Mel Gibson agrees to change 'Passion' film to combat anti-Semitism
By Mike Evans
January 29, 2004
WorldNetDaily.com
I was recently invited to a special screening of "The Passion of the
Christ" in Dallas to make recommendations regarding the film. My
agent-attorney, Tom Winters of Tulsa, my pastor, who is an Assemblies of
God official, and 30 other leaders were also invited. At the end of the
screening, Mr. Gibson humbly asked if we felt the film could incite
anti-Semitism and, if so, what could be done to avoid it.
I explained to Mr. Gibson that the Crucifixion story has been used by
anti-Semites to feed and fuel Jew-hatred throughout history, and that
anti-Semitism has risen throughout the world to levels not seen since
the days of Hitler. I further stated that the film, in its present form,
could incite violence against Jews in the former USSR, Muslim countries
and Europe, and could even result in Jews being killed.
I related to Mr. Gibson that the Christian church in Germany supported
Hitler, and a major reason for that support was the belief that Jews
were suffering for their sin of crucifying the Savior. Oswald J. Smith
of the People's Church in Toronto, who visited Germany in 1936, said:
"Every true Christian in Germany is for Hitler. I know, for it was from
the Christians that I got my information, and right or wrong they
endorse Hitler." I also told him that great numbers in the Muslim world
teach Hitler's evil myths to their children, even in the schools. This
is the reason it is so very important to correct this. Purely and
simply, the foundation of terrorism is firmly imbedded in bigotry!
Mr. Gibson listened intently, hung his head, and was deeply moved. "What
can I do," he asked? I responded, "When the last scene ends go to black,
scroll these words across the screen: "During the Roman occupation,
250,000 Jews were crucified by the Romans, but only One rose from the
dead."
"By doing this," I said, "instead of feeding Jew-hatred, you will be
fighting it. You will be communicating the suffering of all Jews under
Roman occupation. By simply inserting this statement, those who desire
to use the film to incite hatred toward Jews will be deterred.
"Those who might use the movie to incite Jew-hatred would know
that they would be doing just the opposite – challenging the evil
myths (that Jews are cursed for crucifying Christ and are Christ-killers)
taught throughout history, and still today. In addition, 'The Passion of the
Christ' would be the first Jesus film produced to fight anti-Semitism by
telling the true story of Jewish suffering during the time of Christ."
Mel Gibson became very excited, and said, "Perfect! I will do it. Yes, I
will do it. I needed something for that spot anyway. This is it. I will
do it. Thank you."
At the showing in Dallas, no one was given a legal form to sign, so I am
not bound to a confidentiality agreement. Why am I speaking out now?
Because the film was screened when I was in Orlando on Jan. 21 and 22. I
realized that leaders in the Jewish community were still extremely
worried about increased anti-Semitism because of the film.
I became convinced it was time to let the Jewish community know that Mr.
Gibson is very concerned, and is making a historic contribution to
combat anti-Semitism. Never before has any effort been made in
any Jesus film to correct the myths and misinformation propagated by Jew-hatred.