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By Christopher J. Patton
Many in the Jewish community are legitimately concerned about the possible social consequences that might be inspired by Mel Gibson's new movie, The Passion of the Christ. History is on their side. In fact Christians would do well to reflect a little on the history of religious warfare and persecution between themselves over issues of passionate faith. A little mutual understanding might go a long way on this topic.
Let's not forget that movies are far more effective in moving emotions than they are in communicating rational facts. Experts often say that communication is only about 10% concerning one's choice of words and about 90% in how you say it. Mel Gibson knows this, which is why he decided that it was safe to eliminate English and go with Latin, Aramaic and Hebrew for the movie's dialogue - he even hesitated over inserting English subtitles!
By design Gibson's Passion focuses almost 100% on the non-verbal impact of the film. Of course, this is the area where the very human Gibson has free interpretive reign. For this reason, no one should "check their minds at the door" to the theater. The "sola scriptura" Protestants need to remember, for example, that non-scriptural content - like recorded visions from historically recent Catholic mystics - provided Mel with cues to the movies detailed staging. In other words, the movie is not the gospel truth even though it appears Mel Gibson has done his best to approach it.
To be fair, Gibson has been quite open about his personal reasons for making the film. In many interviews, he talks about how he personally found spiritual renewal and reason for living from the gospel story of Jesus called the Christ. He came to focus, and he wants his audience to focus, especially on the Son of God's sacrifice for the sins of humanity - on the cost for all of our sins, even for those done in His name. Actually, the story of Jesus possesses an inspirational dimension transcending Christianity that provides a message most spiritually oriented people can relate to, regardless of their faith.
Thus, the rational discussion should not be over the New Testament text, but over the emotional impact of the film. While it is possible, that some few might get stirred up to reprehensible action against the Jewish community, mostly I find that Christian enthusiasm is emotionally more directed against trashy and immoral entertainment than anything remotely approaching Jewish culpability for killing Christ.
Just as many Jewish people are coming to realize that the Christian community varies greatly within itself as regards their understanding about and attitudes towards Judaism and its adherents, so Christians need to better understand the concerns of their Jewish neighbors. Anti-Semitism remains alive and well, but not so much in its traditional expression. Rather I find today a rising anti-Zionism that masks an underlying anti-Semitism. This, to me, is a far greater threat to the Jewish community than Mel Gibson's flawed but honest and probably effective expression of his faith in the Jewish man born in Bethlehem, who almost two thousand years ago preached mostly to his own people in Galilee, Judea and Samaria.
Those interested in better understanding the issues generated by Gibson's movie should visit our web site http://passion-movie.gnfi.org to learn more. Christian groups who want to develop a better understanding of Christianity's Jewish connections and today's anti-Semitism should call our office at 952-926-7369 for more information on how our 125-year-old ministry may be of service to you.
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