Question

 I would love to know your thoughts about how we should take the series, The Chosen?  So many Christians, we know, are watching it and there have been over 400 million views worldwide.  We love the idea of Jesus and the Disciples going viral, but have a few problems with our kids seeing some of the creative additions, such as: Jesus appearing to practice, to get his words right, before having a sermon (he’s God right?) and Mary Magdalene being called Lilith. We’d like to support it, but also have reservations. 

Answer

Michael Easley and fiction have always had a problem. Historical fiction is one thing, but when you come to the Bible, it’s a little uncomfortable. You don’t have to make the Bible relevant, it is relevant. Part of it is we feel like we have to work harder to make it accessible. We can’t throw the whole thing under the bus because the heart behind it is good. 

The response to The Chosen tells us two things. The power of visual medium is so strong in our culture compared to the written word. The screen generation has jettisoned literary careful reading and analysis in mass, so that’s a big concern.

Secondly, we don’t all have time for it. There is no sense getting into a debate with people on what they should or shouldn’t have added to the storyline. All Christians should use discernment when it comes to shows like The Chosen. If you go to a movie like Avatar, you know it’s pure fiction; they’re not claiming it to be true. But when you’re messing with the scripture, that’s a different story.

The Word of God Stands Alone

When you tell a child a story of Jesus healing the blind man in John 9 and you read it with some excitement, the kids get it. Any movie or show depicting the life of Christ will bring about various opinions, even if there’s not creative additions. All of that to say, these tools have value, but they don’t replace the written Word of God. 

This is cultivating an entire generation’s understanding of who Jesus is. In a sense, we’re letting a TV show teach us theology. However, we are constantly indoctrinated by what we consume. So if it’s a choice between The Chosen and a show like This Is Us, it is better to choose the content that does not glorify sin. When it comes to telling this story, we need to be clear. You don’t have to tell a story about Jesus rehearsing or being mad when there’s a record of that in a particular situation. 

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