Mel Gibson

Johnny Israel
City Room Press
August 1, 2006

A few days ago the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department arrested Mel Gibson for DUI. TMZ.com, a Hollywood celebrity watch dog, reported that Gibson resisted arrest, refused to cooperate with sheriff officers, and said anti-Semitic remarks. The following day, Mel Gibson released a statement apologizing for his actions. Immediately after Gibson’s arrest the Jewish and Christian community condemned the actor, and producer of the Passion of Christ, stating, “Gibson’s true colors have come out showing he is an anti-Semite.”

Mel Gibson is not only one of the most successful box office draw in Hollywood, he is also one of the most respectable men. When Gibson filmed the Passion, my Jewish brothers immediately castigated him as an anti-Semite. On the other hand, Christians worldwide hailed Gibson as imaginative director that captured the true personification of the crucifixion of Christ.

Since Gibson’s arrest, Jews have demanded the Hollywood film industry blacklist him, listing him as an anti-Semite. Christians have also jumped on the bandwagon, wagging tongues of accusations without first having all the facts surrounding his arrest. It may be understandable why Jews tag Gibson as an anti-Semite, seeing how they consider the Passion an anti-Semitic film. But is Gibson an anti-Semite? Those who have worked closes to Gibson say ‘no’. Gibson is a generous man, supporting charitable organizations that include financial support for underprivileged Jewish children in Israel.

Jesus told his followers, before removing the speck out of their brother’s eye they must first remove the log from their own eye. Meaning, before we judge Gibson for his faults, we first must judge ourselves for our sins. Which one of us has not in the heat of passion made derogatory statements that we immediately regretted saying? Or have acted in a way that is unbecoming of our Christian faith? When the Jews caught a woman in the act of adultery, Jesus said, “He without sin let him cast the first stone.” One by one the accusers threw down their stone and walked away in shame.

Gibson is a brother in Christ. As a brother, we are not to judge or condemn him, but rather to pray for him. When we condemn a brother, we pass judgment on ourselves. Not to mention judgment, gossip, condemnation of a brother blocks the Lord’s blessing in our personal life. The Word tells us to pray for each other, and to love one another as Christ loved the church. These are not the days to wag our tongues in destructive gossip, but to pray as we have never prayed before. God lists gossip as one of the seven deadly sins that blocks the presence of our Heavenly Father. Gossip grieves the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that resides in you and me. The Apostle James said it best, “Can bitter water and sweet water flow out of the same fountain? With the same tongue we bless God and curse men. This should not be so”

The next time you hear a brother in the Lord criticize Mel Gibson, ask them if they have first lifted him up in prayer. The Holy Spirit is love. Criticism is neither a fruit of the Spirit nor a gift. God is not the author of criticism, the devil is. When we criticize a brother, we join allegiance with the devil. The Bible tells us the Devil is the author of strife and division, and that Christ delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. As children of God, we are forbidden by the Spirit to use our tongue for evil, but rather commanded to edify, esteem, and exhort a brother in the Word. On the cross, Christ took upon himself all people’s sins, including Gibson’s. To criticize a brother is to null and void the works of the cross, making His sacrifice ineffective. Therefore, let us remember Mel Gibson as a brother in Christ that deserves our prayers and not our criticism.

Johnny Israel