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INSTRUCTED by the Scriptures, LED by the Spirit
Bold Christian Living E-Mail Newsletter, Issue #118
Watching "The Passion"
C 2003 Jonathan Lindvall
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***SPEAKING SCHEDULE***

The Lord has opened doors for me to minister in India once again. In fact, I
will be leaving for the airport to fly there in just a few hours. I covet
your prayers for grace to be listening and yielded to the Holy Spirit
especially during the next three and a half weeks there.

As on past trips there, I intend to write daily (or near-daily) accounts of
what is happening on this trip. In the past, these were sent to a small list
of close friends, but I've sensed I should offer to send these to others of
you who would like to receive them. If you would be willing to pray for me
on this trip, and would like to receive frequent reports over the next few
weeks of our experiences in India, let me know, and I'll add you to the list
of those receiving these reports.

My upcoming speaking schedule is:

3/3/04 Kanderpada, Mumbai, India Family Seminar
3/4-5/04 Shillong, Meghalaya, India Meetings
3/6-7 Kohima, Nagaland, India Meetings
3/9-11/04 Dimapur, Nagaland, India Family & NT Church Seminars
3/13-14/04 Delhi, India Family & NT Church Seminars
3/16-17/04 Thane, Mumbai, India NT Church Seminar
3/18-19/04 New Bombay, Maharashtra, India Homeschool & NT Church Sem.
3/20-21/04 Calicut, Kerala, India Meetings
3/22/04 Chengannur, Kerala, India Seminar
3/23/04 Trivandrum, Kerala, India House Church Seminar
4/3/04 Ridgecrest, CA 760-375-9398 House Church Seminar
4/4-6/04 Death Valley, CA 559-539-0500 House Church Campout
4/16-17/04 Santa Clara, CA 562-864-2432 CHEA Homeschool Conv.
5/14-16/04 Nashville, TN (Private) Meetings
5/21-23/04 Central, SC Southern House Church Conf.
10/9-10/04 Central Village, CT 860-564-9348 N. E. House Church Conf.

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***ARTICLE***

Watching "The Passion"

Recently I've been asked for an opinion regarding watching Mel Gibson's "The
Passion of the Christ." I imagine there are other voices of caution among
God's people, but interestingly, I haven't heard any who discourage watching
it. That makes me a bit nervous.

Here's what one party wrote, and an expanded version of my response:

> A question for you: What are your thoughts on the movie "The Passion
> of Christ," to be shown later this week? We are getting much
> encouragement from the Christian community to see this movie and have
> been asked to support this gospel outreach by attending the opening
> showings. We understand it is a truely Biblical account of the death
> and resurrection of Jesus but it is rated "R" due to the graphic
> depiction of the "excruciating violence that occurred during the
> scourging and crucifixion of Christ" (as quoted from James Dobson.)
> As a rule, our family does not attend "R" rated movies, and do not
> know that it is wise to change this practice to see this movie. We
> typically do not watch anything that would not be suitable to the
> entire family (we have children ages infant to 18 years of age.) What
> are your thoughts in regards to this dilemma? Do you suggest we bend
> our practice for the support of this movie and the encouragement of
> the church? Will you and your family be viewing this film?

Last week at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention I had the
opportunity to preview a screening of "The Passion." It was a very moving
presentation, and I'm confident the Lord will use it in many people's lives.

However, I don't intend to have my wife, daughter, or younger sons watch it.
The movie is VERY graphic. It fully deserves its "R" rating. I don't doubt
that it rather accurately portrays the brutality of Jesus' torture and
crucifiction. If I had been alive then, I wouldn't have wanted those in my
family who are particularly sensitive, to watch what was done to Jesus,
either.

As far as being scripturally accurate, there are some parts of the movie
that are definitely speculative or downright inaccurate. An example of this
is that Satan (or was it some satanic emissary?) was portrayed as a woman.
However, such inaccuracies would not dissuade me from watching the movie
with my older sons or encouraging others to watch it.

A few days ago I was pondering the matter of some of my family members going
to see the film, and my daughter brought a scripture to the breakfast table
to share with us. She was completely unaware of my contemplation and had an
entirely different application, but the Lord used it to caution me. The
scripture is Isaiah 33:14-17. It says,

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell
with everlasting burnings?"
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain
of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his
ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:
16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of
rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will see the land that
is very far off.

Like Psalm 15, this passage asks (my paraphrase), "Who can be in God's
presence?" But in this case, it is more specifically, "Who can remain in
God's presence as He is judging sin?" The answer includes the characteristic
of a righteous man "Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts
his eyes from seeing evil."

Clearly it is abominable that some "churches" try to avoid mention of the
"blood" of Christ. He Himself commanded us to repeatedly memorialize the
shedding of His blood for us on the cross, by drinking the cup of the Lord's
supper. We were purchased by His blood, and it should be precious to us.

Yet on the other hand, God is pleased when His people avoid exposing
themselves to detailed accounts of bloodshed. Some believe we are to
visualize Christ's physical body on the cross as we take the cup, assuming
that is meant by "discerning the Lord's body" in 1 Cor. 11:29. But when this
verse is read in its context, it is clearly talking about unity in the
church, Christ's body. If we don't discern how we are connected to one
another in the Body of Christ, we "eat and drink unworthily."

I don't believe Jesus is pleased with an undue focus on the details of even
His own torture and death. We are discouraged from "know[ing] Christ
according to the flesh" (2 Cor. 5:16). Some will see "The Passion" as an
excellent tool for helping them imagine what Jesus went through for us. And
I have no doubt the Lord will use the film to draw some people's hearts to
Himself. But the focus in scripture isn't on calling us to pity the Lord's
sufferings, but rather to rejoice in them, knowing what they accomplished.

If my family had been living in first century Jerusalem and I knew Jesus was
being beaten and crucified, would I have gone to watch? Would the Lord have
been pleased for me to bring my children to watch the spectacle?

I don't think so. I'm persuaded the Lord wants us to avoid simulating, or
voluntarily watching others simulate such real life things as seduction and
physical intimacy, violence, and other perversion. He desires us (and our
children) to have minds undefiled by the details of sin. Thus I am quite
hesitant to encourage folks seeing "The Passion."

If I do eventually choose to have some of my family members watch the film,
it won't be in a typical movie theater. Even if I conclude the film itself
might be beneficial to those who can handle it, the posters and previews of
other movies to be shown by the theater, are things likely needing to be
avoided. Thus, at the very least my family will wait until the movie is
available on video, so any I determine would benefit rather than be hindered
by it, can watch it in our own home environment.

While we need to avoid making rules for ourselves and, especially, others, I
write these things to raise questions I doubt many Christians are even
asking. May we guard our hearts, and the eyes & ears that are gateways to
those hearts.

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*** FELLOWSHIP CONNECTION ***

People who resonate with the teaching of our ministry often report that they
feel quite lonely in living out the seemingly extreme convictions they have
come to. Thus we now provide a forum for connecting with others who share
these convictions. We encourage you to exercise hospitality with Christians
you connect with, and focus on your mutual love for the Lord rather than
just your common beliefs or convictions ("like-hearted" vs. "like-minded").
Yet it can be comforting and encouraging to meet others with similar godly
lifestyles.

We are committed to not giving out people's names and contact information
without their express permission. But if you would like to be listed (by
community) in our fellowship connection, just send me a message with the
pertinent details. Or if you see a listing below (or in a past newsletter
issue in our archives at
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BoldChristianLiving/archive>) that you would
like to pursue, send me an e-mail message, and I will forward it to the
family listed, as well as forwarding you their message.

As implied above, I believe looking for "like-minded" people to have
fellowship with can be a trap. We must gather around the Lord Jesus rather
than our distinctive beliefs, convictions, practices, tastes, etc. What I am
to look for is "like-hearted" saints who love Jesus, rather than
"like-minded" believers who agree with me. Our fellowship is to be based on
our joint relationship with Jesus, rather than our relative agreement on
secondary issues.

If I am gathering with "like-minded" folks, sooner or later we will come to
some point of disagreement and have to separate. But if I learn to "love the
brethren" (others who are truly alive in Christ) regardless of
disagreements, we will become increasingly like-minded in the process of
walking together in the light.

Here is the list of folks who have recently asked to be listed in our
Fellowship Connection:

Granton, Ontario
Nashville, Ohio (Holmes County)
Bloomington, Indiana
Friend, Nebraska
Milford, Pennsylvania
Battleground, Washington (Vancouver area)
Honomu, Hawaii
Knight's Ferry/Oakdale, California
Hereford Arizona
Dalton, Georgia
Montreal, Quebec
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Kalispell, Montana
Monroe, Michigan
Smithfield, North Carolina (Johnston County, South Raleigh area)
Wake Forest, North Carolina (North Raleigh area)
Maple Hill, North Carolina
DeLeon Springs, Florida (Volusia County)
Palmdale, California
Charlotte, North Carolina
Clawson, Michigan
La Habra, California
Forest Grove, Oregon
Whigham, Georgia
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Hilo, Hawaii
Lake County, Florida
Eunice. Missouri
Rockwood, Tennessee
Camden, New South Wales, Australia (near Sydney)
Seminole County, Florida
Adirondack region, New York
Hayfork, California
Olympia, Washington
Toulon, Illinois
Connell, Washington
Atoka, Tennessee (near Memphis)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Oneida, New York
Arlington, Texas
N.E. Atlanta, Georgia (Gwinnett County)
Falls City, Oregon
Evansville, Inidiana
Navarro County, Texas
Pollock Pines, California
Dearborn, Michigan
Coldwater, Michigan
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Richland Center, Wisconsin
Tacoma, Washington (Lakewood)
Chugiak, Alaska (Eagle River)
Belleview, Florida
Floyd, Virginia
Claremont, New Hampshire
Orland,California
Squaw Valley, California
Norton, Vermont
LaCrosse, Florida (Alachua County)
Sequim, Washington
Portage, Wisconsin
Ava, Missouri
Avon, New York (Rochester)
Kittery, Maine
Plainfield, Connecticut
Stockbridge, Georgia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Roy, Utah
Wawaka, Indiana
Orange County, California
Victoria, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Kansas City, Missouri
Waikoloa, Hawaii (the Big Island)
Hermanus, South Africa
Enumclaw, Washington
Muddy Pond, Tennessee
Anchorage, Alaska
Andersonville, Tennessee
Port Perry, Ontario
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia
Newport News, Virginia
Cedar, Michigan
Hartford, Connecticut
Yorba Linda, California
Albany, New York
Quambatook, Victoria, Australia
Fair Grove, Missouri
Venice Beach, California
Colfax, Wisconsin
West Preston, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Florissant, Colorado
Menifee, California
Sacramento, California
Brunswick, Maine
Atlanta, Georgia (Fulton County)
New Woodstock, New York (Syracuse)
Wellington, Colorado
Helsinki, Finland
Raytown, Missouri (Kansas City)
Hollister, California
Pomona, Queensland, Australia
Rolla, Missouri
Clearwater, Kansas

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ARCHIVES: I can't respond to requests for previous issues of the newsletter.
However, for past issues of the Bold Christian Living E-Mail Newsletter, you
(or a friend) can quickly & easily find them in our public archives at
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BoldChristianLiving/archive>. You can select
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Unless you specify otherwise, I will assume subscribers who write me letters
are giving their permission to publish their letters and my responses in
this newsletter.

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God bless you.

Jonathan Lindvall Lindvall@...
Bold Christian Living http://www.BoldChristianLiving.com

PO Box 820 Voice 559-539-0500
Springville CA 93265 Fax 559-539-0804

...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it... Phil. 1:6