Warning: This Article is "R" Rated!
When I was 'under 17'- I remember looking up at all the "R" rated movies thinking, "how cool would that be to sneak in and get away with seeing a 'real' movie!"
Then one time I tried it. My friend and I bought tickets for some idiotic PG movie, and boldly walked into the theater where the mysterious film that was supposed to corrupt people 16 and under was playing. It was just a few minutes before the starting time, and I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Can I see your tickets?" the movie theater guy asks.
"Sure"
"You're in the wrong movie theater"
"We know"
"Let's go"
So that was as close as I got before I turned 17. After that landmark birthday, I could finally go see the films I had been kept from all those years.
What a disappointment. The majority of "R" rated films I have seen have not only been a waste of time and money, they have left permanent images in my brain that Satan sometimes loves to double click when I'm praying or reading the Bible.
Don't get me wrong, most PG-13 movies are just as bad or worse. Gee, do you think it's the whole movie industry?
Except this one guy named Mel, who made an "R" rated film that burns images in our minds that we will want to keep. They're the kind that God can double click so we can remember the pain, agony and intense love of the Savior on our behalf. When you have a bad day, you remember someone who had the worst day. When you feel betrayed, you remember the One who faced ultimate betrayal. When you feel weak and need others, you remember the Man who needed help from a stranger who didn't even believe in Him.
Speaking of the rated "R" thing- here's a clever piece from an unknown author.
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
The "R", of course, is because of the violence, the gore. In movie terms R -- stands for RESTRICTED, but in this movie R stands for RELEVANT and for REALISTIC, for it REALLY happened for a REASON.
Because we were REBELLIOUS, we needed a REDEEMER, we needed to be RECONCILED, we needed to be RECOVERED, we needed to be REGENERATED.
Jesus needed to be REJECTED so that we could have a RELATIONSHIP not just a RELIGION. The R is to REMIND us to REMEMBER what Jesus did to REMOVE our sin to RENDER Satan powerless, to RESCUE us from eternity in hell.
The R rating is to show that Jesus was RESPONSIBLE for giving you REST. As a RESULT of his death Jesus RETIRED your debt.
The R rating means that some will be REPULSED, some will REFUSE to believe, some will be RELUCTANT, some will think you are RIDICULOUS in believing that death as REQUIRED.
The R rating means that the RESULT of sin has been REVERSED and now through faith in Christ your REWARD is eternity and you are now RIGHTEOUS before God because you have RECEIVED him as the RULER of your soul.
What a REVOLUTIONARY and RADICAL solution to REDEEM mankind!
Yes, it is R Rated!
Questions:
- How does "The Passion of the Christ" continue to impact you?
- Has the film helped you open up conversations about Christ with anyone? Why or why not?
- How can you best apply this verse:
Memory Verse:
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
