To say The Passion of the Christ was a good movie would be like saying King Solomon was "pretty bright. " Not only was the film true to Biblical and historical accounts of the crucifixion, but it was also true to the Catholic tradition of the Seven Stations of the Cross–without pushing these additional ideas down Protestants' throats. This nearly-perfect balance of Christian theology is something to admire.

It's also superior on an artistic/cinematic level–something unheard of in previous Christian films. The rich symbolism adds depth to the story without getting so deep one loses the message. Every camera angle, every lighting technique is used flawlessly to portray the intensity and the anguish of the last hours of Christ. If it feels like the film goes on forever, that's the point.

Gibson takes us to the very edge of breakability in viewing Christ's suffering–when we can't handle another minute of it–then he pushes us even further. With first-person camera shots that turn away for nothing, we're drawn into the situation whether we like it or not. After Jesus is crucified, Mary holds his lifeless body and stares silently into the eyes of audience members for what seems like an eternity, as if shouting, "Look what you did to my son!" This cinematic beauty and emotional exhaustion makes The Passion of the Christ an instant film classic. I can say that with confidence, because I've seen the film.

I've never seen The Last Temptation of Christ, though. To my understanding, the film focuses on a "What if? " scenario of what would happen if Jesus chose to skip the pain of crucifixion and live a normal life. After much prayer and research, I decided that my probability of dwelling on certain aspects of the film (i. e. the sexual content) outweighed my chances of looking at the film objectively and creating an educated analysis of Martin Scorsese's views of Christ. Someday, though, I plan to see the film. Perhaps the viewing will take place between a fervent prayer session and an extended Bible study, but I do plan to watch it eventually.

We as humans (and especially as Christians) have a tendency to judge that for which we have little understanding. Take the Sanhedrin's or Judas' reactions to Jesus. If they had understood who Jesus was, there would have been no crucifixion. It's this same line of thinking that makes us go from "Rated-R films are of the devil" to "If you call yourself a Christian, you've gotta see this movie" in a heartbeat.

Though boundaries are necessary in the lives of Christians, we tend to create extra boundaries based on human understanding. As a result, we judge, we fail to meet our own standards and we alienate ourselves from God. The same people who set such strict guidelines are the ones who seem to fall from grace the hardest. In essence, they're setting themselves up for hypocrisy.

At the risk of sounding like a liberal-minded sellout, I recommend a controversial alternative: Actually getting to know God.

Stop making up rules that separate the two of you and actually hunger for who He really is. This might mean watching an R-rated film to better understand the atrocities of war, racism or any other subject matter that would be too intense for younger viewing, but it may also mean refraining from a rated-PG movie that would cause you to lust.

William Shakespeare is famous for saying, "To thine own self be true. " By itself, the quote could potentially promote selfishness. The Pilate in the back of your head may ask, "What is truth? " In the light of Christianity, however, this statement leads to a theological breakthrough.

The only way to really know myself is to look at me through the eyes of God, my perfect Creator (Psalm 139: 1-6). Being true to myself, then, depends on the depth of my relationship with God. The more intimate I am with Him, the more I learn about who I really am. The more I learn who I am, the more I know my strengths and weaknesses. As a result, I focus less on nitpicky man-made rules and automatically abide by the more relevant biblical truths. It's a risky standard, since it makes it easier to justify sin, but it also promotes genuineness rather than superficial piety. Ultimately, this shift of focus is what God wants (1 Samual 15: 22).

It disturbs me that some church leaders are encouraging children to go see The Passion of the Christ. As this is one of the most intense movies I've ever seen, I wouldn't recommend that decision. The truth is, people have come to salvation for thousands of years before this movie was in pre-production. Their salvation isn't dependent on whether or not they kept their eyes open during the scourging scene.

Psychological studies have shown that most children's brains aren't developed enough to distinguish the difference between dramatic violence and real-life violence. While some might be aware on a conscious level, their undeveloped brains unconsciously lump the two together, making them more prone to repeat what they see. The MPAA didn't add the R-rating for no reason. It's still there to help us make informed decisions.

Despite the R-rating, The Passion of the Christ made $264 million by its third week and is still breaking records. This tells Hollywood that America wants to see this type of film. I predict a rise in spiritually-oriented films as well as a deluge of cheap imitations. When the follow-up films come, a simple standard of "R-rated films are of the devil" simply won't cut it. Now, more than ever, you owe it to yourselves to be true–to "thine own self" and especially to thine own God.

In addition to completing his master's degree during the summers, Mark is the staff reporter for the Jesup PressSentinel. You can reach Mark at written_inspiration@hotmail.com.