The Passion of Christ Film whats wrong with it ?

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Exposing The Passion of the Christ: A Film That Represents Another Gospel

Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has undoubtedly made a significant cultural impact, drawing attention to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. However, upon a closer examination, it becomes clear that the film presents a distorted version of the gospel—a gospel that aligns more with Roman Catholic tradition, especially the teachings of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) and Vatican I, than with the true message of salvation as revealed in Scripture. This film, while visually striking, ultimately promotes a “different gospel,” one that is rooted in works, mysticism, and emotionalism rather than the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

1. Mel Gibson’s Catholic Traditionalist Viewpoint

Mel Gibson has openly admitted that his film reflects Catholic traditionalist teachings, particularly the doctrinal stance of the SSPX—a group that holds to the pre-Vatican II teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. This includes an emphasis on the authority of the Pope, the necessity of Church traditions, and the belief that salvation requires more than just faith in Christ. Rather, it depends on participating in the sacraments and the intercession of the Church. The film, in presenting Christ’s passion, becomes a vehicle for reinforcing these unbiblical views.

Scripture:

  • Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
  • Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
    These verses reinforce the foundational biblical truth that salvation is not by works, sacraments, or traditions but by faith alone in Christ alone. However, The Passion of the Christ leans heavily on Catholic tradition, presenting a gospel where salvation is linked to the rituals and practices of the Catholic Church, overshadowing the core message of salvation by grace alone through faith.

2. Atonement Through Christ: The Catholic Misrepresentation

The film’s depiction of Christ’s physical suffering plays a central role in its narrative, but it often loses sight of the true purpose of Christ’s suffering: atonement for sin. While it is not incorrect to show Christ’s suffering, the Catholic view often emphasizes the physical aspects of Christ’s passion in a way that detracts from the spiritual victory Christ accomplished on the cross. In Catholicism, the Church plays a vital role in the application of Christ’s sacrifice through the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. This idea is foreign to the Bible’s clear teaching that Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to pay for sins once and for all.

Scripture:

  • Hebrews 10:12: “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”
  • 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
    The Bible teaches that Christ’s atoning death was “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Christ’s sacrifice was complete and final, and it is by His work alone that salvation is achieved. Yet, in The Passion of the Christ, the emphasis on the physical suffering of Christ at times overshadows the spiritual significance of His death—His sacrifice for our sins, not just His suffering as an emotional spectacle.

3. The Temptation of Christ in Gethsemane: A Distortion of the Narrative

In the film, Satan appears physically in the Garden of Gethsemane, attempting to tempt Jesus to abandon His mission. This portrayal is not found in the biblical account and represents a significant departure from the scriptural narrative. The Bible does mention that Christ faced temptation during His time in the garden, but it does not depict Satan physically present. Instead, the struggle was internal, as Jesus wrestled with His will to submit to God’s plan of salvation.

Scripture:

  • Luke 22:42: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
  • Matthew 26:39: “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'”
    These passages show that Christ’s temptation in Gethsemane was a personal, spiritual struggle. There was no physical manifestation of Satan attempting to convince Jesus to turn away from His mission. By adding this fictional element, the film distorts the true nature of Christ’s submission to the Father’s will.

4. The Distorted Representation of Satan: The Child and the Female Form

The film also includes a disturbing and unscriptural image of Satan holding a child during the scourging scene. This bizarre portrayal has no basis in the Bible and misrepresents the nature of the enemy. Satan is never described in Scripture as holding a child or acting in a physical, human-like way. The depiction of Satan as a female figure is equally problematic, as the Bible makes no reference to Satan’s gender but rather focuses on his spiritual nature as a fallen angel.

Scripture:

  • Isaiah 14:12-15: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…'”
  • Revelation 12:9: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
    Satan is described as a fallen angel, a spiritual being, not as a human-like figure that can be portrayed holding a child or appearing in female form. This depiction in the film serves to add a layer of emotional, artistic interpretation that distorts the biblical nature of the enemy and detracts from the spiritual battle that Christ endured.

5. The Emotionalism of the Film: A Dangerous Distraction from the True Gospel

One of the most significant issues with The Passion of the Christ is its overwhelming emotionalism. The film focuses intensely on the graphic, physical suffering of Christ, aiming to elicit an emotional response from the viewer. While the physical suffering of Jesus is a key element of His passion, the core message of the Gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3), not that His suffering should provoke a certain emotional response. The film’s emotional appeal distracts from the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning death.

Scripture:

  • Isaiah 53:5: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
  • Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
    The true Gospel is centered on the substitutionary atonement of Christ for our sins. The emotionalism present in The Passion of the Christ shifts the focus from Christ’s spiritual victory and sufficiency to His physical suffering, which, while significant, is not the heart of the Gospel message. The true Gospel teaches that salvation is secured by Christ’s death, not by our emotional responses to His suffering.

6. The SSPX and Its Distortion of Scripture

The SSPX, led by figures like Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, adheres to a form of Catholicism that distorts Scripture by elevating the authority of the Church, the Pope, and Church traditions above the authority of the Bible. This results in the promotion of a gospel that involves works, sacraments, and human tradition, rather than salvation through faith in Christ alone.

One key example of how the SSPX distorts Scripture is its interpretation of the Eucharist. The SSPX teaches that the Eucharist is the literal body and blood of Christ, which is an essential means of grace for salvation. However, the Bible does not support the idea of the Eucharist being a literal reenactment of Christ’s sacrifice, nor does it state that participating in the Eucharist is necessary for salvation.

Scripture:

  • John 6:53-54: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.'”
    These verses are often cited by the Catholic Church to support the doctrine of the Eucharist, but the Bible is clear that Jesus is speaking metaphorically, not literally. The bread and wine represent Christ’s body and blood (Matthew 26:26-28), but salvation is through faith in His finished work, not through participating in a ritual.

Furthermore, the SSPX’s adherence to the “sacrifice of the Mass” is a direct contradiction to the biblical teaching that Christ’s sacrifice was once for all, not to be repeated. This distortion of the gospel adds an unnecessary human element to Christ’s finished work.

Scripture:

  • Hebrews 10:10-12: “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”
    The Bible teaches that Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all, and there is no need for further sacrifices through the Mass or any other ritual.

7. Another Gospel: A Warning from Paul

Ultimately, The Passion of the Christ represents another gospel—a gospel that is shaped by Catholic traditions, mystical visions, and emotional manipulation, rather than by the unchanging truth of Scripture. The Apostle Paul issued a stern warning about the danger of another gospel, one that deviates from the message of grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone.

Scripture:

  • Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
    Paul warns that any gospel which deviates from the grace of Christ is not the true gospel and should be rejected. The Passion of the Christ subtly promotes a gospel that is not rooted in Scripture but in Catholic traditions, mystical elements, and emotionalism. This “other gospel” leads people away from the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross and the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone.

Conclusion: Rejecting the False Gospel of The Passion of the Christ

In conclusion, The Passion of the Christ distorts the biblical gospel by aligning with Catholic tradition, promoting mysticism, and emphasizing emotionalism over the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. It presents a gospel that places undue focus on physical suffering, sacramentalism, and the authority of the Church, rather than on the clear biblical truth that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. As believers, we are called to stand firm in the true gospel, as Paul instructed in Galatians 1:8-9, and to reject any gospel that deviates from the unchanging Word of God. The true gospel is powerful enough to save without the need for mystical additions or emotional manipulation. Let us cling to that gospel and proclaim it with clarity and conviction.

By Miguel Hayworth 2025