gotten down off the cross, wed Mary Magdalene, fathered a family, and lived a long and ordinary life?”

I’m still disturbed by this film because the supposed last temptation of the more human Jesus is really the temptation that I (and all Christians) face: Do you sacrifice yourself because you believe you are serving God’s higher purposes or just blend in like everyone else and die of old age?

I am going to see The Passion. My pathetic faith in Jesus can always use some more unsettling.

—Ken Uyeda Fong, Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles

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» I viewed the movie, and found it very touching, emotional, and interesting. The symbolism was rich and profound. However, I’m going to be interested to see how Mr. Gibson uses his new $300 million. If it is used to help the sick, feed and clothe the poor, and spread the gospel to those places where the movie doesn’t go, I will be impressed.

—Leonard L. Ward

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» I thank Brian McLaren for writing honestly and clearly in response to The Passion. I agree that we must never place our hope in an event or a program. I’ve seen The Passion movie (at Saddleback with about 4,500 other pastors) and I want to see it again. Our church bought 250 tickets and sold every one. But Brian’s words put this event in perspective and it’s a welcome reminder that the world is won to Christ one person at a time—most often by the faithful, gentle, powerful witness of the Fruit if the Spirit in our lives.

—Dennis Fast, Reedley, California

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» After reading both Brian McLaren’s and Rick Warren’s remarks about The Passion, I could not help but think the philosophical divide occurring in evangelicalism is widening. This film has not only caused cultural polarity in America, but also within the church—not regarding its message, but rather its usefulness.

Rick Warren, and those married to a “seeker-targeted” model, see The Passion as a cultural wave the church may ride as a device to win souls. In his own words the film is a “tool.” This approach is nothing new. Church leaders since the Great Awakening have exploited cultural trends to gain a hearing with the masses. I think history has shown this approach to be very effective at attracting people and filling large churches. It is also very effective at selling automobiles and soda pop.

Brian McLaren, and those aligned with the “emerging church” movement, are simply arguing that the most powerful “tool” given to carry the gospel to our world is the church itself. Rather than investigating trends, studying market research, and riding the ever-shifting waves of culture, why doesn’t the church simply love the hurting, care for the outcast, and look more like Christ? This approach does not reject culture, but does not marry the church to it either.

I have seen The Passion as have non-Christian members of my family. During a conversation about the film one person, after expressing a strong attraction to the loving, forgiving, and humble Jesus he saw, asked “Why doesn’t his church look more like him?” His question sent shivers down my back.

I made a decision years ago to hang up my surfboard. I am done trying to ride cultural waves. The church has reached many waves too late only to have them crash down upon us. And even when riding waves proves effective I wonder if effectiveness should be the church’s highest value. Rather than riding waves I long for a church that, like Jesus, learns to walk above them.

—Skye Jethani, Blanchard Road Alliance Church, Wheaton, Illinois

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» Regarding The Passion, I agree with Brian McLaren that it is not the best outreach opportunity in 2,000 years. Most unchurched and/or non-Christians that I know are not interested in going to this movie. However, after experiencing this movie for myself, I would agree that it is a great “inreach” tool. Why? Because every Christian that I know that has seen it has been affected in some way. Most feel a sense of “wowness” that Christ loved them that much. Christians have needed a “shot in the arm” to remind them how important it is to show, speak of, and live the love of Christ.

—Kay Polasek

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» Honestly, how many Christians do you know will put up $30 million or all they have and all their time and humble themselves in the most compassionate way to reach as many people as they could to tell them the truth about Christ?

This movie should not be down played. Currently, this movie IS the greatest outreach opportunity in 2,000 years. Not even your greatest speakers and/or pastors have been able to reach as many people as this movie has, thus far.

I thank God for using a man like Mel Gibson and I thank Mel for being obedient to his call.

—David C. King, Mesquite, Texas

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» The hype of turning a movie into Barnum’s greatest ever tool for evangelism is overblown. But I recall the day my older sisters brought home soundtrack album to Jesus Christ Superstar and the 30-million bestseller Late Great Planet Earth. If those deeply flawed clay vessels were used to help further the Jesus movement, surely this movie, focused so intensely on a bloody cross and viewed by millions, may be in fact be a Message in our times.

—Jon Panner, Austin Hills Church

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» Brian’s right if (our) target is exclusively the “emerging” culture. However the postmodern mindset hasn’t captivated every aspect of society perhaps as it has the suburbs of Washington, D.C. The box is bigger than that. And this film will reach some, not reach others. Just don’t discount it because it doesn’t fit within your box.

—Rick Lawrenson

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» I have just returned from a screening of The Passion for ministers in London prior to its release here on March 26. As a pastor in London I can straight away say this is not an evangelistic tool for Britain. Why? Because it is anti-Semitic? No, not at all. Because of the gore? No, although graphic, it causes one to reflect on the violence one tolerates in most films.

It is simply that the film presumes a knowledge of the story of Jesus Christ and it theological implications far beyond the knowledge of the average Briton today. The Jesus it presents is taken out of the context of his life. I was not left feeling attracted to the Jesus of the gospels. In fact it is a shame that although Jesus is the most truly human person ever to have lived on earth, the film shows more humanity in the mother and friends of Jesus than Jesus himself.

I would, however, commend the film to mature Christians who want to ponder the full cost of salvation to our Lord, but even for the new Christian the film raises more questions than devotion. Nonetheless, the power of the film is undisputable, as witnessed by the silence as we all left the cinema.

—Christopher Ramsay, Vicar of St George’s Southall, London, UK

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» I don’t buy Rick Warren’s argument on the basis of numbers. Krispy Kreme sold at least 500,000 donuts last year and biting into one, I had a taste sensation that surely must be described as divine—is that a spiritual wave we should be riding? Thank you Rick, for your integrity to your system—that is appealing leadership. But Brian’s argument is not about a segment, a niche, or a preference. His argument is about the stream of Christianity—about who we (conservative Christians in America) are becoming and what that becoming bodes for our mandated mission of making disciples. Does it diminish it or enlarge it?

Your answer deals with immediacy and I appreciate your longing to be faithful to Christ. Is The Passion generating conversation? Yes. Do we take advantage of that? Yes. Is it the greatest outreach opportunity in 2,000 years? No.

Is evangelicalism diminished even further by our wholesale jumping on cultural bandwagons (we’re already the second most distrusted group in America—just ahead of used car salesmen)? I think so.

—An avid film lover and staff member at a Purpose-Driven church

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» It’s unfortunate that you’re getting hung up on the one line that made you wince. When I see that The Today Show is covering the life of Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus, and ABC presents a show based on the crucifixion of Christ through the eyes of Judas and “secular” Indianapolis radio stations are inviting pastors to talk on their radio shows about what this movie is really about, a thought is placed in my mind that this is no doubt one of the best outreach opportunities in 2,000 years.

As part of the emerging culture of which you spoke: “Emerging culture people are, no doubt, as sensitive as anyone else to dramatic, multi sensory, rational-plus-emotional presentations. Special effects can impress them. But they’re also suspicious of the whole business. They’re looking for something that can’t be ‘produced’ but which can only be created: Authenticity. Reality. Honesty. Fruit.”

I saw The Passion of The Christ as one of the most authentic, real, honest and fruitful presentations of this message that I have ever seen. What this emerging culture is not looking for is material that is presented in a lame, cheesy, ignorant light. This was not that movie.

Please don’t get hung up on the tag line for the promo! If it has indeed affected the millions that you reference, please use it as a tool—add it to your tool belt! Obviously, it’s making an impact.