I’m often struck by the parts of the Bible various Christians choose to focus on. It seems to me that, whatever church they belong to, their focus reflects who they are.

Those who are loving focus on love and forgiveness; those who are critical and judgmental focus on passages that criticize and condemn, whether the criticism is of evildoers or (as it frequently was with Jesus’ radical ministry) of the powerful and self-satisfied.

Those who are peace-loving see the many references to peace, while those who are angry and vengeful focus on themes of retribution. It is no surprise to me that a man who, both as an actor and a director, has specialized in graphic portrayals of physical violence (e.g., the three “Lethal Weapons” films, “Road Warrior,” “Mad Max,” “Braveheart”) — in other words, a man obsessed with violence — has made an extremely violent and bloody film about the events of Holy Week.

Ann Gerike

Coupeville