You’d have to be “off the grid” to not have heard about the popular biblical series, The Chosen. Don’t worry, this won’t be a critique of the series but it, coupled with varying reviews from Christians, caused me to think more critically, more biblically about the larger topic of the role of theatrical presentations of the sacred Scripture. Over the past decade there has been an onslaught of Christian and Bible-based programming, which raises the question of whether these are helpful or harmful to the culture at large. Whether you’re a fan or critic of biblical plays, movies, and television series, this brief post should give you something to think about the next time you create or watch such media.
(To end on a more positive note, we’ll start out with the cons and finish with pros.)
CONS
- Artistic embellishments can mask biblical truth. Ever heard someone reference something from the Passion of the Christ (2004) as though it was in the Bible? Perhaps the rain or symbolic tears from the sky at the crucifixion of Jesus or Jesus physically crushing the head of the serpent. Neither account is in Scripture, but what is in Scripture is what God wants us to know. People need to recall the history of the Bible as it’s recorded, not as it’s envisioned. When media creators take biblical accounts seriously but insert concepts for continuity or entertainment value, the result is often people being unaware of what part is the Bible and what part is “movie director.”
- Audiences often retain visual theatrics more than biblical facts. This is a cousin of the above con, and like the former, this one falls on the recipients more than the creators, but the point still remains. It’s easy for us to retain visual images. To this day, I’m sure people picture Charlton Heston as Moses more than they focus on the things God emphasized in Scripture about him. Having an idealized and erroneous visual that is more memorable than the facts of the Bible presents a common drawback.
- Movies, plays, and television series can suggest the Bible alone is insufficient or second-rate. God came to earth at the perfect time, and that time lacked video recording. God chose to reveal Himself through written words, which means He intended for His creation primarily to read about Him. Movies, plays, and television series have their place, but they are not better than the Bible. In fact, these types of media portrayals can only save to the extent that they communicate the God-ordained truth of Scripture, i.e., the gospel of Jesus Christ. Absent the gospel, these portrayals can only encourage, inspire, and entertain. Absent the gospel, these media creations are, at best, a supplement, and no creator should presume he’s improving on the true Script.
PROS
- Increased reach to both the churched and unchurched. Television and cinema are inherent to twenty-first century life. People expect everything to be in video form, so if it’s engaging and in visual format, they might be more inclined to entertain it. Thus, Christians and non-Christians alike can be encouraged through biblically consistent portrayals. As an added bonus, the non-Christian may entertain a biblical portrayal when he would never step foot in a church.
- They can communicate complex matters in an easy-to-understand way. Whether it’s displaying how a Roman soldier might hoist up a crucified man or providing historically consistent depictions of a culture, when this is done correctly, it can enhance Bible knowledge. I recall watching the Gospel of Matthew (2018). The series is a word-for-word narration with visuals of the four Gospels using the New International Version (NIV). When Jesus went to heal/raise the girl who’d recently died at the request of her father, the scene depicts the frantic commotion expressed in the Scripture with a visual of mourners and the body of a young girl wrapped before Jesus healed her. The commotion and rationale of why Jesus would put them out can be quickly gathered through this visual reflection.
- They can inspire biblical investigation and inspire thought. Just as audiences can make assumptions about the Scriptures through creative media, they can also investigate things they may have read but taken for granted. It could be a topic they’d previously breezed through in Scripture or something to which they could open their minds. For example, suppose an individual saw a series on Paul, and it detailed his missionary journeys to include his interaction with Priscilla and Aquila in their “house church” (Rom. 16:5). This might cause them to think quite differently about the early church and spark investigation into the concept of house churches. Many similar examples could be given, but I think you get the point. If the media invokes interest in the Bible, then it’s a good thing.
- It can be used to break the ice and have spiritual conversations. Our society has become one where religion and discussions of Jesus are considered taboo. It’s bad form to discuss Jesus with some, and I’ve even had someone become downright angry with me at the mention of biblical ideas. Enter a series like The Chosen. With its popularity, you can ask about the series just easily as you’d ask about the football game from the past weekend. Without critiquing the show, you’ve got an open door for spiritual discussion and an opportunity for a biblical gospel presentation.
Ultimately, when done correctly, using theatrical arts to present the Bible and Gospel truths is a net positive for the Christian and the culture. Yet, it’s not without risk and potential pitfalls. The various forms of Christian media require wise, prayer-filled, Bible-saturated, communal considerations to maintain biblical consistency, minimize drawbacks, and maximize God’s glory.