Ok. Ok. Here are my thoughts on The Passion
I first posted this here.
but since we are having such a passionate discussion here on it... i thought i'd share here too.

Just now while reading Rudy's blog it hit me why I'm frustrated with some of the buzz around this film. (not because of Rudy.. it just occured to me while i was reading his page)

Let me be clear first.
1. I'm excited to see this film. (or experience it as it seems everyone says these days.)
2. The diane sawyer interview and other "specials" has created space for a conversation to happen about Jesus. That is very cool. Frankly, great art and story always create space for conversation. It just happens that way.
Partnering great art with the world's hunger for all things true and it's a very cool conversation to be a part of.

HERE WE GO:
I've had a half dozen conversations with youth pastors or church members who have all heard something about it.
"It's Mel's hand that holds the nail!" "It's hard to sit through" or whatever.
As I'm taking inventory of myself these days and listening to the churches who are excited about it's release I'm inwardly wondering if we are more excited about this work of art, than the gospel itself. In other words. Is it easier to have a conversation about a movie than about jesus? Just a though I'm wrestling with today.

also.
I was an art minor in college. I love art, but I'm not a big fan of using art. I am using the word "USE" here in the same what a high school guy "uses" a young teen girl. High school boys have strong tendencies toward using girls for their own purposes. The church is notorious for using art. ok. look. Art speaks for itself. Great art has weight to it. You HAVE to notice it. It talks to you because it has a voice.



When you see Guernica by picasso you don't need an interpreter. You don't need any explainations on his thoughts on war. Saving Private Ryan? Writing by Chuck Palahniuk? A song by 100 portraits. The art speaks. it brings life.

more on Users.
This week we are going to see the unveiling of a wonderful new piece of art. in the form of a movie. And there are hundreds of thousands of people waiting outside the gallery where the work is shown to tell you what they think it means. Not only will they tell you what it meant for them... they will tell you what it should mean to you.

no thanks. not interested. Don't we understand? The art has a voice. Let the art speak. If you believe in God, let God meet you in the art. but please don't come to me with preprinted brochures using the artwork, fonts and images from the art to sell me something. It cheapens the story. It destroys the voice.

so let's not ravage beauty with our tracts, coffee mugs and preconceived ideas about how and how God might speak in and around this film.... and let's keep ourselves passionate about Jesus more than a movie.

thoughts?


posted by riddle at 1:44 PM | |