Letters Of Lamech
Six years and counting of on and off blogging... current events, Christianity, fun
Thursday, February 26, 2004
On The Passion by Mel Gibson - A Messianic Jewish Statement

February, 2004

Recently the film “The Passion” by Mel Gibson has been a source of controversy among Christians and Jews. Some have asked where Messianic Jews stand, as members of the Jewish community who are also believers in Jesus, or Yeshua.

Christians will tend to view The Passion through the lens of Scriptural accuracy and impact. Jews will view it through the lens of history, where similar Passion plays, from the Middle Ages on, have resulted in mass persecution. Our hope is that controversy over the film may lead to increased dialogue between Christian and Jews.

Many Christians have reported that the film is a compelling work that closely follows the account in the Gospels and gives honor to Messiah and his sacrificial work. Why would such a film raise objections? For two reasons, one with which we sympathize but do not agree, and one with which we sympathize and agree.

First, some, both Christians and Jews, believe that the film is anti-Semitic because the Gospel accounts are anti-Semitic. They consider a close following of the Gospel accounts, therefore, to be wrong and dangerous.

Second, some believe that the film has dangers because of the history of anti-Semitic distortion and misuse of the Gospels. The problem is not with the Gospels but with their use in the history of Christianity.

We reject the first view and do not believe that the Gospels, written by Jews, are anti-Semitic. The Gospels teach that only elements of the Jewish leadership, in unity with Roman authority, were involved in the death of Yeshua. Certainly, this was not the whole nation, nor the great majority of Jews, who did not at that time even live in Israel . In addition, the Bible teaches that Messiah died to atone for the sins of us all. The sin of all humanity was the reason for his crucifixion, and this was by the design of God. Only a gross misinterpretation of the Gospels supports anti-Semitism. We firmly reject any view that accuses the Biblical writers of anti-Semitism.

We agree with the second view. Because of the history of Christianity, the Passion story must be presented without imputing blame upon the Jewish people as a whole for the sin of putting Yeshua to death. This presentation requires emphasizing Roman injustice as well as the specificity of the small group of Jews that violated the Torah in seeking Yeshua's death. Any film on the Passion should include some explanation that the Romans bore ultimate responsibility, since they alone had the power of capital punishment. A rider or introduction with such an historical explanation would be essential.

In addition, we are concerned about Mel Gibson's recent interview with Peggy Noonan (for the March, 2004 Readers' Digest ). Mr. Gibson shows both ignorance and insensitivity when he equates the Holocaust with other tragedies, such as Stalin's crimes. Hitler sought to eliminate a whole people because of who they were. Stalin's goal was not to eliminate the Ukrainians whom Mr. Gibson mentions, but to see all bow to his dictatorship. The Holocaust is unique. If Mr. Gibson does not make a strong statement accepting the historical record of the Holocaust, he undercuts the very testimony of the Gospels he seeks to put forth.

We urge Mr. Gibson to help further the message of his film by the following two actions.

1. To repudiate Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism in the strongest possible terms, including an affirmation that anti-Semitism and the Holocaust are unique tragedies.

2. To include a rider or introduction to make it clear that only a small number of Jews sought the death of Yeshua, and these were the Roman collaborators. Any curse upon the Jews for the death of the Messiah is absolutely wrong and dangerous.

The Passion is currently being promoted for use in Christian education and evangelism. Those using the film in these ways must take responsibility to counter any anti-Semitic implications that could be falsely derived from it.

As Messianic Jews, we affirm the incomparable story of the death and resurrection of the Messiah on behalf of all humanity. We also share the concerns of Jewish leaders that this story can be distorted into an indictment against the Jewish people.

We urge Christians and Jews to avoid polarizing over this film, but to seek to understand each other's responses to it. In particular, we encourage our Christian brothers and sisters to go beyond defending the Biblical accuracy of The Passion to recognize the historic perspective of the Jewish community. Christians who love Yeshua must do all they can to counter any anti-Semitic distortion of his story.

Jamie Cowen, President
Russell Resnik, Executive Director
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations
Written at 2/26/2004 04:20:00 PM by Lamech.
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