Fourth is the violence. How bloody is the Bible story? The blood has been saving men for these many centuries, without Gibson’s, that is, Emmerich’s, blood and guts portrayal. God has gripped the hearts of men with a still small voice about His undying love. As Bill Jackson of Christians Evangelizing Catholics says, “even graphic photography cannot capture the reality of Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
Fifth, consider the mysteries associated with this film. What of lightning striking the main character, and his full recovery? What of the healings purportedly associated with the making of this film? I can only answer with another question: What of the healings and other attested mighty miracles associated with the alleged appearances of Mary throughout the world and throughout history?
This is a Romanist event. The Roman religion is no stranger to the miraculous. Is this confirmation of the truth of Romanism? Rather, have we not been warned that the enemy will be working miracles alongside believers? False Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to deceive if possible the very elect (Matthew 24:24). Does not the Lamb-like beast of Revelation 13 perform great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men (Revelation 13:13) ? “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do…”
We must cling to God’s Word and let no man deceive the mystical christ us. Saying No when everyone else is saying Yes is not easy, but it is often necessary. One day it may be a matter of life and death. This movie is just another testing ground to see whether God’s people are going to start using discernment or are going to be swept along with the flow.
Sixth is an issue that I am not yet qualified to describe. It has to do with whether a human being should ever portray Christ in anything but words. It is a question of the Ten Commandments, and the idea of making anything, even an actor on a stage, in the image of God. I leave this one with my readers to contemplate.