As Great Lent fast approaches, High Church Christians (meaning churches with traditional liturgical calendars and services) will begin preparing themselves for the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Eastern Christendom (Byzantine Catholics, Eastern Orthodox etc,) the fast begins with Forgiveness Vespers as the congregation will line up one-by-one forgiving each other for past transgressions to beginning the spiritual journey to Pascha (Easter in the West). The High Churches of Western Christendom (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran) have a similar tradition in their services.
Both East and West will have external sacrifices, such as a specific diet, or denial of various worldly goods to aide with their internal spiritual fast from gossip, anger and other judgmental behaviors to become closer to God.
Twentieth Century Fox, and the producers of The Bible mini-series have teamed up for the film adaptation that is LOOSELY based on the Gospel of St. John the Theologian (more formally The Holy Apostle and Evangelist, St. John the Theologian) with some peppering in of the synoptic gospels and a dash of Gnosticism to bring forth, Son of God.
If you are an Evangelical Protestant Christian or someone interested in opening the door to Christianity, it is definitely worth watching this seeker friendly film based only on the sayings of Christ — essentially a film of quotes.
HOWEVER, if you are a member of a high church, you will twitch in your seat with discomfort of abused poetic licensing. Judas Iscariot is made a sympathetic character, Nicodemus the Pharisee is vilified and St. John dies in exile, when he actually reposed outside of Ephesus; his grave is still marked and his memorial is commemorated on May 8th. There are several theological jabs at high church traditions and worst of all the omission, of the adversary, Satan.
In an editorial released by producer/director/actress, Roma Downey stated that she omitted the Devil because of the backlash received from her mini-series The Bible, which aired on the History Channel:
“It became ugly when people started making nasty statements. Something that had been born of a beautiful intention was suddenly under attack, and we were caught in the middle of spiritual warfare.
I knew it was just like Satan the narcissist to make it all about him and create division. I am sure he loved being the center of attention for even one day.”
Downey went on to say that she played an angel for nearly a decade, learning that the Devil is real and God’s light is shined but darkness exists. The problem is that ignoring the darkness instead of confronting it does not make it less dangerous or go away. Sometimes a person must be the monk, others the martyr and in extreme circumstances, a crusader. Unfortunately, putting blinders on and ignoring difficult challenge does not make them go away. If you are a religious person, the Devil does not go away and by ignoring the adversary, you play exactly into what he wants.
The only semi-accurate portrayals in this film were St. John the Theologian who never abandoned Christ, even at the cross and St. Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles, who was with them throughout Christ’s ministry and the first to see Christ resurrected.
As a theologian and a former religious studies professor, this film must be classified at the level of, “First Grade Sunday School.” The implied violence was a far departure from The Passion of the Christ, but enough to get the point across. If you want to teach your toddler to elementary school children about the life of Christ, this is worth your 2 hours and 15 minutes. If you are looking for something of a deeper spiritual experience, pass this one by, visit a smaller church, whether a high or low church (independent of liturgical calendars and services without a traditional hierarchy) and pick up a copy of the Holy Bible, preferably, nothing translated after 1830 (personal bias inserted).
Son of God opens Friday, February 28, 2014 nationwide.
