Focus, today, is upon The Passion Live, and similar entertainment programs broadcast to celebrate and remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Be not deceived. GOD’s message for mankind’s salvation now must compete against amusements, diversions, and pastimes that are often very colorful, filled with exciting images, and rich in detail. Even so, they serve as poor substitutes for preaching that conveys the power of the cross, and direct instruction from the holy writings that impart the Holy Spirit. The disciples and followers of Jesus Christ are to experience permanent changes in their character, nature, and spirit content. The process for this used by divinity is described as rebirth that must be intimate, organic, and personal. Eternal purposes must be established along with faith, joy, respect and trust. The impact of Internet, motion pictures, televangelism, and other public media events often are surface, and does not endure. Viewers should not trust such 5 to 90 minute programs to provide complete and full sacred knowledge. The work may be tainted because everyone (i.e., the full cast, camera men, sound specialists, writers, etc.) involved may not be anointed and endowed as believers in Christ. The sacred message may be altered and edited with precious aspects omitted and overlooked. More than this, just as small children master reciting their ABCs, yet, still can not create the combinations and permutations for reading and writing, casual viewers are encouraged to feel they have finally have been given all the information about Christ that they will ever need, yet, remain lacking in necessary knowledge concerning Advent, judgment, eternal life, and the second death. Consider again the following Scriptures, and the presentation below:
1st Corinthians 3: 11-15, King James Version (KJV): 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Matthew 16: 21-24, KJV: 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
2nd Corinthians 5: 7, KJV: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
1st Corinthians 3: 1-3, KJV: 1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “BiEn Galas” (Level 1 with 104 points, a member since January 28, 2015) posted the following:
WHY IS THE PASSION LIVE USING A MODERN SETTING?
Shouldn't it be set during the time of Jesus?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2nd Peter 1: 2-11, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Cross and Eternity (03/21/2016); The Cross and Resurrection Sunday? (03/16/2016); On Wearing Sports Jerseys? (11/20/2015); Are Holidays Bad? (11/16/2013); Denying GOD by Eating Shrimp? (11/17/2013); Can GOD Die? (05/14/2013); The Church as a Bride? (05/15/2013); Double Standard? (10/12/2012); Family and Romance (10/13/2012)
“BiEn Galas”, many mature Christian believers tuned into the broadcast of The Passion Live as a contemporary entertainment event using modern day language and themes to make the Gospel proclaimed by Jesus Christ recognizable, “relevant”, and “easy” to understand. Because such productions are directed to our emotions and intellect, they often recreate displays of secular history through the use of costumes, formal language (e.g., dialect, poetry, rhetoric), exotic locations, and lavish sets. While the intent of their performers, producers, and everyone involved may be to provide a genuine discussion of redemption and salvation through the Lord, viewers may quickly forget and turn away from such productions, because the medium (e.g., animation, DVD, Internet, motion picture) with advertising and commercial interruptions also affect and alter how the viewer decides the importance, and weight of the program’s message.
To the extent a production carefully focuses the viewer upon the meanings, principles, and values of the Gospel, one may have an experience of “baby steps,” acquiring basic information regarding salvation through Christ, and becoming aroused and engaged by sacred truth. In the same way Moses, on his way home after work, was drawn aside by curiosity to discover the burning bush—and not by his desire to praise GOD or to pray—many viewers initially responded to The Passion as just another TV program, and were challenged to realize a peculiar expression of faith was being publicly shared.
What Christian believers are to experience and receive in their places of prayer, praise, study and worship is spirit content from the makeup of divinity, and, therefore is not centered upon finite human images, thoughts, and feelings. Even today, 2016, the disciples and followers of Jesus acknowledge that, despite time and space, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood and truth from the cross are flowing to here and now. Achieving full awareness and a correct understanding of the life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, outpourings and sacred gifts we receive through Jesus requires the active presence of Deity. When alert, committed, and set apart (we say, sanctified), a believer experiences exchange and interactions among the inseparable spirit substances that are the makeup of GOD. Included are faith, holiness, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, the holy writings remain the most reliable resource shared by believers for sacred knowledge. It is written: 1st Peter 2: 1-3, King James Version (KJV): 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Also, Acts 20: 32, KJV: 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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