There has been much work within the convention to streamline both IMB and NAMB. This is good ... but the root of the problem lies much deeper than that. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt 6.21 KJV). Just as we cannot deny this truth, we must also realize that the reverse of this is true. We will put our treasures where our hearts are. It has become clear that we, as Southern Baptists, no longer have our hearts in missions. But the big questions are "What has caused us to lose our vision?" and "How can we restore our love for missions?"

The Cooperative Program is the backbone of missions in Southern Baptist Churches and has been so for many years. It is a great program and has served us well but there is a built-in danger that must be addressed. Many times, we pitch in a dollar or two into the mission offering to ease our consciences.

Pastors, are we leaders in the churches that God has put under our watch care? It is time that we as pastors quit blaming our churches and our poor leadership skills, and trust in a Holy God! It is not a matter of fear; it is a matter of trust. Do we trust God? Put the "Ye" back in the Great Commission. It is time to plan a summer mission trip. Even though not all your members will be able to go, some will and these will set your church on fire for missions!

I had hoped that we would all unite behind this film and not start the labeling and dissecting the movie. While Mr. Roszak makes many valid points about the content of the movie later in the article, he immediately puts us on the defensive, which is very unfortunate.

This movie provides the Christian community an opportunity to unite like never before, and we must, as Christians, be united in our support of this film, and prepare to minister to those who will seek answers to the questions it will produce.

Whether there was motivation from The Dolorous Passion or not is irrelevant. The content of this movie is based on Scripture, with, as Mr. Gibson himself has stated, "some literary license." As I watched the movie, I found nothing that was not plausible.

Further, I was refreshed to see Mary have a significant role. It made the movie that much more believable. What mother would not be present at the trial and sentencing of her son? The Scriptures again do not give us detail to support this, but Mary is the mother of Jesus and was to the very end, weeping and grieving for her son. We must be careful not to label any focus on the role of Mary as being "driven by the Catholics."

Finally, let us be careful, not to be so critical of literary license simply because it is a faith-based film. Many of the accounts in Scripture leave large gaps of time unaccounted. Therefore, when a writer seeks to bridge those gaps, let us not be so critical that we do more harm than good with our comments.

If you have not seen this film, please go see it. However, when you do, watch it with an open heart to find ways you can use this film as a tool for evangelism.