There's a lot of hype for Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ movie about Jesus. That's one reason why I probably won't see it. (I am probably among a handful of Asians who did not watch better Luck Tomorrow. I refuse to give in to the hype.) I realize that a lot of churches and Christian groups are renting out theaters to watch the movie, and I think that's fine. I'm not against telling the story of Jesus. I do that for a living. I'm not against the graphic violence in the film. (I love the graphic violence warnings on tv.) From the trailers and clips I've seen, I think Gibson put a lot of work into making a fine film.

Part of what does bother me is one of the movie posters advertising it as the greatest the outreach event in 2000 years, or something to that effect. I'm sure that some of the non-Christian (and Christian) patrons who see the movie may be able to get a better idea of the pain and suffering that Jesus went through, but I personally don't think that a Hollywood movie makes a great evangelical tool. If I were not a Christian and I saw this movie, I don't think I would be any more compelled to follow Jesus. (As much as I loved watching The Return of the King, there is no way on earth I would want to live in the Shire with the Hobbits.) It's a movie and should be treated as such, by believers and non-believers alike.

I think I speak for many when I say the greatest evangelism tool isn't necessarily a big church event or group outreach. Even working in a Christian ministry, I know that our daily bible study time is not the most effective time for people to learn and understand who Jesus is. It's about the relationships a Christian develops with others that really show the relationship we have with God.