Sean C. Morgan
“The Passion of the Christ” provides an impressive reminder of the gift that Jesus offered to the world.
The Community Chapel Fourth Quarter youth group was among a number of local groups to attend “The Passion” as a group. The youth group attended the evening of April 7.
“For me, this movie, what I appreciate about it, is its accuracy to Scripture,” Youth Pastor Patrick Bowler said. “It’s such a powerful reminder.”
Growing up, people hear about Jesus’ crucifixion constantly in Sunday School and church.
“You just get so used to it, it’s impact kind of dwindles a little bit,” Pastor Bowler said. “The Passion” is “about the best closest reminder of what it cost to save us…. ‘Remember the height from which you have fallen (Rev. 2:5).'”
Remembering how far mankind has fallen then seeing graphically the price paid to redeem mankind shows “how we’ve been radically saved,” Pastor Bowler said. “We can’t forget, but we just get used to it.
“I wanted to watch and I didn’t. It’s hard to watch it, but I wanted to watch it. I wanted to know.”
“The Passion” shows how “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8),” Pastor Bowler said. “He didn’t wait for me to get my act together. In my darkest time, he just reached down for me.”
Fourth Quarter is in an “outreach month,” Pastor Bowler said. “I am not a recreation director,” and with 230 youths out two weeks ago, his goal is to reach out to them; and last week, “The Passion” was a way to do that.
“I’m so glad Mel (Gibson, director and producer) stuck with it,” Pastor Bowler said. “That’s what I wanted to see, what’s written, with few liberties taken.”
The film provides a visual presentation that is about as closes as modern technology can get to the actual events.
“What I’m going to do,” Pastor Bowler said. “I’m going to let the credits play. I’m going to stand there (tell the youth group) there’s not much I can say at this point.”
Following that, Pastor Bowler played three songs, providing time for the youth group to listen and reflect on the message brought by “The Passion.”
Following the music, Pastor Bowler told the members of the group to “remember,” and explain the opportunity to recommit to Christ or accept Him for the first time.
“I’m praying God does what he wants to do because I’ve got nothing,” Pastor Bowler said. “It’s too heavy to think I can add to it or bring more to it…. What he did for us was no small thing…. One act of Christ brought salvation and reconciliation.
Bringing “people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, that is the end to which we labor.”
Rio Theatre owners Mike and Susan Kinney sent out letters to 127 area churches and organizations offering private showings of “The Passion,” released last month and played at the Rio April 7 through Sunday.
Offering private group showings gave pastors and entire parishes and congregations the chance to see the film together so they could discuss what they had seen, Kinney said. “They can all sit and talk about it because they all saw it at the same time.”
The Rio hadn’t had any sellouts, but it had a steady stream of customers throughout the last week, Kinney said.
Reaction to the film leaves many customers quiet as they leave the theater, Kinney said. Some women bring tissue boxes, and others criticize the film for not glorifying the resurrection of Christ. The film includes a brief scene at the end about the resurrection.
“I personally would like to see a little bit of the reason the people were so intent on (His death),” Kinney said. “It has to do with people being afraid and losing their power and not being able to explain unexplainable things. Jesus was the cause of those things among the high priests.
“Basically, everyone likes the movie. A lot of people are very quiet when they come out because of the impact.”
Everyone knows the story, Kinney said, but it has never been presented so graphically before now.
“This will probably be the top grosser of all time,” Kinney said.