Say It Ain’t So, Mel

I don’t know Mel Gibson. Never met him. I like his movies though. In fact, I think Braveheart may be my favorite movie of all time. But I don’t like what Mel Gibson has become. And I’m not just referring to this latest rant which has all the gossip magazines atwitter like sharks that smell blood in the water. To me, the roots of Mr. Gibson’s well chronicled fall from grace extend all the way back to 2004. See, before that Mel Gibson was, to put it mildly, “The Man.”

Back in 1985 he was People Magazine’s original “Sexiest Man Alive.” He starred in, produced, and directed numerous blockbusters like The Patriot, Maverick and the Lethal Weapon franchise. He even won two Academy awards for his role in the aforementioned Braveheart, which was named the best picture in 1995. In short, he was one of the most likable and most bankable stars in Hollywood...until 2004.

So what happened in 2004? Well, that was the year Mel Gibson felt he had enough good will and popularity in the bank that he could make the movie he always wanted to make. He knew he would face criticism. He knew he would be attacked. But I don’t think even Mel Gibson understood the firestorm that would surround the creation, production and release of The Passion of The Christ.

Among other harsh criticisms of the movie Jami Bernard of The New York Daily News said,“Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is the most virulently anti-Semitic movie made since the German propaganda films of World War II. It is sickening.” But while the furor rose in some quarters in others the movie began to have a much different effect. Some churches were renting out entire theaters and handing out free tickets and even today the film is being used on the mission field to illustrate how God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son to pay the penalty for their sins (Jn. 3:16). To date The Passion of the Christ is the 7th highest grossing movie of all time. Who knows how many lives have been impacted because of its release.

Well, we know of at least one life that’s been changed. Just two years after the release of the film Mel Gibson was arrested for drunk driving and was recorded during the arrest unleashing a blistering barrage of anti-Semitic rants. Three years later his wife of nearly 29 years and mother to his seven children announced they were divorcing amidst rumors of infidelity. Later that year those rumors were confirmed first with pictures then with the birth of his eighth child by a Russian model named Oksana Gregoriava. And now this latest incident.

I don’t know if one thing has to do with the other. Like I said, I don’t know Mel Gibson. But it is hard to ignore the timing of it all, isn’t it? See, Satan loves to attack those on the front lines of the battle (Job 1:9-11). We shouldn’t have any trouble naming the myriad of religious leaders across the country who’ve been embroiled in one type of scandal or another. And if we think about it we can also probably come up with a few right here at home who have stumbled along the journey. True, much of their demise was a fault of their own pride but are they any different that most of the men and women listed in the Bible, including King David who sent one man to his death so that he could marry the guys wife. And he was a “man after God’s own heart?” (I Sam. 13:14)

My point is not that we should go easy on Mel Gibson. Neither should we shy away from the front lines of the spiritual battle to avoid the flaming darts of the enemy. That’s where we belong. That’s where lives are changed. That’s where purpose and meaning begin. That’s also where the battle gets nasty. So as you go about fulfilling your ministry put on His full armor by reading His word, praying without ceasing, and surrounding yourself with Godly men and women who will hold you accountable (Eph. 6:10-20).

Matt Mosler is the author of Way Off Base.