Today I received an e-mail for the second time dealing with an article written by Doug Fields. The basic premise of the article is, “Do you encourage students to see ‘The Passion’ or avoid it because it’s ‘R’ rated?”
I have yet to see The Passion of the Christ but I have heard reports from several people who have. It seems like everyone in the world has seen this movie already and I am somehow in the dark. But from what I gather it seems like it will be an amazing movie. So what’s the problem? Well, unfortunately it is rated R.
Is it possible that youth workers will get into some hot water over taking their youth to see an ‘R’ rated movie? After being strong proponents of purity and encouraging teenagers to make wise decisions about what movies they watch, music they listen to and so on do we give them mixed signals by saying, “but it is ok to watch this one rated ‘R’ movie.”
Of course the movie is rated ‘R’ because of violence. Really it comes down to whether we should avoid the movie because of the rating or encourage it with “caution and intelligence.” I am certain that this movie will cause students to see the passion of Christ in a whole new light and it may even lead some to a first time commitment to Christ, so I personally lean towards promoting it with caution.
Here is what Doug had to say, “Let’s be honest, the Cross was violent! Crucifixion was a brutal form of execution. When Jesus died for my sins, the nails were real, his flesh broke, and the blood fell. This incredible (and violent) act paid the price that I couldn’t pay. After seeing the violence that Jesus may have suffered, I want to know him more, I want to be a more committed follower of Jesus, I want people to know what Jesus did. Because of this, I personally believe it’s worth the risk of taking some heat by promoting this movie.”
Whether you are a youth leader, a school teacher, or you just work with teenagers and you are planning on taking them to see this movie or you want to encourage them to see it, Doug gives a few ideas that may be helpful for you. These are things that he is going to do with his group:
1. Write to parents and encourage them to take their kids to see this.
2. Contact our local movie theatre and see if we can rent it out for a private screening for our teenagers and their friends.
3. Purchase large quantities of the Gospel of John so non-churched students can further investigate Jesus.
4. Create discussion opportunities following each screening.
5. Show the trailer to our leadership students and begin brainstorming how they might want to bring their friends to the movie when it opens February 25th (Ash Wednesday).
6. Create a handout for our regular students: 10 ways to get your friends to see this movie.
7. Start talking about the movie to our students to create a little pre-view hype. Honestly, I think the R-rating will work to that advantage for students to be interested in seeing it.
What do you think? Should we promote it? Should we get these teenagers to watch it? Or should we avoid it? It’s your turn to speak in the comments below!
Pressed
I’ve seen it–and it’s not something I’d take young kids too…but if they’re old enough to watch stuff like CSI and X-files… it’s just very graphic and kinda gory at times.
Mel suggests no one under the age of 13… which I forgot to mention.
Many children live in war torn zones, many children are threatened by violence in homes when they are mere babes in arms, many children live in garbage dumps and see things children should never see..
And they rate this movie (R)… The Love of a Saviour who is dying for them… There is more reason for our children to see this movie than we realise.. Maybe to many of us who live in a cocooned world this is too graphic.. But to many this film finally dares to show the real truth..
I wouldn’t want my young children to see it because I try to protect them from the graphic scenes of death and torture that they wouldn’t understand.. But I bet many children far younger than mine watch far more gruesome things in their homes even maybe much closer to my home than I realise..
God I pray that somehow despite the graphic details… You would take this message and many would come to Christ.. Not only those who are allowed to see it and do.. But those many who this film would really change their lives and show them your great love.. Lord take it into homes and Lord forbid even homes where this message may have viewers that “should” not see it.. Lord may your message of love change lives and work miracles in a world where violence abounds.. Lord may your spirit take the message of your love into hearts where mere mortals dare not tread.. Amen
It’s a tough call, isn’t it? Certainly I hope many youth pastors struggle with it regardless of what they decide in the end. I hope they see the possible conflict with what they have been teaching their youth. It could lead to some great discussions with their kids, wouldn’t you think?
I agree Tim. This has tremendous potential for discussions, probably far more than we realize just yet.
I think we often forget why movies are rated the way they are … it’s not a form of censorship (as many Christians think of it), it’s a way of informing the audience (namely, parents) what kind of maturity level is needed to see, understand, and enjoy the movie.
Personally, I don’t even know if I want to go see The Passion in a theatre, simply because it will be a very personal and emotional experience for me. I feel no need for anyone but me and Jesus to be in the room when I witness it for the first time. Yes, I understand the implications of this film upon our culture, and especially our youth culture (I teach media classes to middle schoolers), but the story of the crucifixion is much more than just a tool to impact our society.
Unless if you have an extremely mature youth group, I’d be very hesitant about taking them to this movie as a group. The “mob mentality” that most youth groups morph into is often a great dynamic to break down walls, but it would be horrible for the message and penetrating nature of the film to be interrupted by a rowdy, joking, or simply distracted teen (or ten).
If I were a youth pastor, I would study up on the scriptures then invite families that were interested in seeing the film to meet me over dinner (just the parents and teens) to learn more intimately the story of Jesus’ death (not the story of the movie). Then I would try to encourage and empower the parents to decide if they should go to the movie as a family (perhaps providing an example “outline” or something of a possible family discussion afterwards). Then, after a couple of weeks, I’d invite the families that chose to watch it over for popcorn, hot chocolate, and an intimate discussion of their experience seeing their Savior’s sacrifice.
Then again, I’m not a youth pastor. I just think we need to be careful to preserve the intimacy of the story. Christ didn’t become obedient to death to save America … He did it for you and for me. Let’s remember that.
this movie is endorsed by MANY prominent leaders within the church. Billy Graham, Greg Laurie, to name a couple. It would be a HUGE shame if the only discussion we have about the movie is the R rating.
I saw the movie “Quo vadis” with my parents when I was 14 on a teacher’s recommendation. I was so shocked and moved by the movie that I was sick the day after. I was not “used to” seeing movies like that. My parents were very upset, but I still think (20 years later) that it was a good idea to see the movie. I think the movie did have that impact on me mostly because I realized that many of the things shown in the movie were based on historical facts even though it is based on a novel.
I’m telling this because “The Passion” may have a similar impact on many young people today. It’s probably even more graphic (I don’t remember details from the other movie, it’s been too long since I’ve seen it). I think the most important thing is that the young people (or everyone who sees it for that matter) have someone to talk with about the movie afterwards (especially for young people not just in a group, but also individually, i.e. their parents or some other person they trust like the youth pastor, for example).
You people are insane. This passion movie is demonic. go at your own risk, God is NOT with you. The most evil thing done on earth was the murder of Yeshua, and you are going to see this as a movie. Why? To bring people to Messiah, what insanity, Jesus didn`t preach the gospel with a violent theme. You have lost your way. Snap out of it the modern culture is rotten to the core, and you people are part of the rotten core, you who say you are christian, shame on you for trampling the blood of the Lord again.
We were planning on taking about 30 of our youth which are the ages of 15-18….however the theaters here have made it clear that unless a parent is with the under aged watching the movie with them they aren’t getting in to see it…not even with a permission slip from parents that the promoters of the movie have given youth leaders to use. Hope they are that strict with all “R” movies!!!!!!!
Fred…have you read the gospels?
Peter said much the same to Jesus when Jesus spoke of His coming death (Matthew 16:13-23)
No one forced Christ to the cross..he went there of his own accord in obediance to His father.
(John10:18)
Jesus was killed violently and publically…on purpose. He does not want us to forget his death. Or the manner in which He died.
If what you are saying is true…no sermon since the dawning of Christianity that has illustrated what Christ went through for us.. (even Peter’s sermon at pentecost) …is within the will of God. And we KNOW that that is not the case.
I would urge you to re-think your thoughts on this manner friend. And delve deep into the scriptures and their account of the crucifixion, for if this movie is in error for portraying the account of Christ Crucifixion….then the gospel writers were in error also.
also please examine your heart towards the others on this forum….. (1 peter 2:7, 1 peter 3:15)
Oh and one last thought…..would you consider Billy Graham satanic? How about Greg Laurie?
both those Godly evangelists and many many others within the Christian church endorse this film.
perhaps you should re-think your words before you count these men (whose Godly witnesses and spiritual fruit is well known) satanic while you count yourself godly.
Brian, have you read the gospels?
You should pull out your Bible and read Matthew 10:5-31. That pretty much sums up what Jesus wanted his followers to do.
I think that it is clear that the christianity taught by Jesus and his disciples was not the perverted form of christianity spread by Paul.
As for Billy Graham and other modern-day evangelists, I think that Jesus would not want his name associated with them. Jesus instructed his followers: “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.’” — Matthew 10:5-6
It seems to me that Jesus specifically instructed them NOT to preach to non-Jews.
“The Passion” is clearly meant to be used as a “witnessing” tool to spread this corrupt form of christianity.
i have yet to see this movie. I am in a youth group and am going to see it with them and my mom. It looks very sad but i need to see it to know what it wuz really like back then.
Matthew 28:18-20
this is my last post on this matter…my pc will be down for some time after this due to a move. Just wanted to offer up this scripture as a example of the gospel being for ALL people of every nation, everywhere.
the disciples debated the same thing…eventually ALL of them devoted their lives to the spreading of the gospel to all people…not just the Jews.
THe Jewish people are God’s chosen people. However, he has chosen them to be his witnesses, His holy people so they might bring glory to Him before the entire world. Not to shut the doors of heaven in the worlds face.
matthew 3:8-9
Lord Bless You
Brian
Luke 2:
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29″Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss[4] your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
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