Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. Christians around the world are observing THE most solemn day on the Christian calendar.

In David Jeremiah's newsletter today, he described what some other countries call this day:

Recommended Reading
Luke 23:26-34


Today is Karfreitag, a German word meaning "Friday of Lamentation." In English we call it Good Friday, but other languages usually refer to it as Holy Friday. In Armenia it's called High Friday, and the Russians refer to it as Passion Friday. In China, it's known as the Day of Christ's Suffering.

In Bermuda, kites will be flown today, all of them using wooden frames in the shape of a cross. As the kites soar into the sky, they symbolize the crucified one who has now ascended into heaven. In England, hot cross buns will be served, and the BBC will introduce its morning newscast with a verse from Isaac Watts' hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

Some previous Good Friday posts:

The Power of Christ's Cross

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?

When Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ movie came out in 2004, I created a "before" and "after" survey for people to fill out. It was completely voluntary. I had a fairly good response (considering that it was conducted at my infrequently visited former message board). Now that I have been blogging for three years, I thought that I would post it here for anyone who might like to share their opinions/reactions to that movie.

If you haven't seen the movie, then fill out the first survey, rent and watch the movie, then come back and fill out the second survey.

Even if you have already seen the movie, you can still participate. Perhaps the impact of the movie upon you was so strong that you will instantly be able to recall your thoughts and feelings upon viewing it. If not, then rent it and watch it again.

You can copy and paste the survey(s) into the comment section, and then mark your responses to the questions. You can check only one answer, or as many as you think apply. Feel free to use your screen name, or, you may also post your answers anonymously.

God bless you during this Holy Weekend,

Christine

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First Survey (can fill out before viewing movie)


Age: ____


( ) Male
( ) Female

Ethnicity: (Optional)
( ) Caucasian/White
( ) African-American/Black
( ) Hispanic
( ) Asian
( ) Bi-racial
( ) Other
( ) N/A (no answer)

(1.) I currently consider myself as a(n):
( ) atheist (denies/dis-believes existence of God)
( ) agnostic (existence of God is unknown and unknowable)
( ) member of a non-Christian religion ______________ (fill in blank)
( ) Christian (any denomination) _______________(fill in blank)
( ) Born-again Christian
( ) not sure
( ) other ______________________ (fill in blank)

(2.) My current personal views about the Person of Jesus Christ are:
( ) He was a mythical person
( ) He was a historical person who once lived on the earth
( ) He was a good prophet but not the Son of God
( ) He was, and is, the Son of God
( ) He is my Lord and Savior, the eternal Son of God
( ) Not sure what I believe about Him
( ) other ____________________

(3.) My current personal views about the Bible are:
( ) It is all a myth
( ) It is just a book written by several men who claimed to be
prophets
( ) It is a good book with a mixture of truth and error
( ) It is allegory (representation of spiritual, moral meanings
through the actions of fictional characters that serve as
symbols)
( ) It is the Word of God because other people have told me this
( ) It is the Word of God, contains absolute truth, and is Gods'
eternal message to mankind
( ) other ________________________

(4.) Have you ever read and/or studied the Bible?
( ) No
( ) Never motivated to read it
( ) Parts of it (Read _____ / Studied _____ )
( ) Only the New Testament (Read _____ / Studied ______)
( ) Both the Old and New Testament (Read _____ /Studied _____ )
( ) Read it cover to cover (Read ____ / Studied ____ )
( ) other ___________________________

(5.) What is your religious background?
( ) Do not have a religious background
( ) Brought up in a non-Christian faith
( ) Brought up in Christian faith but left it for another religion
( ) Brought up in a Christian faith but now agnostic/atheist
( ) Brought up as a Christian and still am a Christian
( ) Born-again Christian as a child or, became one as an adult
( ) Other _____________________ (please specify)

(6.) What do you currently believe about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
( ) It didn't happen; it's a myth
( ) I don't know what the crucifixion is
( ) It is a historical fact
( ) I have heard that he died for the sins of mankind but don't
personally believe this
( ) He died for the sins of mankind
( ) His sacrificial death on the cross was to cover the sins of mankind and to bridge the gap between Holy God and sinful man.
( ) other ______________________

(7.) What do you currently believe about the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
( ) It didn't happen; it is a myth
( ) I don't know what the Resurrection really is
( ) It can be explained away
( ) It is a historical fact
( ) The historical evidence proves that Christ rose from the
dead and is the living Son of God
( ) Biblical and historical evidence proves that Christ rose
from the dead and is the living Son of God
( ) other _______________________

(8.) What are you more likely to believe about the crucifixion,
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
( ) It didn't happen
( ) It may have happened but I don't know why
( ) It may be a fact of history but I don't believe in the reasons
why he died and rose again
( ) It may be a fact of history but it only matters to Christians
( ) The biblical account of this may be true but it doesn't matter
to me
( ) It was the ultimate act of love to save mankind from an
eternity separated from God
( ) other _________________________

(9.) What do you think was the reason WHY Jesus Christ died and
rose from the dead?
( ) It didn't happen
( ) It may have happened but I don't know why
( ) Haven't given this much thought
( ) It is only important to Christians
( ) I don't know why but would like to know
( ) It's about forgiveness of sin. Christ took my sins as his own through his death, and his rising from death showed that I will spend eternity with him.
( ) other _____________________


(10.) What do you currently believe (or know) about biblical prophecy - the ability for prophets from the Old Testament to accurately predict events that actually happened in the New Testament?
( ) I do not know anything about this
( ) It doesn't matter to me
( ) I have heard of this but could not cite any examples
( ) I am familiar with the prophecies about the Messiah
( ) I have studied the Bible and know about the prophecies about Jesus Christ
( ) I have studied the Bible, know and believe the prophecies written about Jesus Christ
( ) other _______________________

(11.) From what you have read or know about biblical prophecy, who (meaning, which person) do you think the prophecies regarding the Messiah in the Old Testament point to?
( ) I do not know
( ) It doesn't matter to me
( ) The Messiah has not yet come so couldn't answer this
( ) Someone other than Jesus Christ
( ) The prophecies point towards Jesus Christ but I don't personally believe in Him
( ) The prophecies accurately pointed to Jesus Christ and most were fulfilled by him during his earthly ministry, including his crucifixion, death, and resurrection
( ) other _________________________

(12.) Do you believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ will happen some time in the future?
( ) I do not know
( ) I do not care
( ) No
( ) Yes
( ) The Bible claims this will happen but I do not personally believe this.
( ) The Bible contains the absolute truth on this matter and it says that this is inevitable and I believe it to be true.
( ) other _________________________

(13.) What do you think happens after you die?
( ) Nothing - it is the end of existence
( ) Reincarnation
( ) The body dies but the soul lives on in eternity somewhere
( ) The body dies but the soul immediately lives on in eternity in one of two places, heaven (with God) or hell (separated from God) with the promise of a future bodily resurrection upon Christ's return
( ) I go to heaven because I was a good person here
( ) I do not know
( ) other _______________________

(14.) When/where did you first hear about Mel Gibsons' movie, "The Passion of the Christ?"
( ) This survey is how I first heard of it
( ) From the media, TV, newspapers, internet
( ) Someone told me about it
( ) At my church
( ) In the movie theater coming attractions
( ) other _______________________

(15.) Were you planning on seeing this movie before you were asked to participate in this survey?
( ) No
( ) Yes
( ) Had not decided yet
( ) Only going to see it because of survey request
( ) I like to see all of Mel Gibsons' movies
( ) other ________________________

YOUR Additional Comments:


*******

Second Survey:

AGE: ____

Male: ____
Female: ____

(1.) I currently consider myself as a(n):

( ) atheist (denies/dis-believes existence of God)
( ) agnostic (existence of God is unknown and unknowable)
( ) member of a non-Christian religion ______________ (fill in blank)
( ) Christian (any denomination) _______________(fill in blank)
( ) Born-again Christian
( ) not sure
( ) other ______________________ (fill in blank)

(2.) After viewing the movie, "The Passion of the Christ," has your view changed about the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

( ) Yes
( ) No

Please explain: _______________________

(3.) From what you saw, heard and read via the subtitles, did the movie clearly show to you the reason WHY Jesus Christ suffered, died and rose from the dead?

( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) Other _____________________
Please explain: _______________________

(4.) Do you understand WHY Jesus had to die?

( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) Other ______________________
Please explain: ______________________

(5.) Was Jesus a victim or did he die voluntarily? If voluntarily, why would he do such a thing? What was accomplished by his death?

Please explain: _________________________




(6.) What do you think is the main message of "The Passion of the Christ."

Please explain: ___________________________


(7.) Did you understand the meaning and purpose of every scene that you saw? If no, state what you did not understand.

Please explain: ___________________________

(8.) Can you share the general reaction of the audience at the end of the movie?

Please explain: _____________________________


(9.) What type of audience was it?

( ) Secular audience
( ) My church provided private screenings of the movie and I attended one of the showings.
( ) Mixed audience
( ) Did not observe this
( ) Could not tell what type of audience I was in
( ) Other _____________________________


(10.) Did a pastor from a neighborhood church speak either before or after the screening you attended?

( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) Did not stay for this
( ) Not sure
( ) Other __________________________


(11.) Do you have an interest in finding out more information about Jesus Christ and the Word of God as a result of seeing this movie?

( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) Not sure
( ) Might consider this
( ) Other ______________________


(12.) Were you moved spiritually to consider the purpose of Jesus' death for you? If so, how?

Please explain: ________________________


(13.) Would you consider reading any articles that share additional information about Jesus Christ and what this movie could not show?

( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) Other _____________________

(14.) Do you have any additional questions that you would like answered?

( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) Other __________________________

Please list any questions: ________________________________

(15.) Would you like a link to a discussion forum where you can post comments/ questions/ reactions/ feelings about the movie, "The Passion of the Christ" with others who have participated in the surveys?

( ) Yes
( ) No
( ) Other __________________________

Your additional comments: