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Christians divided over film
01/03/2007 09:15 - (SA)
Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane
Bushbuckridge - Christian leaders are divided over whether to advise their followers to watch a documentary that claims scientists have discovered the tomb in which Jesus Christ was buried.
The documentary, titled The Lost Tomb of Christ, is to be flighted on the Discovery channel on DSTV on Sunday night. It was co-created by Oscar-winning director James Cameron of Titanic fame and Canadian filmmaker Simcha Jocobovici.
The central theme of The Lost Tomb of Christ hinges on the controversial claim that Jesus was never resurrected, but was buried in a traditional family tomb - along with his parents, wife and son - in small coffins called ossuaries.
"This film is nothing but lies. It's a money-making scheme that is influenced by Satan. We urge all our Christian believers to keep their eyes and ears away from such an evil documentary," said Bishop Israel Malele, head of the Word of Life Bible Church in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
Malele, whose church has about 2000 members, many of them professionals and business people, said on Wednesday that the documentary made a mockery of the Christian faith.
"This is demonic - it's just a malicious way of confusing believers and luring them away from the message of the cross that clearly says Jesus was resurrected from the dead. It's an insult to every believer," said Malele.
He cautioned believers to be wary of "a new wave of confusion" that he said was rising against the church of Christ globally.
Malele cited as an example of this tendency the film The Da Vinci Code, which claimed that the Roman Catholic Church was hiding the fact that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had a child with her.
Make up own mind
"Gullible people will watch such satanic material, believing it is true, while the filmmakers are getting rich. Believers need to be aware that some archaeologists in Jerusalem are having doubts about this so-called proof," said Malele.
However, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) has encouraged believers to watch The last Tomb of Christ and make up their own minds.
"We cannot just rubbish the documentary, although many of these 'new' proofs are usually embedded in sensationalism. We are saying Christians should rather be opened-minded - this can renew their faith," said Reverend Luke Pato of the SACC.
He said such debates reminded Christians of the importance of their beliefs.
"Our foundation cannot be shaken. We do not base our faith on Jesus's empty grave, but on the testimony that was given by witnesses. To us, Jesus has risen - there's nothing really worth commenting about," said Pato.
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader Kenneth Meshoe needed more time to prepare a response, his spokesperson, Steven Makhanya, said on Wednesday.
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South Africa
