Mel Gibson — Evangelical Hero

The dis-oriented author is an evangelical Christian. I am also a recovering Catholic. Therefore it was baffling to me when in 2004 the evangelical community made Mel Gibson a hero by embracing his film, The Passion of the Christ. Here was a decidedly Catholic view of the crucification made by a decidedly Catholic film maker. Not only Catholic but a pre-Vatican II Catholic reactionary.

The Passion of the Christ Sept through evangelical Christianity. Leaders like James Dobson endorsed the film and many Churches rented out entire theaters to show the film to their congregations. I must admit that I did not see the film and have no plans to — remember I am a recovering Catholic and I don't want to fall off the wagon.

The veneration of Gibson by the evangelical community is mis-guided, as it turns out this week, Saint Mel is also an anti-semite.

I am as big a Mel Gibson fan as the next guy. I enjoyed Lethal Weapon when it first came out. I am also a fan of the Patriot, Braveheart and We Were Soldiers. I think Gibson is a tremendously gifted actor but he is no saint.

In a Christianity Today interview, Gibson said:

"I've been actually amazed at the way I would say the evangelical audience has—hands down—responded to this film more than any other Christian group." What makes it so amazing, he says, is that "the film is so Marian."

Gibson himself points out the Marian nature of the film and wonders why evangelicals would endorse it. Why indeed?

Gibson even describes Mary as"

a tremendous co-redemptrix and mediatrix.

Co-redemptrix? Mediatrix? The Bible teaches that Christ completed the work of redemption by himself and the he is the only mediator between man and God. Gibson's positions on Mary are blasphemous.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:3 KJV

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 Tim 2:5 KJV

Add to that the fact that Gibson is an anti-semite. According to the industry website TMZ.com when Gibson was arrested for drunk driving in Malibu he made racist statements to the arresting officer. 

The report says Gibson then launched into a barrage of anti-Semitic statements: "F*****g Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Gibson then asked the deputy, "Are you a Jew?"

Gibson has since made several public statements saying that he is not an anti-semite. His actions speak louder than his apologies.

Saint Mel? Evangelical hero? I think not.