Dear Aebi: "Why would anyone want to produce
a movie like 'The Last Temptation of Christ?'" Dear Aebi: "Why would anyone want to produce
a movie like 'The Last Temptation of Christ?'"
I haven't seen the movie, but I have heard about
it and read about it and some other movies that debase Jesus and
either distort or deny the Bible picture of things.
There are at least three reasons that I can think
of: (1) for money; (2) to show their disbelief in Christ and their
belief in secular humanism/atheism; and (3) to justify their own
immoral attitudes and actions by denying the divinity of Jesus
and thus eliminating him as Judge and Author of divine standards.
(1) The love of money is the root of all kinds
of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The movie, TV, magazine, and newspaper
industries all the mass media have the making of money as their
driving motive. They write stories and make films to make money.
Actors and actresses portray themselves as evil characters and
in roles and immodest dress for money. A newscast twenty years
ago showed newspaper and magazine photographers admitting that
they had practiced various kinds of deception and dishonesty to
take pictures because they "were paid to do it." Newsmen
do whatever it takes to sell a story, and the moviemakers do the
same. Making money was the motive behind the TV commercial in
which they planted explosives and detonated them to try to prove
that one truck's gas tank was likely to explode in an accident.
(2) Another reason why they made this movie was
to show their disbelief in Christ and their belief in secular
humanism/atheism, which leads them to think that Jesus was like
other men, notably themselves. So, they portray a twisted, psychotic,
immoral personality for Jesus, because it suits their purpose
to degrade our Lord as much as they can. Unbelievers like Emil
Rasmussen, Charles Benet-Sangle, William Hirsch, and George deLoosten
wrote books in the early 1900's to try to discredit Jesus by portraying
him as insane, but they were effectively refuted by psychiatrists
and theologians like Albert Schweitzer. Secular humanism has made
great strides since the early 1900's, however, and these humanists
will resurrect any ancient theories they can use to oppose Christ.
The Humanist Manifesto plainly declares its intention to eradicate
Christianity.
(3) Another reason why moviemakers want to discredit
Christ is to justify their own immoral attitudes and actions by
eliminating Christ as the Divine Judge and his Word as the standard
of judgment. If they can reduce Jesus to just another man, as
immoral and confused as themselves, they can disregard his law
and his standard of morality. In this way, they can continue in
sin and feel no worse than others. Evil men have always tried
to build themselves up by bringing the righteous down. The Pharisees
accused Jesus of being in league with Beelzebub; Jewish troublemakers
accused Paul of treason. We need not be surprised when evildoers
try to justify themselves by accusing us, vilifying Christ, or
denying the existence of God. These tactics will not work, for
God will have the last word, and Jesus will be the final Judge.
Christ and his people will win in the end. Revelation 17:14. Be
sure that you are on the Lord's side then! -2660 Layman Rd., Vincent,
OH 45784-9730. cjandi@juno.com