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So, How Do We Respond to Mel Gibson Now?

So... I'm sure you've heard of Mel Gibson's recent DUI arrest, and some of what he allegedly said during his time with police. After so many church leaders helped promote "The Passion of the Christ", how are we to respond now? Tim Woody says it better than I ever could at his Minister's Corner blog. Tim writes...

A few years ago, most of us spiritual leaders strongly supported Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ. Now we have a problem. The creator of this motion picture made some huge moral mistakes.

Not only did Mel Gibson violate the law (drunk driving), but he allowed some very harsh and unsavory words to flow from his lips. It’s all out in the press, and he is being attacked on all fronts.

So, what do we as ministers do now? Do we throw out our copies of The Passion of the Christ? Do we publicly rebuke Mel? Do we move into attack mode and condemn him? Do we pretend like it never happened? These are all legitimate questions...all of which I’ve spent some time thinking through. So...I’m going to attempt to answer each of these questions:

Do we throw out our copies of The Passion of the Christ?
Of course not! That motion picture is simply a compilation of biblical, historical and traditional information concerning the final twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ. If God can use a donkey to speak for him, He can use Mel Gibson...and me for that matter. The gospel is the gospel, regardless of the source.

Do we publicly rebuke Mel? Do we move into attack mode and condemn him?
I don’t think so. He isn’t a part of my ministry, and he has already (at the time of the publishing of this article) apologized and requested forgiveness for his sin. Think about this, Jesus didn’t even publicly rebuke Peter for publicly cursing and denying him. Peter went on to author part of the New Testament.

Do we pretend like it never happened?
I don’t think that this is wise either, but we need to handle the situation with grace. I’m certainly not quite ready to use my church platform and television program to speak out on the issue because there is likely much more that will unfold in the days ahead. Instead, my approach at this time is to talk openly about this issue in small group settings, in my writings, and in personal conversations. People are looking to us for answers, and we need to use the wisdom God has given to us to respond appropriately.

A Closing Thought:
Honestly, I’m deeply disappointed, saddened and feel violated for what Mel did and said. What was in his heart came out of his mouth, and that truly hurts me as a believer and a spiritual leader.

What we must do, though, is to pray for him that God will bring healing to his heart and life through this tragedy. I don’t like what he said at all, but he is my brother in Christ.

The Bible tells us that the world will know us (believers) by our love for one another. Will the world see love? Will they be able to identify us as believers as we respond to the Mel Gibson mess?

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This post has been viewed 905 times and was added on August 02, 2006 by Todd Rhoades.
Filed under: Engaging Culture  Current Events and the Church  
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 TRACKBACKS: (0) There are 21 Comments:
  • Posted by

    Excellent, thank you, of course let’s act as Jesus would have.  I don’t even feel this is much of an issue...he’s human, no surprise...Except that the world might be watching closely for our response so let’s be quick to show them our love for one another!

  • Posted by

    The author feels “violated”?  Wow!  Guess he felt closer to Mel than I did.  I mean, it’s disappointing, yes - but unless you’re Jewish, I’m thinking that “violated” might be a little bit over the top.  It’s funny how easy it is to embrace someone’s gifts, and how hard it is to embrace their humanity…

  • Posted by Jonathan

    Good article, although the author could have just come out and said it:
    We need to be quick to forgive.  ESPECIALLY when there is repentance.

    THAT is what will shock the condemners in the media most (and is the most powerful apologetic for the American Church).

  • Posted by

    I’m not sure what is in the heart came out.

    Someone who struggles with alcohol, in my experience, often spouts things that are not necessarily true or even in their heart when they are in a drunken state.

    If he is truly repentant, then sure, I forgive him, but that’s easy for me to do, he didn’t offend me.

  • Posted by

    I like the avenue that the anti-defamation league, and a local synagogue are taking… they have accepted his apology at face value, and have invited him to speak at one of their gatherings…

    too often the evangelical church runs away when one that we champion screws up… I hope that we can learn from our Jewish brothers.

  • Posted by kent

    Hmmm. Got drunk, drove his car, said stupid and crass things. Well he has lots of company from our community. I am sure some of those here have claimed Christ. Has Mr. Gibson asked for forgiveness? Then he is ahead of the majority in my community. If Christ has forgiven him, the Jewish community has forigven him, then it is a non story. He has done nothing to me or my congregation. I pray that he learns from this and moves on. I have.

    And not to be too unkind, but I will take two of this events over televangelists who shill for cash.

  • Posted by

    "Do we throw out our copies of The Passion of the Christ?
    Of course not! That motion picture is simply a compilation of biblical, historical and traditional information concerning the final twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ. If God can use a donkey to speak for him, He can use Mel Gibson...and me for that matter.”

    Jesus was pretty clear on this one..."If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” Luke 17:3

    What’s funny about this whole piece in the news is how this is going to affect his career.  First he was going to be black-listed for being so open about his faith, and now he’s going to be black-listed for being as vulgar as everyone else in Holywood… er, I mean Hollywood.

  • Posted by

    Randy makes a very good point that the kind of forgiveness (70x7) is not dependent upon the repentance (or even acknowledgment) of person in need of it (while we were yet sinners . . . Christ died).

    The Jewish people who were offended by Gibson’s comments may not see Jesus as the appropriate model.  However, God certainly modeled grace throughout the OT in His response to the continued sin of the children of Israel.  And though He always asked for caution in regard to their interactions with the pagan nations (lest they be influenced away from God), He expected them to show grace to the alien and foreigner and sojourner (as Gibson is to the people he offended), because God showed them grace when they were the same.  It seems to me that both Yahweh and Jesus are good examples here.

    And on a practical note, to those who keep asking the question “Say I’m sorry isn’t enough” What exactly else is he supposed to do???

    Wendi

  • Posted by

    You cannot say that his anti-Semitism did not influence the movie. That doesn’t mean throw it out, but Mel’s gospel had previously essentially been placed on a level with Paul and James… scripture, just in film instead of a book, to be believed as a matter of faith.  Forgiveness should be automatic, but so should a realization that every single one of us brings bias to the table because of the sinners we are.

  • Posted by

    My Pleasure, Randy.
    :0

  • Posted by

    Ok, I think this is sad, but does not suprise me.  The man has been in some pretty bad movies.  The movie payback, comes to mind.  I don’t doubt that Mel Gibson believes their is a God, but I have never thought he knew him personally as his Savior even after “The Passion,” came out.  So no suprise, I never thought he was a Christian.  But I think some events have taken place in his life that maybe someday he might be.  As for forgiveness from me, he does not need it.  He did not wrong me, but God.

  • Posted by

    Mel is an Actor!  And a pretty good one at that.  His “lifestyle” however has never been one that any Christian should emulate.  Ok, but he shouldn’t be burned at the stake either! 

    He, and his family, should be prayed for and hopefully he will repent to the Lord, seek his forgiveness and leave his life of sin.  I for one would love to see that and will be praying for that end!

  • Posted by

    Does anyone know what Mel Gibson believes and why he believes it?

    Perhaps sharing The Gospel is in order.

    Getting drunk and saying and doing stupid things is nothing new - examples in scripture reveal that.  John the Baptist lost his head because of it.

    The Gospel changes a man from the inside out..

    Mel Gibson if you come across this post, please take a moment and give favorable consideration to the following:

    God in the Bible accounts for blood.  Funny thing about blood is you can’t live without it.  A machine can keep a person alive if the mind is dead.  The same is true with the heart but without blood in the body, the flesh cannot live.

    God requires blood for sin because the life is in the blood and sin takes away life - removes it.

    Consider three men who own cattle, one man owns a million, another man a thousand and another one hundred.  Consider God, instead of allowing (through Grace) a sacrifice to be made for the sins of the nation once a year, required a sacrifice for every sin, every time, immediately.

    How long would it take the person with one hundred cattle to have to sell his belongings, house and even family and self to purchase more cattle to sacrifice for his sins?

    How long before the man with a thousand or even the man with a million?

    The law revealed that man is truly a slave to sin.  This was the purpose of the law.

    Sacrificing by works will never set us free only enslave us more to the point of bitterness.

    Mr. Gibson, Christ came to set us free, FREE indeed from the slavery of sin. BUT consider next time you sit down at the table, bar or seat and you eyeball the drink - sin is crouching at the door BUT it no longer costs you the blood of an animal but the Blood of Christ.

    In your movie The Passion you clearly portrayed the brutality of Christ’s beatings - he WILLINGLY suffered this to give His Blood so that you and I could be set free from the burden of sacrifice.  All He asks in return is for us to sacrifice ourselves daily and to flee evil - get up from the table, bar or chair and flee the temptation.

    If we fall, know this, His Blood was already FREELY given and you are forgiven… but don’t be afraid to allow it to break your heart open for committing the sin because this leads to a deep understanding of the Sacrifice He made and TRULY being thankful for that Eternal Sacrifice.

    Cover this error with the Blood of Christ and have a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 34 & 51); be utterly thankful.  If you Believe, Believe He died, Rose again and Lives and rest in the Blood that covers you for Eternity.

  • Posted by

    I think people should get a thicker skin. Whatever Mel said good or bad remember he was drunk. People say alot of things they don’t mean when they are drinking.

    Christians are in the fireing line of comments everyday and and we don’t started screaming people are anti-christian. People are to quick to scream discrimanating instead of looking at the whole picture.

  • Posted by

    Jade,

    I don’t think that it is our place to judge whether Mel Gibson, or anyone else for that matter, is a Christian or not. That is a matter for only God to judge. Mr. Gibson has publicly claimed that Jesus Christ is his personal Lord and Savior, but whether he “actually” is or not is only for God to know and decide. In my opinion, it is very wrong for us as Christians to judge our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ by saying that they aren’t really Christians because they stumble and make mistakes. Yes, Mr. Gibson’s recent mistakes were very wrong and horrible ones, but he has been bought with a price and saved by Grace - as we all have been. Every single one of us has done some pretty stupid things in our lives, and I would venture to say that most of them were after we came to know Jesus. So, don’t you think that we owe Mr. Gibson, and all of our brothers and sisters who’ve messed up, the same grace that we would want in the event that we should stumble? I am not at all saying that we need to dismiss what he has done and said, but what I am saying is that we as Christians should be known for our love for one another and lift our fellow followers of Christ up as Jesus Himself has done for us and has charged us to do until His return so that they can repent, be healed and be brought back to the arms of our Heavenly Father. Plus, it seems pretty silly to me to pronounce judgement on Mr. Gibson just because he has been in some “pretty bad movies.” Did you not watch “Payback” or some of his other movies yourself? What’s the difference between watching them and being in them? I don’t believe that any of the advertising for any of his movies have been misleading. Let me finish by saying that we are all on a journey through this life to discover who we are in Christ, and as fallable human beings we are bound to mess up along the way. In light of Mr. Gibson’s public profession of Jesus and his two very public and humbling apologies, we should extend to him the same grace that we would want lest we make any mistakes and that Jesus demonstrated to us - as we should for any of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We should never flipantly dismiss anyone as someone who wasn’t really a Christian anyway when they fall down - especially when we all fall and sin and will continue to do so until we meet our Creator in Eternity.

  • Posted by

    On “Janet Parshall’s America” (Christian talk show), Janet had a Christian friend of Mel Gibson’s who presented her with Mel’s apology for the press, which he said was “the most repentive ever heard” by a celebrity or official.  Not only did Mel call to meet with Jewish leaders to formally apologize in person, but his friend also stated that Mel has close friends who are Jewish, which deeply sorrows Mel that he could’ve offended them.  He is not only was going for treatment for his alcohol, but he is going to introspect how words like this could’ve come out of his mouth.  He mentioned that Mel’s dad was prejudiced.  Mel is now seeking the support of his family and is deeply troubled by his comments and behavior.  I know this doesn’t make it alright now, but merely give insight into the situation, and possibly mercy.  I know the devil uses temptation to sin in the worst possible circumstance, and that can be a problem even sober!  Janet Parshall asked for prayers for Mel Gibson.  (It was broadcast this past weekend on WTBN AM.)
    Amy in Tampa

  • "So, How Do We Respond to Mel Gibson Now?”

    I’d say to treat him like any Catholic… give him the gospel.  I’m glad someone shared with me when I was a Catholic.  Anyone who thinks that the Catholic faith doesn’t corrupt the gospel doesn’t know much about Catholic doctrine such as Penance (not to be confused with “repentance") and Indulgences… to name just two issues… Catholicism is legalism:

    Romans 3:21
    But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

    In the Catholic system, you can go to hell for skipping Mass, since it’s a mortal sin… just to illustrate the legalism of it… Yes- it’s still taught in the Catholic catechism book…

    ...Bernie

  • Posted by

    just a quick thought that might be a little off topic but one the bugs me to no end.  Semitic people are not Jewish people but all poeple who desend from semitic culture - Arabs from the Middle East are semitic people, they speak a semitic language and come from a semitic culture.  Therefore to be anti-semitic is not only to be anti-jewish but also anti Arab and anti anyone from a semtic culture.  I know this is a common mistake but we should educate ourselves.  Thanks for letting me rant for a moment.

  • Pastor Dan said:
    “Therefore to be anti-semitic is not only to be anti-jewish but also anti Arab and anti anyone from a semtic culture. “

    Also, I believe if Father Abraham were alive today, he would be called an Iraqi (Since he came from Ur which is in Mesopotamia).  Here’s a write-up on it:

    http://www.bibleandscience.com/bible/books/genesis/ur.htm
    and
    http://i-cias.com/e.o/mesopotamia.htm

    Remember that when you take sides in the Israeli conflict.  These people are/should all be brothers.

    ...Bernie

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