A Passion for Evangelism (7-14-04)

Ethics Daily is reporting that Barna Research has concluded that Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" had little impact on evangelism. One third of all Americans have seen the film, but fewer than one half of one percent of those who viewed the film said they accepted Christ as a result of seeing the film. Another one half of one percent said the movie influenced them to share their faith with others.

While it is worthwhile when even one person makes a decision for Christ and even one person begins to share their faith, the movie clearly failed as a tool for evangelism. That failure certainly had nothing to do with the cinematography, the quality of the acting, the emotional impact of the story, or the historical realism of the subject being portrayed. Perhaps the failure is due to the nature of the medium that delivered the message.

Our Lord commanded us to deliver the message in person -- not in film. Passion plays have their place and films have an impact, but both are poor substitutes for living, breathing disciples of Jesus who are willing to embody the good news and able to share it in person. Pictures may be worth a thousand words and motion pictures may be worth more still, but one disciple who will meet people face to face and show them the love of Jesus is best of all.