Why Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ
is a serious threat to Christianity
Introduction
Many Christian leaders today are enthusiastically promoting and supporting Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ. We question whether or not these leaders have fulfilled their Biblical responsibilities to a) examine who is behind this movie, b) what their motives may be and c) what heresies they and the movie itself may be promoting.
If a well known cult like the Mormon Church had produced this movie would these same Christian leaders be promoting it so enthusiastically? Even if the content of the movie were something they were comfortable with, would they at least be warning their congregations about the heresies that the people behind the movie were involved in?
After spending some time looking at the background of both Mel Gibson the producer, and Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in this movie, we are convinced that both are sincere in their beliefs, but are also heretics. It is also obvious that the movie itself promotes some very serious heresies, and that most protestants would probably not pick up on these problems because they lack a proper understanding of Catholic doctrines and beliefs (especially those surrounding the Marian movement).
We are deeply concerned that the Christian leaders who we've seen promote this movie have not been warning people about its hidden spiritual dangers, or about the fact that the reason it was created was to promote some very serious Catholic heresies.
The movie's close ties to the heretical Marian movement
Chief among our concerns about this movie are its close ties to the Marian movement. For a good overview of this movement and ties to Catholicism, Islam and the New Age movement, see this article by Jim Tetlow titled Queen of All at this link:
http://www.eternal-productions.org/catholicism.html
This movement is not well understood by the Protestant community. However, it is huge around the world and its influence is growing even in the Islamic community. So is its threat to the true Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Both Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel believe that "Mary", Jesus's earthly mother, and Jesus are co-redeemers. In other words, Jesus's death and suffering on the cross were not enough to secure our salvation. They believe that Mary also suffers even to this day, and that she shares in Jesus's role as our "co-redemptrix".
“I’ve been actually amazed at the way I would say the evangelical audience has - hands down - responded to this film more than any other Christian group.” What makes it so amazing, he says, is that “the film is so Marian.”
Mel Gibson, Producer 1Through one’s own life. It is not what we say but what we do. I dedicate my work to Her Son, I dedicate all that I do to Her Son. I ask Mary to guide me and my career. You can convert people only by living your life. This film is something that I believe was made by Mary for her Son. Because it was made by her, it will be attacked by the enemy.
Jim Caviezel (actor who played Jesus) 2I pray that we are open to wherever Mary is leading us, and that in all the places where we go and to the people that we meet around the world, we may bring these messages.
Kerri Caviezel (wife of actor who played Jesus) 2The Marian messages that Kerri Caviezel wants she and her husband Jim to share with others around the world contain many serious heresies. The following link on our web site details several of them and the Bible verses they contradict:
http://creationists.org/MessagesFromHeaven/english_Bibleverses.html
Protestants are largely unaware of the magnitude of the threat to Christianity presented by the Marian movement
We suspect that many well-meaning protestants who are enthusiastically promoting this movie are not aware that Satan is using the Marian movement, and this movie to promote heresies that are so serious that the people who believe in them should rightfully be viewed as cultists.
Like most protestants, we were initially not aware of the seriousness of the threat to Christianity that the Marian movement presented. This is in spite of the fact that I am a former Catholic. It wasn't until we watched a video produced by Jim Tetlow of Eternal Productions titled Messages from Heaven that we finally started to understand the magnitude of the problem. We strongly encourage Christians to watch this video before they spend any further time and effort promoting the Passion movie. Mr. Tetlow has given us permission to stream this entire video on our web site. It is also available on his web site. You can watch this video right now in its entirety by clicking on either of the two links below:
http://www.eternal-productions.org/messages_video.html
http://creationists.org/MessagesFromHeaven/english.html
Links that critically analyze the movie and those who are behind it
We've found a couple of web sites that have done a particularly good job of analyzing the doctrinal problems with this movie and those who are behind it. Links to both of them appear below. As we find other links, they'll be added to this page.
http://www.eternal-productions.org/passion.html
Gods warnings about promoting the efforts of heretics
As mentioned earlier, we have seen several prominent protestant Christian leaders promoting this movie. We also see most of them failing to provide their congregations with the appropriate strong warnings about the people who are behind it and what their motives are. These protestant leaders appear to be ignoring these important warnings from God about how Christians should respond to heretics:
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
2 John 110-11Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (See John Calvin's commentary on verses 7-12 and 13-15)
Conclusion
We encourage our Christian brothers and sisters who are currently promoting this movie to carefully consider the arguments against it that we and others are making. Don't let the powerful emotional appeal of this movie overwhelm your ability and willingness to critically analyze it and the people who are behind it. Take the time to check out how both square with God's Word. We believe that if you will take the time to do this, that you will likely conclude as we have that Christians have no business promoting this movie or the people behind it. Given the very real possibly that the Marian movement could play a major role in helping the anti-Christ form his anti-Jesus one world religion, we need to think long and hard about whether or not we should be giving:
a) so much of our money (which is really God's money) to support people who may then take it and use it against us by promoting serious heresies and
b) so much notoriety and power to people who are heretics bent on promoting the Satanic Marian movement. Remember that we should not base our decisions about this by the apparent sincerity of Mel Gibson, Jim Caviezel and others associated with the movie. God tells us to test their spirits by comparing the doctrines they promote against scriptures.
You will answer to God on Judgment Day if you choose wrong on this issue. You may also live to see the day where the anti-Christ himself capitalizes on the efforts of Mel Gibson and others who've promoted the Marian movement. Do you really want to have to explain to God why you chose to give money he blessed you with to this spiritually dangerous cause? Do the protestant leaders who are so enthusiastically promoting this movie want to have to explain to God why they did so without first using proper discernment, or why they didn't warn their congregations about the huge spiritual threat this movie and it's creators present to true Christianity? We pray that if you are currently someone who is promoting this movie that the Lord will reveal to you the great spiritual risks you are taking by doing so.
Founder of the Young Earth Creation Club
References
1. http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/passion-melmarymothers.html March 6, 2004. 2. http://www.medjugorje.hr/int%20Caviezel%20ENG.htm (interview on a Catholic radio program)