Words of caution to myself: Movie, “Son of God”

Mar 13:22    For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Old John Gill writes...to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect; who were chosen in Christ, unto eternal life; in consequence of which they truly believed in him, and were constant followers of him; but this was not possible: though such was the force of their deception, that there was apparent danger of it, were it not for the power and grace of God; See Gill on Mat 24:24.

I am sure many of us will see this movie. And like all modern media, I am certain that truth and good can be found within it's boundaries. Because of the increasing power of the media and visual imagery, there is a great need for caution. We can be easily and subtly influenced or even manipulated.

My own caution to myself is.....Religion is now a big business, our religion leaders, have built a network to interactively support this publishing, media, mega-church, etc. structure. They do use the Bible, but we must look carefully at how literally and correctly they use the Bible, historically and in context. Testing everything....looking for what is subtly left out or added in.  This is more difficult when one really hasn't studied the Bible itself. Most people don't want to look critically.

In the article below just this one quote is enough to concern me.

Downey’s husband, “The Voice” and “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett, said the Christian filmmaking team reached out specifically to other faiths to tell the story of the life of Jesus . . . without causing offense.

But I note in the Bible...the Gospel is offensive....so much so people are persecuted, stoned, killed in many ways in many times for preaching it.....

There is a place for peacemakers....

Mat 5:9    Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

But also one of telling the whole truth and paying the cost of doing so.

Mat 5:10    Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:11    Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Mat 5:12    Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Mat 5:13    Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Mat 5:14    Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:15    Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mat 5:16    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 5:17    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18    For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Mat 5:19    Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:20    For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 7:13    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14    Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat 7:15    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

2Ti 4:1    I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2Ti 4:2    Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2Ti 4:3    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4    And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2Ti 4:5    But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Pray that God will use the movie to turn his elect to the truth. Pray that many will be led to read the Bible themselves so that it becomes embedded in their heart. Pray that the whole Word of God comes thought.

Take to heart what Paul said in Philippians...

 Php 1:12    But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happenedunto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Php 1:13    So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all otherplaces;

Php 1:14    And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Php 1:15    Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

Php 1:16    The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

Php 1:17    But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Php 1:18    What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Pray that the Christ that is "preached", in movie Son of God is the real Christ of the Bible.

Revelation 1:8 John Gill

I am Alpha and Omega,.... These are the words of Christ himself, appearing at once, and confirming what John had said of him, concerning his person, offices, and future coming: Alpha is the first letter, and Omega the last in the Greek alphabet, and signifies that Christ is the first and the last, as it is interpreted in Rev1:11, and is a character often given to the divine Being in prophetic writings; see Isa 41:4; and is no small proof of the proper deity of Christ. Alpha is used by the Jews for the chief of persons or things,

Of concern is man's desire to recreate God in man's own image and likeness, our desire to make a Jesus that is based our own desires and ideas taken from all human understanding and ultimately from all religions.

We can rest assured that God is sovereign and what His will is for this movie will be done.

But Like Nancy Pelosi said "we will have to wait to it is released to see what is in it".

Note perhaps read the Roger Oakland note on The Passion of the Christ also.

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=14764

(Note: I don't necessarily endorse all these bloggers say here or otherwise but find their perspective useful for clarifying this side of the hype about the movie, as all groups they can have their own agendas)