The film “Killing Jesus” which Fox News aired on Easter Sunday, was an adaption of the book by the same title and authored by Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly. My commentary here is on the film alone having not read the book.
The first thing I noticed is that the story of Jesus, as depicted by this film, was stripped of all the miracles Jesus did while walking this earth. Clearly the author had a difficulty with miracles and did not allow them in the film. I have heard O’Reilly state that the holy scriptures are mere allegory and then cite supernatural events like Jonah and the fish as reasons for his belief.
I find it interesting that a Catholic, who claims to believe in God, would strip Him of any supernatural abilities. If God exists, then He certainly is supernatural, and if He is supernatural, then He is also capable of doing supernatural things. Bill O’Reilly’s distaste for miracles does not make them false.
Where I was truly surprised is the blasphemous nature this film took. The film depicts Jesus going off to pray after learning of John the Baptist’s beheading, praying for God to forgive Him (Jesus). This reveals that the author also does not believe Jesus to be Deity. My question for O’Reilly then is, “How can you call yourself a Catholic when that very Church has officially declared Jesus as God?” But then again, if you treat your Church as you do the word of God, you allow yourself to pick and choose according to your sensibilities.
Let me make this clear for you Mr. O’Reilly. If Jesus needed forgiveness for a sin or sins that He committed, then your claim on salvation is in vain. For Jesus would be a mere man only, there was no virgin birth, and God would certainly not be his Father. He would have died and would have had to pay for His own sin with His own death. That would mean Mr. O’Reilly that you would be most miserably unsaved for only a spotless lamb is an acceptable sacrifice. Your sins would not be forgiven and you would not be able to make a claim of such.
O’Reilly has allowed his human reason to be exalted above the Word of God. Where his sensibilities regarding the miraculous are assaulted, he merely writes that off as an allegory. It amazes me that one can claim to maintain faith in God and at the same time claim that His only message to mankind is allegorical. Why this is so dangerous is that if one makes a claim that the bible is allegory, then one has also made the claim that their salvation and eternal life is based upon allegory not a clear promise by God.
If God has left His word to be inspected and judged by fallible human beings, then it is worthless to start with. But that is not the witness of the scriptures, for God says that He puts His word above His name. And if God is infallible then so would be His word. Yes, we would need to inspect it, but not to determine what part is allegory and what part is literal based upon one’s own sensibilities.
O’Reilly has clearly stepped over the threshold and offended many Christians. You see Mr. O’Reilly, Jesus’ miracles had eye witnesses. You would not show a resurrected Jesus in your film, which I assume that you are aware of that we celebrate Easter for. There were many eye witnesses of His resurrection. You did not show a Roman guard at His tomb which would undermine the resurrection story. So in this film you are undermining the faith of those who are weak in the faith and for that you will have to give an account. Not to me, but to the Creator. For the scriptures state, “not many of you should become teachers knowing that you will undergo a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1) Jesus Himself said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
You can attempt to allegorize those passages but your attempts at such will not negate their literal statement and warning. I truly hope you see the error that you have committed and seek God’s forgiveness. I also hope that you will apologize to the Christian community and admit your failures with this work. Jesus is not a fairy tale or a mythology. He is real, He actually came to give His life for those who would believe upon Him, and He is returning. That sir, are the facts of reality.
Don’t shoot the messenger
