Well Lelia,
As usual, I have a different opinion, but you asked us to share so I
will.  The three words that actually came to my mind as I was reading the
article that you posted were, ignorant, shallow and judgmental.  Phil is
right, there will be commercialism involved.  Sinfulness within all of us
will grasp opportunity to exploit whenever possible, but this man is
throwing out the baby with the bath water.
        True, the gospels don't go into lot of detail about what is
involved in the torturously cruel and slow death of a crucifixion, but
then, it didn't need to.  Jesus wasn't an unusual case or a rare form of
execution.  The people of the early church saw crucifixions along the
roadside every day as a part of life.  In fact, many of them would end up
suffering the same fate.  They would be shocked to learn that we have
turned the cross into a piece of jewelry.  It would be similar to us
turning an electric chair or hangman's noose into a piece of jewelry
today.  As I've heard some exit interviews with people who have seen the
movie, some are saying that Mel Gibson exaggerated the crucifixion, but
he didn't.  In fact, and he admits this, he shrank back from being too
explicit because it would be too horrific for us today.
        As far as the commercialism is concerned, Mel can't be blamed for
this and if people come to Christ, even Paul himself basically said,
whatever it takes.  My question is this, how many Christians will be
there to disciple the baby Christians when they do come forward.  If
discipling doesn't take place, that's not Mel's fault either, but the
church's and from what I know, many churches are preparing to take care
of these people.  I guess that I just found this article on the harsh
side and throwing stones at one man's efforts.  How much better it would
have been if he would have encouraged us to see this as yet another
opportunity to introduce our unbelieving friends and neighbors to a
loving God who really cares, has suffered for us and is the only true
solution for life.
Kathy

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