Good Friday on DVD
Just finished watching The Passion of the Christ with the youth group from church. Naturally, I am quite reflective at this moment.
Why did it take so long for me to see the movie that has grossed nearly $700 million worldwide? Two reasons. First, just as I am reluctant to revisit personal tragedies, I am hesitant about watching a reenactment of the tortured execution of my Lord—especially not in a movie theatre with hundreds of other people. Second, I felt like some in the Christian community saw this film as a way to flaunt the growing influence of the church in America…look, the highest grossing movie ever…and Hollywood wouldn’t fund or distribute it! Hear us roar!!! While it might not have been intentional, it seemed ironic that a movie about yielding one’s life became a method for flexing our muscle before the world. I wanted no part of that.
So what do you do when the credits roll? You are left to think. You try to insert yourself in the story. Remembering the story of stories causes me to reinterpret my story. Am I a Pilate? A Judas? A Mary or a Simon? Am I willing to be treated as he was?
I am finishing my last paper for my Master’s degree. A major portion is devoted to appropriate missionary lifestyle. A question Jesus, The Missionary, didn’t have the luxury to raise.
Should we?
Just finished watching The Passion of the Christ with the youth group from church. Naturally, I am quite reflective at this moment.
Why did it take so long for me to see the movie that has grossed nearly $700 million worldwide? Two reasons. First, just as I am reluctant to revisit personal tragedies, I am hesitant about watching a reenactment of the tortured execution of my Lord—especially not in a movie theatre with hundreds of other people. Second, I felt like some in the Christian community saw this film as a way to flaunt the growing influence of the church in America…look, the highest grossing movie ever…and Hollywood wouldn’t fund or distribute it! Hear us roar!!! While it might not have been intentional, it seemed ironic that a movie about yielding one’s life became a method for flexing our muscle before the world. I wanted no part of that.
So what do you do when the credits roll? You are left to think. You try to insert yourself in the story. Remembering the story of stories causes me to reinterpret my story. Am I a Pilate? A Judas? A Mary or a Simon? Am I willing to be treated as he was?
I am finishing my last paper for my Master’s degree. A major portion is devoted to appropriate missionary lifestyle. A question Jesus, The Missionary, didn’t have the luxury to raise.
Should we?
posted by Kevin at 10:11 PM
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