Bro. Matt’s Blog

. . . is this the start of something wonderful in his life?

You do not need me to recall all the issues of last week’s tirade. Driving under the influence of alcohol, doing 87 mph in a 45 mph zone, he resisted arrest and them began unleashing a plethora of profanity and anti-semitic remarks. Given his recent stigma from the Hollywood community due to his blockbuster success of The Passion of the Christ (2004), Gibson’s remarks seem to have caused not concern or compassion, but delight among the Hollywood elite and the media.

Chuck Baldwin, a pastor in Florida and former vice presidential candidate in 2004 of the Constitution Party, noted something quite interesting:

I don’t remember anyone in Hollywood or in the national media saying it was “all over” for Jesse Jackson when back in 1984 he called Jews “Hymies” and referred to New York City as “Hymietown.” I don’t remember people saying it was “all over” for Michael Moore when he was quoted as placing Israel in his own personal “axis of evil.” Why, then, are the Hollywood elite saying it’s “all over” for Mel Gibson?

Gibson’s enemies even overlook the fact that instead of sending his publicist to handle the media (as most Hollywood stars would do), he personally took responsibility for his actions and comments. In fact, his humility and contriteness in the matter have been quite remarkable!

In addition, Gibson has admitted to a long- standing problem with alcohol addiction, and he has apologized profusely for his anti-Jewish words spoken in a drunken stupor. He has even said he was willing to meet with Jewish leaders in order to facilitate a healing. What more can the man do?

How did he “personally” take responsibility? Look at Gibson’s remarks soon after the incident.

“I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words,” Gibson said in a statement issued by his publicist Tuesday. “Please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith.

“There will be many in that (Jewish) community who will want nothing to do with me, and that would be understandable,” he added. “But I pray that that door is not forever closed.”

He went on to note that he needed to look in his heart to see where that type of vitriole would come from.

Friends, he “manned up.” Were his comments inexcusable? Absolutely! But his reaction was not to simply do as Floyd Landis did, which was to deny it ever happened. Gibson said what he did was stupid and he will go to the offended parties to try and remedy and reconcile that situation. He’s making the effort.

Clearly, Gibson is not concerned about his career first and foremost, else he never would have touched the subject matter dealt with in Passion. Clearly, Gibson is exploring more deeply the matters of his faith.

Now, it seems that God may want Gibson to explore more deeply what is in his heart.

Matthew 12:34:  “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

Col. 2:6-8: Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, [7] rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. [8] See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

So to answer the question, “Has Mel Gibson completely lost his mind? Or is this the start of something wonderful in his life?” Given the importance of spiritual self-examination, I’d say the second.”