An Orthodox Perspective on "The Passion"
by Fr. Angelo Artemas, Saints Peter and Paul Church, Glenview, IL
Perhaps the first point to make about Mel Gibson�s The Passion of the Christ (Rated R for extreme violence, 2 hour 7 minutes, English subtitles) is that it is not for children. Yet neither was footage from 9-11-01, but parents and teachers watched with kids, comforted them, consoled them, and even taught them about good and evil. The decision to allow children under 12 to see this movie must be made after viewing it first, and after considering one�s ability to teach, comfort and edify children in light of the film.
Secondly, the criticism that the movie is one-sided (focuses mainly on the beating and crucifixion) is true, yet hundreds of movies that have mocked and blasphemed Jesus Christ and Christianity in a one-sided fashion have not received nearly as much criticism as this one movie.
This movie does not pretend to present Jesus Christ the teacher, miracle worker, preacher, healer or friend, and does not present a sanitized version of Jesus as have so many other movies and plays. This movie presents Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the remission of our sins and for the life of the world. Jesus Christ�s sacrifice is the most important element of His life on earth.
Protestant worship services primarily center on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and perhaps that is why so many find the crucifixion scene excessively violent and shocking. But Orthodox liturgy is centered on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the altar table is specifically for His body and blood. For those who regularly attend the Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion, this movie will not be as shocking. For Orthodox Christians who have consistently attended Holy Week services, especially the Holy Thursday evening service referred to as The Passion and the 12 Gospels, subtitles are not even necessary. This movie focuses like a laser beam on Christianity�s central message that Jesus, the Christ, died voluntarily for all human beings in order to free us from Hell and to restore us to paradise. No one is responsible for His death while everyone is responsible for His death.
The first definition for lethal in Webster�s New International Dictionary is archaic for spiritual death. Perhaps the most compelling thing about this movie is that the viewer profoundly experiences the death of the Son of God. No other movie has come close to capturing the impact of this death. The sincere viewers spirit will be crushed by this film, as it should be.
In Orthodox Christianity we are baptized into Christ�s death, so that we may live in Him. One cannot fully comprehend living a new life in Christ without understanding His death. This movie goes further than any other work of art in allowing viewers to experience His death. Teaching people how to live a new life in Christ is not the movie�s job, it is the viewer�s responsibility; perhaps newly motivated by the powerful experience of the movie.
One cannot leave the film without thinking that Jesus Christ died for anyone who is weak, sinful, broken, hurt, fallen or flawed. Christ died voluntarily for all. If there is going to be a �blame game� it starts with one�s self. Human beings can continue to kill Jesus Christ by hurting themselves and others, or they can embrace Jesus Christ and reach out to others. The violence in the movie does not compare to the violence in the world. Jesus Christ died 1975 years ago. What has humanity and Christianity done since then?
