| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ( C ) VALIDATION OF OTHER PEOPLE – PT. 1 One of the problems which undermine Mr. Gibsons’ claims of Holy Ghost involvement, ( and thus make disingenuous any implied connections between Mr. Gibsons' film and claims of conversions to Christianity during the production of his film ), are the reported actions and statements whereby Mr. Gibson felt he needed the validation and approval of what other people and evangelical Christian leaders thought and concluded about his film. Had the actual Holy Spirit himself truly been “ working through Mr. Gibson “, if the Holy Spirit truly had been the directing guidance for the film, then there is absolutely no need for Mr. Gibson to be seeking approval and validation from the audiences of his film. Regardless of who that audience is, Christian leaders or not, good press or bad press. Audiences have the freedom and the right to voice their remarks, advice and comments. That freedom is not my contention. But Mr. Gibson should never have been personally looking for audience approval and acceptance. Mr. Gibsons’ actions and mindset are uncharacteristic for someone to be claiming direct involvement of the Holy Spirit. So in what manner was he seeking audience approval ? First of all, there are reports that he brought the film to what is considered to be a national hub of evangelical Christianity, Colorado Springs, to be viewed by the leaders of Focus on the Family as well as hundreds of other church leaders such as Ted Haggard, ( the pastor of New Life and president of the National Evangelical Association ), for the purpose of making sure that the films’ depiction of the Gospel was acceptable to such leaders, ( http://www.daveblackonline.com/gibson.htm http://atheism.about.com/b/a/003520.htm ). The film was reviewed by what one article called " pastors renowned in Christian circles for pioneering evangelization techniques. " Pastors such as Rev. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church and Bishop Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church including well known Rev. Rick Warren at Saddleback Church ( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1080943/posts ). Folks, if the Holy Spirit of God is working through you to relay the message of the Gospel to people, then there is no justified reason of any kind to be seeking an approval from your audiences regarding how well you have truthfully portrayed that holy message. Just give the message and let the Holy Spirit do His work. Secondly, if the Holy Spirit of God is working through you to give the Gospel message to people, then there is again no justified reason to be concerned if your message is depicting the Gospel in an acceptable and truthful manner. It really should be needless to say that the Holy Spirit makes certain of the integrity and truthfulness of the Gospel message being presented; 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. - John 14:26 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. - John 15:26-27 13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. - John 16:13-14 The Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, testifies of Christ. He will not present any other Gospel message but that which is recorded in holy scripture. He will not cause you, the born-again child of God, to present any other Gospel but that which is clearly recorded in holy scripture. The Holy Spirit is sufficiently capable of helping you and I to faithfully and truthfully share the good news of Jesus Christ. Therefore, if the Spirit of Truth were truly guiding and directing Mr. Gibsons' Passion movie then there should not be any justified reason for Mr. Gibson to have sought approval of his audiences, nor should he have sought approval of Christian leaders regarding how he depicted the Gospel. In another report, Mr. Gibson is said to have enlisted the counsel of pastors and theologians regarding his film and has received rave reviews, ( http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33461 ). The reports of Mr. Gibsons’ decision to have his Passion film validated and approved by evangelical Christian leaders is a decision and action which proves to be an unscriptural motive and activity. Had the Holy Ghost been working through Mel Gibson on the Passion film then there is no valid or justifed reason for Mr. Gibson to be seeking the counsels and acceptance of any person as to the film being theologically accurate and in complete agreement with the gospel accounts regarding the hours surrounding Christs’ crucifixion as established in holy scripture. Therefore, Mr. Gibsons’ efforts in this matter undermines and proves false his claims of direct involvement of the Holy Spirit. Whenever the Holy Spirit of God is guiding us to do or to speak a certain thing then we do not need any persons’ approval or acceptance of what we have been directly instructed of the Holy Spirit to do and speak. In addition to these things, after the film debuted in America, I came across two Catholic websites which are promoting a book, a book which the website information claims to have been the basis for the film and the advertised book isn’t the Bible. The URLs for the websites are: http://newadvent.catholiccompany.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=2739 and http://www.getfed.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=2739. Had the Holy Spirit of God truly been the guidance and direction of Mr. Gibsons’ film then He would not have used the book written by 18th century Catholic mystic nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich or any other book for that matter, theological, mystical or otherwise. Holy scripture is a sufficient spiritual record, in and of itself, which faithfully speaks the truth regarding Christs' sacrifice for the sins of sinful mankind. ----------------------------------------------------- |
| A - Holy Ghost working through me B - Scriptural Examination C - Validation of other people - Pt. 1 D - Validation of other people - Pt. 2 / other source material |