Stigmata

Q: I have a question that I hope you can help me with. Last
evening my 16 year old granddaughter spent the night with me. She
brought a movie she wanted me to watch called Stigmata.
I feel this is NOT from God. Do you have an opinion regarding
Stigmata? Have you heard of it before?

A: I know that Brother Ray has already sent you information about the movie.
I thought I would add some material about the concept of stigmata that
might help. I have not seen the movie and do not know how much of this
directly applies to that film.

Stigmata refer specifically to the wounds of Jesus that are miraculously
reproduced in the body of a Christian. The person experiencing stigmata
often develops wounds or blood blisters that will not heal. They may
bleed and may do so especially at certain holy days. The experience can
be traced to the 13th century when Roman Catholic doctrine developed an
extreme devotion to the sufferings of Christ.

The first famous person to experience the stigmata was St. Francis of
Assisi. In 1244, he had a vision of a seraph with six wings and between
the wings was the image of a crucified one. When he regained
consciousness, he found himself marked with the wounds of the crucifixion
in his hands, feet, and right side. But even the Catholics of his time as
a rule denied their authenticity. Since that time, there have been over
400 claimed cases of stigmata in some form or another (such as the marks
of the crown of thorns, etc.). The great majority of these people have
been Roman Catholics. The historic Roman Catholic stand has been to
accept stigmata as a divine miracle though the official word is now
guarded.

Certainly, it is possible that certain people had unusual wounds or blood
blisters in places on their body that could be related to certain of the
wounds of Christ. However, each of these cases would need to have several
questions answered about them. Are the wounds real, imagined, or faked?
Do they really match the wounds of Christ or is this a product of
imagination? Are they self-inflicted? Could they be psychologically
inflicted? Are they natural or divine? Could they be the product of
satanic activity (we sometimes forget that Satan uses religion to draw
people away from what is really important)?

The evidence is scanty and much of it is supplied by those who believe it
and want to support it. It is never mentioned in the Bible. It started
over 1200 years after the death of Christ. It is a product of the
ignorance and superstitions of the Catholic Church in the darkness of the
Middle Ages. It is the product of a morbid and unscriptural fascination
with and meditation on the physical wounds and suffering of Christ
(something we are beginning to see again today). The Jesuits used
meditations on the sufferings of Christ in the extreme to initiate its
new members. The whole process is quite interesting and instructive of
their methods. They knew that extreme meditation on gory scenes could
alter the mind.

This mind-numbing effect of blood and gore is warned against in
scripture. Before God destroyed the earth, He declared, "The earth also
was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (Genesis
6:11). Notice how corruption in the earth is connected to the earth being
filled with violence. Proverbs 13:2 states that "the soul of the
transgressors shall eat violence." Graphic portrayals of blood and gore
with acts of violence create an adrenalin rush in the body that can
create a high of sorts. This high can be addictive as is demonstrated by
the popularity of horror films and other films depicting graphic
violence. This effect was developed centuries ago by the Roman Catholic
church and is being reintroduced to "Christianity" today in a renewal of
films connecting graphic violence with Christianity.

Films have a power to recreate all the emotions of the real thing without
the actual suffering. People are having their consciences burned out with
sensational special effects. We are enjoying the blood and gore of the
Roman Circus without feeling guilty about people really dying. However, I
do not believe that this will be enough for many. As they come to depend
more and more on the high provided by pretended violence, they will feel
cheated from the full effect because of their knowledge that the
suffering is not real. Eventually, they will have to find ways for seeing
real suffering. I think they are being prepared for a new set of martyrs.

Anyway, I realize that I strayed from the original question about
stigmata. However, I believe it is all related. We are heading back to
the darkness and ignorance of the Middle Ages. I thank the Lord for
people like you who are still making a stand against this corruption.
Keep up the good work.

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan

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