March 16, 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 even more of the interesting and positive responses I have received in regard to my warnings about Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ. For the first two sets of positive responses see “Positive Responses to My Warnings about Mel Gibson’s Movie” and “More Positive Responses to My Warnings about Mel Gibson’s Movie” at the Way of Life web site: http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/melgibson-thepassionofthechrist/

“Thank you for the straight-to-the-point, accurate teaching on this topic. I have read -- with joy -- the many positive feedback messages you have received for your principled, Godly counsel and instruction regarding this pernicious piece of celluloid. I, sadly, was taken in by the hype and viewed the film on Opening Day. At first, I was intrigued by the images I saw. The film is definitely ‘art-sy’ and has an appealing ‘look’. But as soon as all the Mary beatification started (and was subsequently crammed down my (our) throat), I became increasing disengaged. ... I have even heard that the pastor and the assistant pastor of my independent Baptist church are waiting for the film's release on DVD to take it in. My advocacy for them (and everyone else who will hear me on this subject) will be to just stay away. The film is about ‘another Christ’ based on ‘another Gospel’. I'm so sorry I had anything to do with it but hope to turn my self-inflicted wounds into some positive by sounding a clear warning. Keep up the good work. I am so thankful for the impact your ministry has had on/in my life.”

“I so much appreciate all that you have writing about this movie. I have right from the beginning taken the position that I don't even want to see it as it is blasphemous and would hurt my faith. I cannot believe that any person would have the gall to personify the Lord Jesus in whatever play or movie. It is dishonoring to the Lord. ... My church is having a special meeting with people that went and see it to discuss what their experiences are. The pastor was very impressed and encouraged the people to go and see it. Please keep up the work you are doing. It is a great encouragement to me. I feel lonely in the church where I seem to be an odd ball. With deep respect and love for you my brother in Christ.”

“Gibson stated in an interview that he did add and delete what he wanted when making this film and he did not make a ‘Christian’ film per se. It seems to me he was quite up front about all that and even stated he took poetic license. He is a film maker. What I don't understand is why Christians are taking this film that is not Biblical and embracing it as though it is God's word (and work)? Why are we so pitiful and needy? Is this really deception or is it a case of not knowing nor caring what the Word of God says? I don't see the problem to be with Gibson (I expect Catholicism from him) but with pastors encouraging and paying for members to see this film. Thanks for your articles.”

“I just wanted to send encouragement and thanks for the clear stance you have made against the God-dishonoring film the Passion. ... I praise the Lord for your stand and pray you keep standing and I hope that those that test and discern your writings against Holy Scripture will hold your tired arms up as they held Moses' arms up in obedience to God.”

“Thanks for exposing the movie of Mel Gibson. Praise God for your Biblical stand, uncompromising position and speaking the truth in love for such as time as this. May your tribe increase. You're like Elijah in King Ahab's time. God bless”

“Thank you so much for all your work on every topic that you present to people. Thank you for your solid stand for truth -- we can see that you are more concerned for the truth than you are for man's "feelings" and we are blessed to know that there is someone out there who is still standing. From the beginning, we knew that our people would not stand for this Mel Gibson movie and yet your material has been presented to them and they appreciate it that our church is taking a firm stand against sin. Thank you for all your work and for standing for God.”

“Thanks for your repeated warnings about ‘The Passion.’ I was concerned about this movie before it was released. ... My wife and I went to see the movie. ... I actually downloaded ‘Dolorous Passion’ from a Catholic web site so I could compare it with the script. The movie is from the ‘visions’ of Anne Emmerich, and not the Bible. It uses enough of the Biblical text to fool or confuse people who are not well read in the Bible, but it deviates from Scripture so far that I actually watched it like I would a fiction movie, and not a Biblical narrative. It was a bad docudrama. Sadly, many Christian ministries disagree with my evaluations and think this can be used as a great tool. If the ‘Holy Spirit’ directed this as Mel and many of his evangelical friends claim, it is the first time I have seen the Holy Spirit concoct a lie to use as a great tool for evangelism. The ‘Passion’ begins by changing the Gospel accounts of Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. I was immediately reminded that Satan's FIRST lie was in another Garden 6,000 years ago and his intention was not to give us a tool to ‘reach the lost,’ but his lie was to delude us into bringing God's judgment upon us because we rejected the Word of God. The movie definitely should have been rated ‘R.’ Partly for the violence displayed in the physical tortures, but mostly for its dark and vicious assaults on the Word of God. ... Thanks again and God bless.”

“Mr. Cloud, I compiled the attached list of comparisons between Mel Gibson's movie and Anne Catherine Emmerich's book. I thought it may interest you as it shows the true inspiration behind this movie.” [The link to this research is http://www.challies.com/archives/000197.html ]

“And to think, ABC ran the movie Judas today. Don't tell me the RCC has changed. The actor of Judas sounded just like the actor of Jesus and the RCC wrote this one too. Praise God for your brilliant work.”

“I went to see the movie with my wife and two other men from the church. ... It was not a pleasurable experience for me by any means. In fact, I wasn't feeling well physically the night I went to see it. The feeling of the 4 of us after seeing the movie was that Jesus was portrayed as being weak. I don't want to down play the suffering the Lord actually faced. Being fully human He did feel excruciating pain. He did get help to physically carry the cross. ... As far as how Caviesel's character handled the suffering, I will make one comment in particular. At times the character seemed almost incoherent, as if he didn't know what was going on. I cannot imagine Jesus being incoherent in His sufferings. The words He spoke from the cross prove that He was fully in control of His faculties. This may be a bit nit-picky, but that was my impression from the movie. This brings up, perhaps the most important issue. Can anyone accurately portray the sufferings of Christ? We don't know what His facial expressions were as He hung on the cross. We can only guess. That is dangerous. I personally have a conviction against any visual portrayals of Christ. I think they are misleading at best, and idolatrous at worst. MEL GIBSON'S MOVIE WAS A 'VIDEO-CRUCIFIX'.”

“I am writing a review of ‘The Passion of the Christ’ for the school newspaper and if they print it there will most likely be a severe response. I did not know how bad the film was when I went to see it. Few pastors issued any kind of warning about it. After listening to several sermons on www.sermonaudio.com as well as reading articles, many from your website, I see I was wrong. I have repented of it.”

“Thank you for the wonderful job you have done in addressing this issue. The Lord has used the emails to help me in addressing this topic. As you and others have written, there is a tremendous amount of evidence why we should stay clear of this movie, and warn others of it's danger and error, and I want to thank you! I really have enjoyed the emails I have received on a variety of topics. Thank you for taking a stand! May the Lord continue to bless you, and this wonderful ministry to which you give so much time!”

“I am sickened by what is happening. Yet I rejoice in the Lord. It is all so cheap, these imitations and deceptions of Satan. Thank you, Brother Cloud. From a friend and brother in Christ.”

“Hello Brother Cloud. I've read you for a few years or more. You are a man with a deep reverence for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You are a good writer, diligent worker, and communicator of the truth. ... I knew from the beginning that I would not see the movie, ‘Passion.’ I do not wish to have an image or images that seem to be meant to produce guilt -- for the image!”

“Thanks for speaking out about it. Seems you're one of only a few lone voices sounding the warning. Everyone else is so enthralled by it they have suspended their beliefs and traded it for a pack of cleverly designed lies. The fact that just as many Christians as lost men are among them is even scarier than the deceitful power of the movie itself! It's a sad day when Christians can be so easily manipulated and tripped up. We're in trouble!”

“This movie is clearly Marian (Mel Gibson in a Christianity Today article even said so and was surprised Evangelicals would like this movie). God bless you in your endeavour to warn people and to contend for the faith.”

“According to God's Word Mel Gibson is now a man that has the plagues of God on him according to Revel 22:18. And not only him but all those who have endorsed his movie after seeing it. ... God is not mocked. God Bless and strengthen in Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

“Whatever you or I may think of this movie it has achieved at least one thing. After visiting several message boards where the movie is being discussed I have found that the passion is being very instrumental in bringing Catholics and Protestants to be more ecumenically united. And there are Catholics going to the message boards with the purpose of converting Protestants to the Roman Catholics religion. I have seen also where it is bringing some fallen away Catholics back to the Catholic church. The Catholic church is also taking advantage of the movie to evangelize and bring Protestants to the Catholic religion.”

“I am still on your site, reading now about Mel Gibson's ‘Passion’ movie. Thank you again for helping me to see and understand better!”

“Dear Bro. Cloud -- once again, thanks loads for your many informative and inspiring articles, especially the ones warning against compromise. I am thrilled that the Lord has raised someone up with the mission of encouraging fundamental churches and preachers to steer away from apostate tendencies. Your articles on the movie ‘Passion of Christ,’ are most enlightening. I have used them much in my ministry of preaching, teaching, etc.”

“Brother Cloud, firstly, I want to thank you for all the articles you send out. I'm thinking especially right now of the mailings for ‘The Passion.’ Your insight, as usual, is most timely, Biblical, and appreciated.”

“Hello, Brother Cloud. You have really helped get a warning out about this movie that seems to continue to grow in acceptance.”

“I thank you for the stand you have taken concerning ‘The Passion of Christ.’ At first, I thought about viewing the movie, but then realized I would have to go to a movie theater to do so. As I have learned more about the movie, I agree that the movie is no more than ‘catholic movie’ directed by a catholic for a catholic (worldly) audience. This apparently includes the new evangelicals. I take a strong stance against the RCC and believe that the RCC is the great whore spoken of in Revelation Ch. 17. The devil has certainly sent us strong delusions and is gaining popularity in the world.”

“read with much interest and agreement your articles relating to the Passion movie. Thank God for your boldness and adherence to the Word of God. I will pray for you for I know there will be persecution, at least verbal persecution. I cannot believe the multitude of pastors who are jumping on the band wagon with Roman Catholicism. God must be grieved for sure. Keep up the good work for our Lord.”

“I am a mother of three, with two teen-aged boys. My boys attend an Independent Baptist school, where they took bus loads of kids to the movie during school hours. It was unbelievable. Before the movie had even come out, my husband and I explained to our boys why we would not be supporting the movie-- and why they weren't allowed to see it. The reviews on your website have helped me explain to them just what is wrong about it. I have also read many other things and I have been greatly encouraged. Thanks again. May the Lord Bless you and your ministry.”

“A pastor of a fundamental, independent King James Only church here in New York City recently encouraged his congregation to go see the Passion movie. In fact, he plainly told them that they all need to go see it. I know because I was in the service when he said it. He saw the movie last weekend. What was his take on the film? That God has allowed this movie to be made specifically for the body of Christ as some sort of wake up call or reminder to get back to its first love. In other words, the church has come to the place in history where the Lord had to take a lost Roman Catholic Hollywood actor, lost pornographic movie stars, a movie based on Roman Catholic mythology and modern day Madison Avenue marketing in order to get a message across. That's what this pastor was saying. The Lord sure must be getting desperate. The preacher flat out said that he didn't care what anyone's opinion of the movie was or about the reputation of the actors in the film. Just that all of his members needed to go see it because it was of God. When I brought up the many negative points about the movie he shrugged his shoulders and brushed it off.”

“As a pastor I have been preaching against this movie. I have greatly been educated by your emails. I have also been asked by many people when I was going to see the movie and I explained to them why I would not see it. Many of these people have never darkened the door of a movie house and for the first time going to see a movie with their children.”

“Thank you for speaking out in the way that you have been concerning this movie. I have preached against it, spoken to people concerning the blasphemy of the movie, and yet, I have been the most surprised by my friends, who although professing to be ‘Fundamentalist Baptist Preachers’ have promoted the movie from the pulpit and encouraged all that will listen to them to go and see it. We indeed are living in dark and evil days, and I thank God that you and a few others are remaining true to the faith. What you say concerning Mel Gibson is true: he is a catholic evangelist, and we who are not catholic, and indeed believe it to be a damnable heresy, are either silent, or joining the ‘passion’ parade. The church I pastor has many Catholics who attend, and God has been pleased to save several in the last few years. They all agree that this movie is simply catholic teaching. It is the Mass in movie form. They are surprised that so many Protestants, Evangelicals, and Baptists are promoting a catholic movie. I will continue to pray for you and others like you who are not afraid to speak the truth.”

“I would like to thank you, as well as to let you to know that not only have I greatly benefited from your daily email commentaries regarding the movie, the Passion, but that I have also been granted Godly repentance because of what you have shared regarding the unbiblical practice of using (or creating) 'images' of God, no matter how 'apparently' Godly the reason. Quite innocently I was missing the mark on several counts where this sin of idolatry is concerned ... also had 2 pictures of Jesus (God) hanging on my apartment walls, (both of which cost me an arm and a leg) one being a very popular picture entitled, 'Jesus Laughing', and the other a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross that was painted by an artist named William Zdinak entitled 'In His Image'. In Zdnak's picture one could see Jesus' face and upper body but they were actually made up of various peoples faces, some well known, others not. These faces could not be seen when viewing the painting from a distance, only close up. Zdinak claims that he was having much difficulty when painting this picture until the room he was in lit up with a heavenly light and that then he was given a supernatural revelation as to how to proceed and complete this "miracle painting". One would think that I would've thought this picture suspect right then and there but, no, not me. Instead it has held a special place of honor in my apartment, beautifully framed and having sconces offsetting either side. This is not to say that I in any way adored or worshipped the image but only that I was blessed by what it represented to me, Jesus having died for the sins of the world. After reading all that you have had to say about idolatry in light of the Word of God I now know that such justifications for nailing pictures of God to one's Christian walls is blasphemous. Because of it I have disposed of both pictures in such a way that no-one else will be able to make use of them! ... Also, it might be of interest to you to know that last night, quite by chance, I happened upon the last few minutes of a TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) 'Passion' piece with Mel Gibson explaining 'the making of' the movie. It was right at the end of the program and just then his face kind of got all distorted and with much emphasis and emotion in his voice he said, ‘And at that moment he [Jim Caviezel] was no longer acting, HE WAS JESUS CHRIST!’ And the man was serious!! Gibson has said a lot of things while promoting his movie that evangelicals and Baptists have let slip right on past them but this??! I think not!!! Truly, Mel Gibson does believe that the movie is ‘the Mass’, and that in it the RC Transfiguration did in fact take place during it's filming!! Keep on keeping on, dear brother! You are in my prayers!”

“Brother Cloud, I just wanted to thank you for your information on the Gibson movie concerning the 2nd commandment and images of Christ. The writers of the New Testament took great care to leave us with no description of the Lord Jesus. When I take the Lords Supper, I'd prefer to NOT have an image of the actor or events in that movie pop into my head. Most Christians in support of this film will probably say ‘we aren't going to worship James Caviezel,’ but it seems to me that is exactly what they are doing when they think of him whenever they read their Bibles or during the Lords Supper. They will be making James Caviezel a part of their worship. Let me use myself as an example: Not too long ago I saw a movie that was produced back in the late 1970's called Jesus of Nazareth, with Robert Powell playing Jesus. I didn't think it was wrong at the time, but after I saw the movie, whenever I would read my Bible I'd picture in my mind Robert Powell as Jesus, and the other actors in the movie were the other people in the Bible. I am now trying to purge the image of Robert Powell as the Lord Jesus out of my mind. I also fear for small children who's parents will take them to see this film because the image of the actor will definitely be stuck in their heads whenever they think of the Lord Jesus. The same goes for non-Christians who don't know any better. So if any good thing came out of this movie for me, it's that I will now discard everything that has a false image of Jesus. That includes videos, movies, and several Chick tracts.”

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FROM THIS POINT ON ARE COMMENTS ADDED SINCE WE FIRST PUBLISHED THIS ON MARCH 16:

“Thank you for your diligence in ‘standing’ in your conviction against Mel Gibson's movie. I had listened to strong Christians speak and write so favourably for this movie and Mel Gibson, and I was almost influenced, yet I was blessed to have a check not to see it and read your stand in God's Word against this film. I thank God as I have 4 children that I may have encouraged to see the film. I pleaded with God as to what is wrong with this film and I believe that He revealed that we live in a society where faith has been robbed. We are given, base and desire everything in our lives to be 'see it, touch it or feel it' we are being robbed of our ability to have ‘faith’ by the devil, which is what he stole 6,000 years ago and remains his pattern. This certainly fits in with the warnings in Revelation. I pray God's protection for you and yours as you continue in teaching the truth of the Word of God.”

“I just wanted to say thank you for your warnings about the passion of christ. This christ that is portrayed in this movie is not the Christ of the Bible. The Bible tells us not to be deceived but to try the spirits to see if they be of God because there are many false christs out there. The Bible tells us to never add or take away from the scriptures as this movie has. The Bible tells us to watch out for false prophets Jesus himself said that you will know them by their fruits. Lets look at the fruits or works of the Roman Catholic church. If you look at the history of the catholic church, they have murdered more saints, caused more wars. They say in order to receive Jesus you have to eat Him in a wafer that they have every communion. They say you have to be baptized to be saved. ... I didn't go see the movie because thank God I have a pastor who checked it out first. Then I checked out every thing he checked out and could clearly see this movie doesn't promote Jesus but a false christ. Thank you again.”

“Just for the record, I want to express my deep appreciation for your warnings about The Passion of Mel Gibson. They helped me prepare mentally and spiritually to watch this movie with a discerning mind. I cannot fathom all the accolades that ‘Evangelical’ leaders have heaped on this flick. It is a Roman Catholic movie from beginning to end. Having served as a missionary in Mexico for all of my life, there is nothing more nauseous to me than to witness the drooling and self-serving adulation of all things Catholic so prevalent in today's ecumenical movement. You and I may have our differences on other things, but you were right on the money this time. A million thanks from the bottom of my heart.”

“As I have watched and listened to all the hype of the Passion film I could not help but think this is but another facet of the ‘mystery of iniquity’ which is working...overtime. First, it was the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (the first thing I can remember after getting saved in 1961 and I ceased to be a Conservative Baptist and became an Independent Baptist), then it was the Ecumenical movement, new hymnals minus the blood, the Bible removed from the schools, more new Bible translations, abortion legalized, secular humanism with its evolutionary teaching, the rise of charismatic churches and speaking in tongues, and now the CCM-CCR movement, ‘user-seeker friendly’ churches, worship leaders and praise bands replacing song leaders and church pianists, and now homosexual marriage. I am out of breath! It is all happening so fast. Can this be! You bet it can--we are in the last days and those who name the name of Christ had better wake up. Thank God for you and others like you (our fine pastor included) who are willing to stand up for the truth of God's Word even when it is not the ‘popular’ thing to do. Keep pouring it on--you have many praying for you and using your materials to educate and inform those who are young in the faith and easily led astray by every wind of doctrine. Your ministry is vital. Thank you and God bless!”

“Dear Brother Cloud...I am so thankful to finally read some negative criticism, based on Scripture, of this vile, vicious, bloody film. I made the mistake of seeing it, with a pastor's wife, of all people. She thought it was wonderful...and cried through it, as many people did. I did not. I just got angrier and angrier through the whole thing and left feeling totally manipulated. The unrelenting violence was done for shock, for sensation, for titillation, and I saw no real difference between the audience who watched the movie and wept and thought it was wonderful, and the crowds who watched avidly as the early Christians were torn limb from limb, and who licked their lips at the blood and called it entertainment! The movie was very, very Roman Catholic and I objected to the emphasis on Mary. My friend says she's sure that Mel Gibson is a wonderful, born-again Christian, but after seeing his magnum opus the best thing I can say about Mel Gibson is that he is a sick puppy for making the movie he made. Most evangelical Christians that I have spoken to who have seen the film just rave about it and they think I'm weird because I hated it. But then, they think I'm also weird because I got rid of my TV almost 25 years ago. This film is not from God, but from Satan. God bless you for having the courage to say so!”

“My husband and I thank you for the stand you have taken, and continue to take, about this movie, and also for the stand you take for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We know that there are some Baptists out there who are in favor of this horrible movie; and some Independent Fundamental Baptists are in that bunch. That is so sad I think. You are a blessing to us and we read each and every one of your newsletters/articles and have gotten a blessing from each one. Thank the Good Lord that there are still Preachers/Evangelists out there like you who are taking a stand for the Truth. You're always in our prayers and may God continue to bless you, Brother Cloud.”

“I write to you as an ex-catholic. I went to see the film and was troubled by it from the beginning. You see, the thing that drew me away from catholicism in the first place was a realisation of biblical truth and its importance. From the very beginning with satan appearing to Jesus in the garden, Jesus being tossed over the bridge etc I was aware that scripture was being violated. I did some research on the internet and learnt about the nun Ann Katherine Emmerich and her supposed visions. I mentioned what I had learned to my Pastor. He was interested but had already publicly endorsed the film after having seen a preview of it in London. He said that the film would be a good tool for evangelisation. I suppose I am just a little bit more sensitive to this kind of thing being an ex-catholic and hate to see such a blatant use of ‘visions’ rather than scripture to present the good news of Jesus. I'm not sure of the ability of this film to convict as it is more like something from the Hammer House Of Horrors.”

“I wish I had found your website prior to viewing ‘The Passion of the Christ’ movie. I totally agree with everything I have read and feel like I, along with thousands of others, have been duped. I was not aware of the Catholicism involved or the lifestyles of the actors and actresses. I have been attending a Southern Baptist Church that rented the auditorium to have private showing of the movie. I am beginning to strongly feel I need to perhaps find an Independent Baptist Church as I now think the Southern Baptists are perhaps too liberal. I am also appalled to see the mass merchandising that is now flooding the Christian Bookstores further promoting the release of this movie on DVD. I am rather embarrassed to admit this, but I feel it needs to be added to the responses from those who have seen the movie. I found the actor portraying Christ to be VERY attractive physically, especially when he was in the flashback scenes. I found it very hard to concentrate on any ‘spiritual message’ while viewing this attractive, scantily clad man. This is absolutely a sin on my part, but the movie did not help at all. From a female perspective, this is a problem with this movie. God made a Word Book, not a picture book, as one of the quotes on your website said. Thank you for boldly speaking the truth!”