Insight - The Passion of the Christ

I have been asked by a number of parents whether they should take their children to see the movie The Passion of the Christ. So here are some of my thoughts-

• I saw the movie last night and was deeply moved at the sacrifice of the Lover of our Souls. It is an amazing movie and would encourage all adults to see it.
• There were times during the movie that I flinched in discomfort at the callousness of Jesus’ sufferings. I have over the years studied the writings Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, John Mattingly, John Lange and Frederick Farrar all who were men who themselves studied the merciless and cruelest details of the crucifixion of Christ. Yet thinking I would be prepared, I found the graphic scenes confronting and emotionally challenging.
• The movie is an extremely graphic, yet a relatively accurate portrayal of the 12 hours of Christ before his death on the cross and then his resurrection.
• The movie is so graphic that it was originally classified ‘R’ but has been reclassified MA15+ by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. This is one rating under ‘R’. Their definition of this rating is-
  MA15+ (Mature Accompanied) classification is a legally restricted category. Material classified MA15+ deals with issues or contains depictions that require a mature perspective. Persons under 15 cannot view or hire films or computer games classified MA15+ unless in the company of a parent or adult guardian.
• I have a number of friends who are highly respected youth pastors around Adelaide who have strongly recommended that children under 15 do not view the movie and that older teenagers should be fully prepared for the ‘visual assault’ they will be exposed to.
• Charles Swindoll the noted pastor and author will not take his spiritually mature 15 year old granddaughter as he feels ‘children’ have an innocence and love for Jesus which may be unnecessarily disturbed by viewing such a movie. He will suggest she watches it when she is ‘ready’.
• I know of adults who will not see the movie for the violence content. They have read the accounts of the flogging and crucifixion of Christ but they feel that to see the event may cause them a great deal of distress.
• On the other hand a headmaster of a Christian School in Adelaide has encouraged his students to view the movie as it shows how it was and we must allow the children to see the suffering He went through for us.
• My advice is consistent with all the advice I give- See the movie first and consider what the Holy Spirit is saying to you before you take your children.
• My personal opinion is that children develop a love and faith in the risen Christ and that exposure to the hideous and barbaric death of Jesus would be inappropriate, particularly for children under the age of 15. Each child is at a different level of maturity and it is really only you can make the appropriate decision for your family.
• As with all of these issues, it’s the stage and not the age. Some children may be able to watch the movie at the age of 16 and others will not.
• This calls for wisdom; which God grants generously when we ask. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

I hope this has been helpful,

Kym Golding
Principal