Email: “The film the passion of the Christ was based not on the bible as you conclude but on a false extra-biblical vision of a 19th Century nun sister Catherine Emmerich known as the “The Dolorous Passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even during the film itself such as the appearance of Satan in the Garden and Snake seen to the names of the malefactors crucified with were from false teaching and people will think it is in the bible if you promote it.”
Response: I know that there is extra-biblical and false information in that film. The Catholic additions (serpent in the garden; nails through the hands–not the wrists; etc.) are not biblical at all. But, the film contains the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Do you NOT want that portrayed in a film for millions to see?
Which is greater in importance, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus for our sins or the extra-biblical stuff that Mel Gibson put in that does NOT nullify the crucifixion and resurrection? Sure, there were some inaccuracies in the film, but I would rather Christ be focused on and his suffering, death, and resurrection be taught than deny the whole film because of the occasional Catholic additions.
I am sure that thousands of people picked up their Bibles, read it, and turned to religious programming on TV because of that film. I pray for more of such things.
Finally, we evangelicals need to be all the more prepared to stand firm on God’s word and carefully correct those inaccuracies when people ask us about the film. Nevertheless, praise God that Jesus was proclaimed on the silver screen.
