Commentary; Posted: 5/5/04

Spiritual impact of ëThe Passioní stirs new faith commitments

Pastor John C. Blackford
Religion Columnist

Much to the amazement of media members ó press, radio, TV and magazines ó there has been a huge and largely positive response to ìThe Passion of The Christ,î Mel Gibsonís film portrayal of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

On the week ending April 25, ìThe Passion,î which was the top money-making film in four different weeks after its release in late February, was still in 11th place in box office receipts, and had grossed over $360 million. It has passed ìLord of the Ringsî for 8th in all-time totals, and is just behind ìJurassic Park.î

Expectations are that it will finish with at least $380 million in ticket sales, and may reach $400 million. It was reported that Gibson invested $25 million of his own money in the project, so he has had a tremendous return.

The film has inspired several study books for group discussion, and a book, ìThe Passion of Jesus Christ,î by Dr. John Piper, a Minneapolis pastor, who took two weeksí leave to write it. As of the beginning of April, 1.7 million copies had been sold and it was in its eighth printing.

The latest industry sales figures ranked it No. 6 on a national list of top religious books, and it has moved to global markets, with translations in Danish, Chinese, Japanese, German, Korean, Spanish and Italian among other languages. Some area churches and book stores have offered it without charge.

In Matera, Italy, where ìThe Passionî was filed over a period of two months last year, townspeople are hoping to turn worldwide interest into a tourist bonanza. ìIt isnít yet a boom, but business is picking up,î said the director of a tiny Sassi (caves dug into the rock that give Matera the look of ancient Jerusalem) tourism office.

In spite of this great interest, the television networks have given a cook reception to making ìThe Passionî into a TV special. Also not enthusiastic are some religious leaders, ranging for spiritualists to fallen-away Roman Catholics.

In general, conservative evangelical and Roman Catholic groups and churches have approved and endorsed it, but more liberal organizations and congregations have given little or no approval, or have even criticized its message and interpretation of the crucifixion.

Producer Gibson has a unique and interesting background. His father saw combat on Guadalcanal during World War II. Mel ended up in Australia because his father won on the TV game ìJeopardy.î

An underreported profile of Mel in the ìNew Yorkerî (Sept. 15, 2003) in which he discussed his then-upcoming film about Christís death, quotes him as saying, ìThere is no salvation for those outside the Church (Roman Catholic). Put it this way. My wife is a saint. Sheís a much better person than I am.

ì[But] sheís Episcopalian. She believes in God, she knows Jesus. And itís just not fair if she doesnít make it [to heaven]í sheís better than I am. But that is a pronouncement from the chair [that she will not be saved] I go with it.î

It is probable that most who view the film favorably will not agree with his judgment concerning his wifeís salvation.

ìThe Passion of the Christî has been very lucrative and has initiated much discussion, but its spiritual impact outweighs all the other aspects of this truly remarkable production. like other classic religious films, it will be viewed and appreciated by many through the years, and its message will stir its viewers to new faith commitments.

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