 Media
So last week I mentioned I might go ahead and deal with the show The Chosen in this week’s blog. I want to say up front that I have not watched very much of the show. Most of my points will be about broader aspects of our media consumption than just this one show. But I did watch a few episodes of the first season when it came out and I will be responding to that portion. My final caveat will be that I watched those episodes about two years ago and so I could be fuzzy on some details. I also want to point out that believers ought to be producing the best art, music, and stories. This is because we know the creator and author of everything good, true and beautiful. The assumption that Christian content must be cheesy and pedantic should not be the reality especially in a free for all to play content culture like we have today. The Second Commandment The first issue I must take with this show is simply that there is a depiction of Jesus. Of course this depends on your view of what constitutes breaking the second commandment. In Exodus 20:4-6, God commands His people not to make any image to be worshiped. Of course no one is claiming that the show is supposed to be worshiped, but Jesus should be worshiped and He is the one being portrayed in the show. I don’t want to bind anyone else’s conscience if you are not compelled by this point, however, I want to make clear that we should consider the fact that the Bible seems to work hard to not tell us anything about what Jesus looked like. I think if God had wanted us to depict Jesus in any form of art it is reasonable to think that we would have been given some instruction as to what He looked like. This point goes far beyond just The Chosen, because many movies, films, and other artistic portrayals have been made even with the best of evangelistic intentions. This seems at best an area where we should be careful to not flaunt Christian freedom to the point of rebellious antinomianism. Artistic License The second and for me far more concerning issue that I have with this show is the use of artistic license. We should never put words in the mouth of God that He has not said. Scripture is the only place that we have the revelation of God. To claim any kind of extra biblical revelation is to claim the very authority of God on those words and so if they are not from God those words are false prophecy and desire execution. I’m sure that the writers and producers of the show would point out that they are not claiming their artistic dialogue or scenes are revelation. However, they are still proposing these scenes and words as if they are a part of the revelation of God. I have heard many people say that the show helps the Bible come alive or that it makes it more real. But what is being made more real for you? The truth in Scripture or the made up musings of the creators and writers? Another problem is that this is not good for the non bible reader because they are not going to know where the truth ends and the artistic license begins. What I am saying is that if you are a well versed enough student of the Scriptures to dissect the truth from the additions then you probably don’t need this media. On the other hand, if someone needs this show to get them into the Bible then they are probably in great danger of being misled by the additional content not found in the Bible. The Scripture doesn’t deal kindly with additions or subtractions. (Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18) The Creators Finally, while the audience for the Chosen is probably the widest part of evangelicalism the creators are a mixture of evangelicals, Orthodocs Jews, and Mormons. This is far beyond the kind of denominational partnerships that we might have to share the gospel with our Bible believing Christians. This is partnering with those who believe in a different God, a different gospel and a different Jesus to supposedly tell the story of Jesus! This kind of ecumenism seems neither safe nor wise in regards to Biblical fidelity or gospel clarity. Before you watch another episode of the Chosen, hear what the creators themselves have said here and here. In this post it is not my desire to make law or bind the conscience of other Christians, only to think faithfully and Biblically about these important issues. Soli Deo Gloria!
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