|
|
An International Missionary Outreach Dedicated to Evangelizing the Lost By Sharing The Gospel According to the Scriptures
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
Catholic Evangelism? |
||||||||||
|
When
it comes to finding new ways to introducing people
to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am totally in
favor. For this reason, many prominent evangelical
Christian leaders have expressed enthusiasm for Mel
Gibson’s Passion,
a quality film that reenacts the final hours of
Christ’s life on earth. However, before jumping on
the bandwagon, there are some important issues that
need to be addressed. The
list of Christians endorsing Mel Gibson’s Passion
of the The
Christ is quite impressive. Months before
the film’s release, previews were shown around the
world to almost every well-known Christian leader.
From what I have been reading, there are very few
dissenters. The film is being touted as a tool that
will bring people to Jesus. If this is the case,
that would be fantastic! However, I wonder
if there a possibility that the film may
actually have a second agenda – one that leads
many into Roman Catholicism? Absurd,
you say. Well, don’t make up your mind too
quickly. There are some facts that you should know
that make a difference. For example, read the
following statement made by Carl Limbacher taken
from an article titled “Mel Gibson’s
‘Christ’ Reveals Crucifixion,” written In
his first media interview anywhere about his
starring role in Mel Gibson’s much anticipated
film “The Passion of The Christ,” James Cavaziel –
Gibson’s Jesus – detailed on Friday the ordeal
of filming the Crucifixion scenes, noting that the
overall experience prompted many in the crew to
convert to Catholicism.[1] Further,
Cavaziel stated that the filming of Christ’s story
“really changed people’s lives.” [2]
According to the interview, Cavaziel also told
Gibson, “I think it’s very important that we
have mass every day – at least I need that to play
this guy.” Then
one further statement that focuses in on the heart
of the issue. Cavaziel said: “I felt if I was
going to play him I needed the sacrament in me.
Gibson provided that.” [3] Of
course, the “sacrament” Cavaziel was referring
to, was the Sacrament of the Eucharist.” This is
the heart and core of the Roman Catholic faith. In
order for someone to be a Roman Catholic, they must
believe the priest has the power to transform a
wafer into the actual body, blood, soul, and
divinity of Jesus. When you have partaken of the
Sacrament of the Eucharist, you supposedly have
Christ in you. In
contrast the Bible clearly states that Jesus’ one
and only glorified body is in heaven.[4]
The Bible also states that God does not dwell in
temples made with human hands.[5]
And while With
these biblical truths in mind, I have a
concern. Is it possible the film will be an
evangelistic tool that will eventually play a role
in bringing people to another Jesus? Certainly, serious Bible believing Christians who know the grace of God should be on the alert. Jesus warned that in the last days there would be many who would be deceived by many in His name. [8] We need to be careful that we don’t base our theology on a film – whether Catholic or Protestant. The Bible must always be our source of truth and the gospel must never be compromised.
|
||||||||||
|
Understand The Times is an independent non-profit organization in
Canada and the United States.
|
||||||||||
