March 4, 2004 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

Following are some of the positive responses I have received in regard to my warnings about Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ.
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“Thank you so much for your writings about ‘The Passion of Christ’ (Mel Gibson's movie). Before it was ever released, I resolved in my heart that I likely would never see the movie (especially in the theaters). I'll admit to being tempted more than once to go see it; however, I haven't. And your writings have helped fuel that conviction every time I get them. I very much appreciate your work as always, and I am forever thankful for the encouragement provided by your writings in regards to this issue.”

“As Fundamental Baptists, we are saddened too at how many Fundamental Baptists have been supporting this terrible movie. We support you and agree one hundred percent with what you have had to report and to say about this movie, Brother Cloud. God Bless you for standing up for the Truth.”

“Your response to this movie is powerful and insightful. I intend to make copies of this letter and share with others who are also being swept away with emotion and passion rather than obeying the Lord and walking in faith not by sight. This is just another sign of the times and the nearness of His coming. May God richly bless you and your ministry of earnestly contending for the faith.”

“I have read your articles on The Passion and agree 100%. I can't believe that people are so easily duped. I have been saved only 10 years (a Saul/Paul type conversion ) and yet people I used to look up to in the Faith are now going on about how accurate this movie is. These are what used to be ‘conservative fundamental Baptists.’ I believe most of them go to the movies and watch lots of t.v. anyway by the topic of conversations I hear. Not many will engage in a conversation about Jesus Christ or the Bible as it really is. Most seem to like a Saddleback/laidback kind of gospel. I guess this shouldn't be a big surprise since we are warned about this kind of thing. It just seems so incredible to see how quickly it's all coming to be! Keep contending for the faith of Truth, Jesus Christ of the Holy Scriptures.”

“As a subscriber to your services, I’ve been following your writings on ‘The Passion’ and commend you for standing your ground. It’s a sad state of affairs when Christians blatantly step up to the plate to defend sin (idolatry in this case), and at the same time claim to stand up for what’s scripturally right. I believe that the defense of this particular production on the part of some Christians is indicative of Christianity’s overall failure to make a CLEAN and URGENT break from Hollywood; which would literally include throwing out the TV set, abandoning movie theaters, and abandoning video rental facilities altogether. May God help us all who are called by His name. We truly need revival. Thanks for your time.”

“God bless your for your stand against ‘The Passion for Another Christ’ and for the other controversial but Biblical stands you take in this hour of Fundamentalist Baptist apostasy.”

“I wish you could see and hear the message our Pastor preached on Wednesday night, February 25th, when the Mel Gibson movie came out. He preached the TRUTH of that Catholic mess and warned our people about going to see that thing! My heart is greatly burdened by so many who ‘refuse’ to live separated from the world in matters like this. Thanks for the e-mail and all the info...keep preaching the TRUTH!!”

“First of all thank you for all the information about Gibson's film on your web site. There can be no doubt that this film is a great deception, and a danger to the unsuspecting public and many Christians. The Christian church has pushed aside God's warning for too long concerning being unequally yoked together with pagan Roman Catholicism. This movie is the judgment of God upon them, a delusion to believe a lie. ... Where has spiritual discernment gone? After this film, where will they get their next emotional high? Make way for lying signs and wonders, the flood gates have opened. God Bless and strengthen in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

“Whew! That was quite a review! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Now how do we reach those evangelical radio preachers who are adamantly promoting this blasphemy? This would be too scary if God had not warned us that this would be the conditions of the last days. I hear nothing but compromise and heresy over this movie. Again, thank you for your faithful response to the Spirit of God who has given you boldness in such a time as this. I was beginning to think I was alone here. I for one appreciate the edification and encouragement of your ministry.”

“Knowing the Grace of God as I do I never felt right in my spirit about this movie, and knowing prophecy like I do I felt it would be used for evil, against the real issue. You really know your stuff and are very good in your summary of this movie.”

“Hi Brother Cloud. I want to commend you for your stance on this movie. I am one of the few people who do not support this movie. You are absolutely correct when you say that fundamental Baptists support this movie. I know a few fundamental Baptists and they support this movie despite the errors in it. They tell me to not look at the movie critically because I will not get as much out of it. Why ignore the errors in it, the Bible says that a little leaven spoils the whole lump. ... I agree with you that this movie is idolatrous. Years ago, I attended a Catholic private school, and at the time that was the only exposure to anything resembling Christianity. From that time, the Jesus I thought of was the one displayed on icons, pictures, and paintings of him. WHENEVER I PRAY TO GOD, I HAD THAT MENTAL IMAGE OF JESUS THAT WAS DEPICTED ON PAINTINGS. I KNOW THAT IS IDOLATRY. Like you, I am very disappointed that fundamentalists support this movie. The thought of seeing Catholics, Protestants, Baptists all praising this movie and being moved by it is disturbing because it is very ecumenical. Just like you said, they are unifying in spirit. ... I will use this movie as a subject to get into discussing the gospel with someone else, but that is as far as I will go. From there it will all be about the Bible.”

“Thanks SO VERY MUCH for your good Scriptural words about this movie. I'm surprised that Adrian Rogers has come out in favor of it--but then again, maybe I'm not! May the Lord bless you, Brother.”

“Thank you for taking the bold, biblical stand you do against this un-biblical, ungodly trash that is coming out of Hollywood in the ‘name’ of Christ. Just a thought for these new movie-goers in regard to false images. Til this day, when I boy my head in prayer, There comes into my mind the image of the picture hanging on the wall of JESUS that as a child I was used to seeing in the homes of many serious, honest, committed Christians! That is just the ‘tip of the ice berg’ to what this movie is going to do to the minds of the masses who see it. Thank you Bro. Cloud for doing such a straight forward, honest job in defending the TRUTH. I just wanted to let you know that We are very supportive of your stand.”

“Amen to what you have written here. It is just simply amazing the thought patterns present in professing fundamental Baptists today. Probably the reason many Baptist churches are changing the names of their churches today is because it no longer means anything!”

“Thank you for all the emails on ‘The Passion.’ I never gave the movie too much thought until it became an obsession with so many Christians and churches. Your emails clarify extensively why this film is very dangerous to believers and that this is nothing but a deception to lull many compromising Christians back to Rome. My brother's church, a Missouri Synod Lutheran church, purchased 150 tickets for their congregation to attend this Sunday's show. This is an amazing event, the Missouri Synod was always staunchly against anything to do with Rome; and now they buy tickets to a Catholic movie! Amazing! I have forwarded all your ‘Passion’ emails to every Christian friend I know and warned them against seeing this movie. From those emails, I have had only two friends supporting your position; the others are not responding--which doesn't surprise me. God is really doing some separating here, and most are following the path of worldly deception. The true Church of Jesus Christ is being revealed and it is not large in number; but numbers aren't important to God; just faith. He can work miracles through the few that remain and it is an honor to serve such a wonderful God. Thanks again for all your warnings and exhortations to watch and be aware of this and many other deceptions. Believers must know the truth!”

“I just wanted t say thank you for standing up for the Word of God and the truth it proclaims. I especially thank you for taking a stand against the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion. So many Christians are being duped into thinking this movie is all about Christ, they should stop to ponder where will all of the money this film is grossing go. I was offered an opportunity to see the film by another preacher and I turned it down. Over 15 years ago, I took a position that Christians have no business attending Hollywood movie theatres because of the industry it promotes, pornography, homosexuality, promiscuity, adultery and so forth. It would have been very hypocritical of me to accept the offer and attend, plus it may cause another brother or sister in Christ to stumble thinking that attending the movie house is acceptable. Thank you once again for taking a stand and it does my heart good to see that there are men of God such as yourself who are still contending for the faith.”

“Thank you very much for your bold and faithful stand! I have been enjoying your writings for several months and have been encouraged to be bolder in my Christian life and ministry. Thank you so much, God is using you greatly. I will be sending you an offering soon, should have done it much earlier. Stay at it. I took the information you had on Mel's movie and other information from news and review sights and printed up a small paper for our church ‘10 reason Bible believing Christians should oppose Mel's Passion.’ Wow what a response!”

“I want to thank you for your stand on the Mel Gibson movie. Except for my father, I know of no other pastor or preacher who is taking a stand against it. And I'm referring to ‘independent, fundamental Baptist churches.’ I was so concerned about the movie, I preached an entire sermon on it the Sunday before it was released. Most people received my teaching and warning but there were many who rejected it. It grieves me that so many lack so much discernment. I am grieved, not because of the ecumenical movement, but because of the lack of discernment among fundamental Baptists. Pastor friends of mine are endorsing the movie. One pastor I know attended the movie and then had a Sunday service dedicated to praising it. After that service they had a testimony time where those in the church who had seen it shared their praise of it. I agree with everything you have shared in your articles. I also gave out your articles to many people in our church. And I have to say that I'm not sure how my sermon would have been received without your comments. Some of our people were planning on going to see the movie but they respect you and your ministry and it was your first article that helped them see that what I was warning about was true. I agree that there are far too many pastors out there who aren't willing to take a stand on such things as this. But that is what churches need the most. A spineless pastor who doesn't stand for the truth because of fear will be nothing more than a hireling. I say that because I pastored for 1-1/2 years like that till God got a hold of my heart.”

“Brother, I can't say how thankful that I am to you for applying Biblical truth to this issue. Thank you for standing when so many have found it easier to do less. Your voice needs to be heard.”

“Although we may differ on some aspects of doctrine I do admire you on this defence of the scripture and the true meaning of faith. For faith cometh by hearing not by sight. Catholicism has never produce true believers so why should it start now. They have preached lies since their conception and they will continue to preach lies until the end. [Thank you for having] the spiritual audacity to stand against this deception of the last days.”

“Thank you for this thoughtful and timely rebuttal to what must seem like an never ending battle of basic understanding. You certainly enlightened me to a few things I didn't either know or fully understand and I thank you! It's sad to see so many people flocking to the movie to find some kind of ‘visual’ faith. Thank you for your news letter, it keeps me thinking.”

“I greatly appreciate your continued warnings regarding this film. Honestly, a couple of days ago I was wondering if any more warning on this subject was necessary. That is partly to say that you've done a great job and partly to say that I am realizing that the danger of the devil's using this to infiltrate has not lessened in the least. I have had a number of casual conversations with saved, somewhat (not sufficiently) separated people who are soft on this issue. Keeping in mind how precious your time is, if you would write more on this subject, I, for one, would NOT consider it to be overkill. People who should already know need to be reminded of the need to maintain a consistent Christian witness in conversation. Thank you for your efforts to exhort.”

“God Bless You David Cloud!!!”

“I would also like to encourage you in your work and thank you for taking the time you do, to study God's word and pass that knowledge onto others. I know that your teaching faces mostly rejection in these last days, but be assured that there are still many of us who thirst for the truth and knowledge of the Word of God and we appreciate the time you take as an instructor and teacher of righteousness.”

“I don't agree with [all of your] doctrines, but I value you as a dear brother who truly has a ministry in ‘separation’ (holiness) to the ‘true’ church, and I am so grateful to you and the Lord for your ministry, dear brother. Thank you. Your email service is such a blessing to us on so many issues, and certainly the Passion movie emails recently. I recommend your service to our Sunday School class. Please continue. We pray for you.”

“I am a United Methodist Church minister who wishes to extend a heart felt THANK YOU for the response you gave today regarding The Passion movie. I am horrified at the willing manner that our society is pulled from Scriptural truth to any sensuality that the world offers. This movie has pitted me as a minister against most of the Christian community in my association in a more hostile manner than all other denouncements of worldly sin that I have made as a Bible believing pastor. Your response is encouraging to say the least. May God continue to bless your ministry.”

“A reporter in Bakersfield, Calif., e-mailed me and said there was absolutely no opposition to the movie, ‘The Passion,’ in the entire Kern County. Note: There are three Bible Baptist churches and two others listed as independent, fundamental Baptist in the telephone book. Thank you for watching and warning, Brother Cloud!”

“I am a ‘Bible believing’ Baptist pastor trying to lead my flock in a godly, Biblical way. We are probably on the same page on most issues; our differences are not the point of this e-mail. The point is; I am in 100% agreement of your thoughts on the Passion movie. I preached about the movie last Sunday eve, and I appreciated the information found in your newsletter. Taking a stand for righteousness, and ecclesiastical separation in this carnal society is not popular, not easy, and certainly not well received, but it is right. I just wanted to write to commend you and let you know I'm ‘in your corner’ on this issue. Thanks for your research and your stand for righteousness; it's not in vain in the Lord; and not unappreciated by me.”

“I am a fundamental Baptist who unfortunately saw the movie---I have since repented of seeing it. I sat in the theater on Ash Wed. surrounded by Catholics with ashes on foreheads, and I watched them as they adored every aspect of the movie. There was nothing in the movie which would convict them about the heretical apostate church in which they are a part of. The movie actually reaffirms the heresies. Mary WAS conveyed by Gibson as having special divine powers and knowledge. She moved to a specific place and lay on the floor of the temple with her head on the stones because she sensed the presence of the character Jesus chained underneath the floor. She could ‘feel’ where he was. Also, when anyone referred to her in the movie they always used the word ‘Mother,’ with a capital ‘M.’ She was also the only other character, aside from the character of Jesus who could see the character ‘satan.’ When the character of Jesus was being whipped and tortured at various different times, he would look into Mary's eyes and then he would somehow regain the strength needed to continue on. Before the Jesus character spoke to John from the cross regarding his mother, Mary walked up to the cross and said ‘flesh of my flesh, heart of my heart, please let me die with you.’”