The Passion of the Laodicians

By Steve Lumbley
Originally published on 9/6/04

Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ was released on DVD last week and once again sales exploded to near record levels as 4.1 million copies were sold in just the first day.

For the record I should make it clear that I have not seen the movie nor do I intend to. I have seen enough of the trailers and read enough about it to know that it is something in which I do not wish to participate. And participation is the operative word when it comes to this movie. The whole point of this film is to draw you in to the ritual represented on the screen.

In case you don't know, The Passion is not about the gospel, it's not even true to the Biblical account of Jesus crucifixion. It is in fact the Catholic ritual known as the Stations of the Cross brought to life on the big screen. As with any ritual it is designed to provoke an emotional response in its participants. It seems clear that the picture has produced a strong emotional response in those who have viewed it.

But has this movie accomplished what many church leaders claimed it would accomplish? Just to review, here's what some prominent church leaders said about the movie at the time of its release.

Without question, this is the finest work that has ever been done on this subject. -Pat Robertson

No film in my lifetime has the potential of impacting more people with the world's greatest story than 'The Passion'. It could be Hollywood's finest achievement to date. -Tim LaHaye

This movie could have profound spiritual effect on millions of people. -Paul Crouch, Jr., Trinity Broadcasting Network

I am praying that Mel Gibson's movie will have a powerful impact on our culture and that it will appeal to millions of movie lovers who are starving for a glimmer of honesty regarding the miraculous and life-changing story of the One who died for everyone, no matter their religious heritage, station in life, sexual preference, or skin color. -Jerry Falwell, from Falwell Confidential, Sept 24, 2003

The film is faithful to the Bible's teaching that we are all responsible for Jesus' death, because we all have sinned. It is our sins that caused his death, not any particular group. I doubt if there has been a more graphic and moving presentaion of Jesus' death and resurrection, which Christians believe are the most important events in human history. -Billy Graham 12-01-03

The verdict was nearly unanimous. Virtually every well known Christian leader in the U.S. endorsed this film. Almost all stated that the movie was true to the Biblical account of Christ's crucifixion. It was promoted as a great evangelistic tool. Now it turns out the results have been somewhat less than what was hoped for, at least as it applies to the proclamation of the Gospel.

A July survey by the highly respected Barna Group measured the impact of The Passion of the Christ on those who had seen it. Here's what they found.

People who had seen The Passion were asked if it affected their religious beliefs in any way. Just one out of six viewers (16%) said it had.

The audience was also asked if viewing the movie had affected their religious practices. In total, 18% said some aspect of their religious behavior was different due to seeing the movie. The most common behavioral changes listed included praying more often (listed by 9% of those who saw the film), attending church more often (8%), and becoming more involved in church-related activities (3%).

You may read the entire article here: http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=167. Note: The link no longer works.

Changing ones religious practices and beliefs can be good or it can be bad. Praying more often obviously is good IF you are praying to the God of the Bible and not a god of your own making. Attending church services more often can be good as long as the church you attend is teaching the truth. I note that spending more time in God's word was not found to be a factor.

What about the evangelistic aspect that we were all promised? Has it become the greatest tool for evangelistic in the history of the church?

Here's what Barna found:

Among the most startling outcomes drawn from the research is the apparent absence of a direct evangelistic impact by the movie. Despite marketing campaigns labeling the movie the "greatest evangelistic tool" of our era, less than one-tenth of one percent of those who saw the film stated that they made a profession of faith or accepted Jesus Christ as their savior in reaction to the film's content. Equally surprising was the lack of impact on people's determination to engage in evangelism. Less than one-half of one percent of the audience said they were motivated to be more active in sharing their faith in Christ with others as a result of having seen the movie.

Why this would be a surprise to anyone is beyond me. The Passion is not the gospel. It is not an accurate depiction of the gospel. It does not lay the foundation of repentance from dead works. It makes no mention of man's inherent sin and need for a savior. Except for one brief scene at the end, the movie omits the most important of the story, that being Jesus' resurrection. It is the resurrection that is the true power of God.

Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Romans 10:14, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

How could so many respected Christian leaders have been so wrong about this movie and its impact? What does it say about the judgment and Biblical understanding of people like Robertson, Falwell, Crouch, and Graham?

Could it be that these people are deceived? Could it be that they themselves are deceivers? Could it be that they are not the true servants of the Lord Jesus Christ that they claim to be?

Here's the real impact of the movie. The real bottom line is the real bottom line. That means money! This movie has raked in the cash like few in history.

As of July 14, 2004 The Passion of the Christ ranked as the 8th highest grossing movie of all time bringing in over $370 million in the U.S. and over $610 million world wide. The release of the DVD set is expected to add as much as $400 million to that total. That's over $1 billion dollars folks. Most of it from the Christian community!

And what about the films creator, Mel Gibson. He has been hailed by some Christian leaders as a great evangelist even though he adheres to a non orthodox brand of Catholicism. Gibson was asked recently how the success of his movie has changed him. Here's what he said:

"I don't have to answer any of these questions anymore. I'm a h*&! of a lot wealthier than I once was."

There you have it. The bottom line. It's all about money.

Mel Gibson is a great evangelist. He evangelizes for the Church of Laodicea. The church that is friends with the world. The church that loves the things of the world.

All these so called Christian leaders who endorsed and continue to promote this film are part of that church. It is the church that is too busy with the cares of this world to bother itself with work of making Christians. It is the church that thinks it can accomplish spiritual results with worldly methods.

It is a church that is so wealthy that it can throw away $1 billion on shallow entertainment and call it a spiritual experience. It is a church that tosses a few pennies to true mission efforts but spends the bulk of it's money on itself. It is the church of the latter days. The church that haughtily proclaims I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing!

It is the church to which Jesus says come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.

Do you have ears to hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying?

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth -Revelation 3:14.