THE NOBLE BEREAN: Volume Twelve - August 2006

“LET'S GET BACK TO THE BIBLE!”

By Michael C. Gaudiosi - The Noble Berean

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?? I wanted to take this opportunity to share a few thoughts on the recent events surrounding actor Mel Gibson and his recent troubles that made headline news. Now, the purpose of this article is not to focus on the trouble Mel Gibson got himself into, but rather the silence of the Evangelical Church leaders, which as of this writing, have not come out publicly to defend Mel! No, not one! All I have seen thus far is the support, which is being given to him by his fellow actors in Hollywood! Considering that just two short years ago, these same Evangelical Church leaders publicly proclaimed Mel Gibson as the greatest thing since the apostle Paul, mostly due to Mel’s so-called masterpiece “The Passion of the Christ” which some also touted as “the greatest evangelistic tools of the past 100 years”.

In case you have forgotten about the hype, let me refresh your memory. Here is what some of the most noted Evangelical Church leaders had to say about Mel and his movie:

“I have no doubt that the movie will be one of the greatest evangelistic tools in modern day history. I think people will go to it and then flood into the churches seeking to know the deeper implications of this movie.” - Ed Young Jr., Pastor, Dallas-Area Fellowship Church

“Without question, this is the finest work that has ever been done on this subject.” -Pat Robertson

”No film in my lifetime has the potential of impacting more people with the world's greatest story than 'The Passion'. It could be Hollywood's finest achievement to date.” -Tim LaHaye

“I believe The Passion of The Christ may well be one of the most powerful evangelistic tools of the last 100 years, because you have never seen the story of Jesus portrayed this vividly before.” - Greg Laurie, Harvest Crusades

“I am praying that Mel Gibson's movie will have a powerful impact on our culture and that it will appeal to millions of movie lovers who are starving for a glimmer of honesty regarding the miraculous and life-changing story of the One who died for everyone, no matter their religious heritage, station in life, sexual preference or skin color.” (From Falwell Confidential, Sept 24, 2003) -Dr. Jerry Falwell, The Liberty Channel

“The Passion will stun audiences and create an incredible appetite for people to know more about Jesus. I urge Christians to invite their spiritually seeking friends to see this movie with them.” -Lee Strobel, Former Atheist & Author "The Case for Christ" & "The Case for Faith"

”This movie could have a profound spiritual effect on millions of people.” -Paul Crouch, Jr., Trinity Broadcasting Network

There were also many people who claimed they were speaking forth the “the word of the Lord” concerning Mel Gibson, and according to them, the Lord had a lot of really nice things to say about Mel. Here is an example of these “prophecies from the Lord” which was given in January 2004. Here are two excerpts:

"And I am bringing up one out of Hollywood that will become a worldwide evangelist. I said, he will stand in pulpits and preach the Word of God. He will have crusades, saith the Lord. I am gonna bring this man, Gibson, out of obscurity and into prominence in the Christian realm. He will stand as a mighty man of valor. He will be the Word of the Lord. He is a Braveheart. He is all the things that he’s portrayed in these movies. He is my man, saith God. He is my man, saith God. He is my man, saith God.” - Don Franklin, www.propheticroundtable.org

"And why would you find it a hard thing that I would choose a man of passion to pen The Passion? Why would you find it a hard thing that I would choose a man who has been brave, a man who has been a warrior to go forth and be a brave warrior for Me and for this generation? For you shall even see, as the one who plays the Braveheart who brought that kingdom into its time of liberty and freedom – all of Scotland now is free – shall you not see many men’s hearts and lives be changed and brought into the freedom of the Holy Spirit? He does even speak of the Holy Spirit.” - Bonnie Franklin, www.propheticroundtable.org

WOW! I guess you get the idea! With all these wonderful quotes, and “prophetic words” by some of the noted leaders in the Church mentioned above (there are more, but time does not permit), one would have to ask the question…WHERE ARE THESE LEADERS NOW?? You would think with all the words of praise and adoration given for Mel Gibson and his “Passion” movie, these same leaders would be rising up and publicly defending Mel, but to date, they have not done so! To them Mel Gibson is “God’s man”, and his movie a “powerful evangelistic tool” so the Church should be out in the streets in droves standing up in support for Mel! Where are they??

SOLA SCRIPTURA – THE SCRIPTURE ALONE!

The point of all this is simply that the Church has to stop jumping on the latest trend or fad bandwagon that comes along. Whether it be the Passion, or WWJD fashion items, Prayer of Jabez, etc…and GET BACK TO THE BIBLE! We seem to think that movies or programs or any kind of gimmick will get people to listen, and the reasoning behind this is that “God can use any tools or means through us to reach the lost”. Though I do not deny that God is sovereign in the way He does things, but ultimately He will never deny or violate His word, which CLEARLY states:

“And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ." Acts 18:15

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:13

There are many more examples in scripture that preaching is God’s chosen method to reach the lost. These Evangelical leaders I mentioned were caught up in all the hype of Mel Gibson, a wealthy, famous actor making a "Christian themed" movie, and they made it very clear from what they had said. But none of them have said anything about this latest incident, which makes me wonder…it really was all hype! Sound, biblical evangelism is not hype, but it is good seed that is planted in good soil, provided people have an ear to listen and a heart willing to obey it.

I want to conclude with this. I was watching TBN last week (yes, I watch TBN, does not mean I support it!) and to my surprise they had a man by the name of Paul Washer, who heads up a ministry called “HeartCry Missionary Society” (www.heartcrymissionary.com). He had said something that really shook me, and I can bet he will never be invited back on TBN again!

He said this, and I paraphrase…when you enter a room with a crowd that does not know the Gospel; you are one of two things, a man who is helpless, or a man who is armed with the armaments of the flesh. We think that we can use movies, and the big screen to emotionally stir people into the kingdom, but the power of the Holy Spirit is just not there. But give me a man, with a Bible in his hand, send him to the middle of the town square and let him preach until he is either stoned to death or wins one convert. That’s the kind of preaching that God will bless.

Let me tell you something, you could have heard a pin drop! Nobody in the studio audience was shouting “hallelujah!” or “amen!” nor was there any applause, just dead silence! I guess that was just too much truth for some to handle. But it was truth nonetheless! This is the kind of preaching that we as believers must do, either we make converts or we die trying! No big Hollywood productions, no extreme sports, no games or gimmicks, no fads or trends, just simple preaching of God’s word. You may not have anyone listen to you, but that is not what matters. What matters is what is biblical, what pleases God! We do the preaching, He does the converting!

Society and cultures may change, but the Gospel never changes! God’s word is not subject to time, our culture, or social trends and changes. Stop all the hype! Let’s get back to the Bible!!

Search the Scripture for yourself! SOLA SCRIPTURA! The Scripture ALONE! May the Lord bless you!

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