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Can "The Passion" Witness For Us?
Article after article that I read about Mel Gibson’s movie, "The Passion of the Christ" asked the same question. Are you ready to answer questions raised by the events of the movies? The articles all mentioned that the movie would be the greatest faith sharing opportunity in 2000 years. Well, I’ve seen the movie and there’s one thing I’m sure of. I got the point that Mel Gibson intended, and it hit home with me. But much of the witness opportunities that I have had since seeing the movies are the same as I did before the movie. In fact, I don’t think that the director had witnessing in mind any more than he had making a bunch of money. Its just incidental. I don’t mean to be harsh, but Christians need to stop bouncing like a rubber ball from one golden outreach opportunity to another; seeking a desktop shortcut to fulfill their mission. Just give me a box of books or tracts to give out, or let’s have a mass rally and call it a seekers service. You see, it’s way to hard to slow down and think deep. Slick air brushed pictures and eye-catching special effects are much more effective. Right? Listen. The people we need to reach are very suspicious of the whole Christian business. (Part of it is our own fault, but that’s a different article). They are looking for (and need to see) something that cannot be produced. They need to see what the bible calls "fruit" see Galatians 5:22. That’s something that cannot be produced; it’s supernatural and can only be experienced in the life of an authentic Christian. You see, fruit is a "produce". A film is a "product". A successful Christian life is the outgrowth of a living relationship with the Spirit of the living God. A movie is made by money and technological ingenuity. Jesus said they would know us by our fruit. That being the case, there isn’t a movie good enough to hide who we really are. Our family and friends know us. So do our neighbors and co-workers. They experience our fruit. While I hope for any chance to witness for Christ, I have a gut feeling that Mel cannot help me very much. His film was powerful, and I trust it will help many. But it’s not the greatest outreach in 2000 years. At least I don’t feel that it is. There are teens contracting STD’s and AIDS by the thousands. There are orphans and broken homes and homeless people and junkies and on and on it goes. They don’t need to see a movie, they need to see a Christian; a real one. By: Edmund Brown |