Where The Passion Meets the Penal Code

You may have seen the story over the weekend of movie actor/director Mel Gibson being arrested for speeding and drunk driving near his home in California. Apparently, Mad Max drank a little too much Mad Dog -- his car was traveling 40 miles an hour over the speed limit and his blood/alcohol was 50 percent higher than state limits.

My teenage/adult life and Mel's movie career span the same time. Those of us who saw the Lethal Weapon movies of the 80s, and the headlines of Gibson's personal life, were surprised (at least I was) when word of "The Passion of the Christ" hit the street.

"Is Mel Gibson really making a story about the most important event in all of religious history? Will he do it reverently?"

He was, and did, and for the most part, it was praised by Christians. Suddenly, Gibson's faith was in the spotlight (I didn't know he had a faith in Christ). Talk shows speculated whether or not Gibson would ever again make a "traditional" movie -- one where he makes $20 million to play an unconventional cop, epic war hero, or desirable ladies man. We learned that Gibson was a devoted Catholic -- a family man with a full-size van load of kids and a patient, enduring wife.

Now this -- drunk driving, reckless speeding, and reportedly racial comments made during his arrest.

So which Mel is Mel?

Of course, both.

Mel Gibson has likely never been the puritan Christian most of the faithful would hope him to be. Even his passion for "The Passion," which provided an avenue for telling the story of Jesus' death, couldn't hide his body of work. Add to this Gibson's self-admitted battle with alcohol (and who knows what other dependencies throughout his lifetime), and you have a picture of a very flawed man.

On the other hand, most of us aren't so different from Mel as we might position ourselves to be. Faithful at times -- and utterly selfish other times. Dependent on Christ for salvation, but willing to feed wordly dependencies when it suits us. Profoundly interested in spiritual matters, yet surrounded by the here and now, with its deadlines and delicacies.

To our benefit, most of us will never make the headlines for our imperfections, as Mr. Gibson has. And, in our own proprietary ranking system, our sins may not be as "bad" as his. Yet, they exist.

If Mel Gibson is a believer, I hope that his brush with the law will remind him of his walk with the Savior, and help him redouble his commitment to living out his faith in holiness.

If he is not, perhaps Gibson will thoughtfully consider his own depiction of Jesus' love and sacrifice on the cross -- a death that brings new life to those who live as believers.