I was eager to hear what Mel Gibson had to say about his Passion movie on Diane Sawyer's Primetime special tonight. I didn't catch the first half because the Colorado Avalanche were in a tough hockey battle with the Vancouver Canucks. A man has to have priorities, after all. I tuned in about the time Diane was explaining about the traditionalist Roman Catholic church Mel built:
Diane: When we talked with Gibson and his actors, we wondered, does his traditionalist view bar the door to heaven for Jews, Protestants, Muslims?
Mel: That's not the case at all. Absolutely not. It is possible for people who are not even Christian to get into the kingdom of heaven. It's just easier. I have to say that because that's what I believe.
Diane: You have a non-stop ticket.
Mel: Well, yeah. I'm saying it's an easier ride where I am because it's like...I have to believe that.
Diane: He says journalists are making it all more mysterious than it really is.
Mel: I'm just Roman Catholic the way they were up until the mid-60s.
Diane: Before Vatican II.
Mel: Yeah. And that's the Latin mass with a properly ordained priest...When you lose confidence, Saint Paul tells us in the gospels that it's best to hold fast to the traditions.
I assume Mel simply made a minor error here, and doesn't really believe Paul wrote the Gospels. He's referring to 2 Thessalonians:
2 Thess 2:15 (ESV) So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
I don't think this can be extrapolated to apply to centuries of traditions added to what the apostles taught, but that's a matter for another discussion. My greater concern is finding that Mel believes non-Christians can get into heaven, although it's just a bit tougher. If salvation is by Jesus Christ alone, there's no such thing as "easier" or "harder" ways into the kingdom. There's only one way:
John 14:6 (ESV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I have no doubt that The Passion of The Christ will be a powerful movie, and will help to reach many with a message going back two millenia--I just wish Mel Gibson would express a clearer understanding of the gospel message. Salvation is for all people groups, but not for all individuals. Christ's followers didn't give their lives to let people know they were already saved--they died calling people to repentance. Universalism does not fit the Biblical message.
