Younger Patrons Will Need Parental Permission to See 'The Passion'
by Allie Martin
February 17, 2004
(AgapePress) - When Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ opens next week in one Mississippi town, organizers are going to make sure that no minors are allowed to view the R-rated film without parental permission.The movie opens on Ash Wednesday in theaters nationwide. In Amory, Mississippi, a businessman has rented the local cinema for a three-night rug. Scott Carter, area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is one of the organizers for the Amory showings. He says steps are being taken to ensure that teenagers see the movie with parental permission.
"In our advertisements, we have a permission slip that young people under 18 can tear out and get signed by a parent or guardian -- and they have that signed in order to get into the theater," Carter says. "And the flyers that we are handing out in the schools provide the permission slip, too. We just want to just honor the law and be good witnesses."
Carter believes the movie will be life-changing for many. That's why the FCA representative plans to give an altar call at the end of the movie.
"One thing you need to make people aware of, though, is that feeling sorry for Jesus is not salvation," he explains. "I think the one point that will have to be made in giving an altar call and explaining why Jesus went through what He went through, is that it was because of our sin. I think when we do that, then the Holy Spirit will be able to convict -- and that's when lives will be changed."
The movie received an R rating because of the graphic portrayal of the scourging and crucifixion of Christ. More than 200 free seats are available each night for the Amory showings.
Meanwhile, Associated Press reports that the manager of a museum in Jerusalem is concerned that those who go to see The Passion of the Christ will be needlessly traumatized by the graphic depiction of Jesus' crucifixion. Hanan Yapinto, who manages the Biblical Resources Centre, says his museum teaches about crucifixion without "all the gore of seeing the hours of suffering of someone on a cross."
In contrast, many organizers of local showings across the U.S. are saying that such a realistic depiction of Christ's death on the cross should be a graphic reminder of the suffering He endured for all mankind when He took the world's sin upon Himself.
