Showtime for the Sheep?: The Church and the Passion of the Christ

Like the Biblical Bereans that he seeks to emulate, Mr. McMahon checked the Scriptures in the process of reviewing Mr. Gibson's movie. This book shows why this is so necessary for all of us. We dare not depend on men and their personal beliefs when eternity is the issue. The Bible has proven itself true and utterly reliable. Is the "Passion of th Christ" true and reliable? Read Showtime for the Sheep, compare both to Scripture and you will find Mr. McMahon to be the truth teller. Your future depends on it!

PLEASE I BEG YOU. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CONVINCE YOU ENOUGH SO THAT YOU CAN READ THIS BOOK. IT IS A VERY TIMELY AND CRUCIAL BOOK THAT BEGS YOUR READING IF YOU HAVE WATCHED MEL GIBSON'S "THE PASSION OF" OR ARE THINKING OF WATCHING IT. THIS BOOK CLEARS OUT A LOT OF SPIRITUAL ERRORS AND SEEKS TO PRESENT THE GOOD NEWS IN A PURE WAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS STILL TRUE BUT SAD TO SAY MANY PEOPLE ARE POLLUTING THE GOOD NEWS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SIMPLY PRESENT IT IN ITS PURITY. THIS BOOK CLEARS OUT MANY ERRORS AND SEEKS TO PRESENT THE PURE GOOD NEWS.

I have enjoyed many of T.A. McMahons writings. This one does not dissapoint at all. It is an extremely relevent topic for today's evangelical church. It is carfully and logically laid out. It looks at the topic of the real passion of Christ as compared to the movie version in a Biblical fashion. Get it and read it...

Discernment among evangelicals is at all all-time low tide, and this book is good because it challenges us to THINK, not go on feelings. How the movie makes you feel is a matter of Hollywood doing its job like the professional it is. If we judge the movie by emotional reaction and evangelical enthusiasm, it is a hit. But not when judged by the principles of the Word of God. Every evangelical owes it to himself to read this book.

I agree with the writer of this book. It is a sound book, and one of the points that I think the author makes especially well is that God is a jealous God, (you will find that in Scripture) and it (to me) doesn't fit to have a mortal man trying to accurately portray His [God's] only begotten Son. One of the examples that the author uses is this: "Suppose my wife were to pick up my wallet and find a picture of model Cindy Crawford in the photo section, tucked in between the pictures of our children. With a hurt expression on her face, she asks me for an explanation. I reply that the beautiful model reminds me of her. Even if she recognizes that I am quite sincere, that does not completely erase her hurt feelings or the jealousy generated by the fact that someone-who was not she-was given a place in my "those-who-are-near-and-dear-to-me" photo collection. For the sake of our relationshiop, the truly loving thing to do would be to dump Cindy." [page 80 of "Showtime for the Sheep"] (The author cites Scripture Now, you have people visualizing the image that they saw in the movie, praying while reviewing in their minds clips of the beatings, floggings, etc. In addition to this, churches are using clips and images of the movie [The Passion] during worship time in Sunday church services. Now, I want to please my Lord, and I don't know how these things; the visualizing of a man other than Jesus as a "symbol" of Jesus, etc., can be pleasing to Him. This is just one of the important "issues", if you will, that the author raises in his book. He presents facts and asks questions. He presents research, and reflects on his experiences as a former Roman Catholic in his book where the interest builds, rather than dissipates, as you read further into the book. (At least that's what I found.) I recommend this book highly.