The Chosen - Godly Truth or Dangerous Fiction?

[Matthias]

“When I respond to Jesus as portrayed in ‘The Chosen,’ am I responding to the true Jesus? Well, maybe. To the degree my response relates to attributes of Jesus established by the Bible, I believe I am. …

The trouble for me was, it wasn’t only working in that direction (pointing me to Scripture). What I found disturbing was the way that images from the show would start playing in my head when I read certain stories in the Bible. In some places, the show had taken over my imaginative response to the written word. My ability to meditate on the stories and form my own ideas had been seriously compromised. Indeed, the strong emotions I experienced in connection to the way ‘The Chosen’ interpreted them made me not even want to.

I’m sure it’s obvious that that presents a serious problem. Our response to Jesus should come most dominantly from reading his Word - since that’s the only completely trustworthy place we can go to find the true Jesus. So when I realized the propensity for my heart to be more strongly influenced by ‘The Chosen’ than Scripture, I had to make the decision to leave off watching it. The temptation was just too strong to dabble with.”

The Chosen and The Word - The Gospel Coalition | Australia

When I realised the propensity for my heart to be more strongly influenced by ‘The Chosen’ than Scripture, I had to make the decision to leave off watching it.

au.thegospelcoalition.org

”Am I responding to the true Jesus?”

That’s a great question. Are viewers of the program asking themselves that question?

Your mind is being conditioned by what you’re watching.

 

[Mr E]

“When I respond to Jesus as portrayed in ‘The Chosen,’ am I responding to the true Jesus? Well, maybe. To the degree my response relates to attributes of Jesus established by the Bible, I believe I am. …

The trouble for me was, it wasn’t only working in that direction (pointing me to Scripture). What I found disturbing was the way that images from the show would start playing in my head when I read certain stories in the Bible. In some places, the show had taken over my imaginative response to the written word. My ability to meditate on the stories and form my own ideas had been seriously compromised. Indeed, the strong emotions I experienced in connection to the way ‘The Chosen’ interpreted them made me not even want to.

I’m sure it’s obvious that that presents a serious problem. Our response to Jesus should come most dominantly from reading his Word - since that’s the only completely trustworthy place we can go to find the true Jesus. So when I realized the propensity for my heart to be more strongly influenced by ‘The Chosen’ than Scripture, I had to make the decision to leave off watching it. The temptation was just too strong to dabble with.”

The Chosen and The Word - The Gospel Coalition | Australia

When I realised the propensity for my heart to be more strongly influenced by ‘The Chosen’ than Scripture, I had to make the decision to leave off watching it.

au.thegospelcoalition.org

”Am I responding to the true Jesus?”

That’s a great question. Are viewers of the program asking themselves that question?

Your mind is being conditioned by what you’re watching.

And where did “that image” of Jesus in your head come from? A picture in the Children’s illustrated Bible you were given as a kid? Maybe a pic on the wall in the hall on the way you your Sunday School classroom?

When I read the ‘Lord of the Rings’ I had terrifying images of Nazgûl and whatever forms those ringwraiths might take… I was a youth and my mind conjured fearful things, things terrible. When the movies came out they portrayed those same things in certain ways to illustrate and interpret and depict those things in a way that was intended to convey and project the feelings a reader might experience if they had been there, a witness to the events. Writers do the same thing in story telling.

Sometimes I think you forget the nature or essence of the scriptural accounts that are narratives. For someone who appreciates books as much as you do, it’s too bad you don’t appreciate a good story.

 

[Matthias]

And where did “that image” of Jesus in your head come from? A picture in the Children’s illustrated Bible you were given as a kid? Maybe a pic on the wall in the hall on the way you your Sunday School classroom?

When I read the ‘Lord of the Rings’ I had terrifying images of Nazgûl and whatever forms those ringwraiths might take… I was a youth and my mind conjured fearful things, things terrible. When the movies came out they portrayed those same things in certain ways to illustrate and interpret and depict those things in a way that was intended to convey and project the feelings a reader might experience if they had been there, a witness to the events. Writers do the same thing in story telling.

Sometimes I think you forget the nature or essence of the scriptural accounts that are narratives. For someone who appreciates books as much as you do, it’s too bad you don’t appreciate a good story.

FIFO. Fiction In Fiction Out

Will what happened to her happen to everyone? Probably.

But let’s say for the sake of discussion, probably not.

Should we warn of the danger?

You laughed at the woman’s plight. I shared her cautionary story.

Go ahead and laugh. At her. At me. It doesn’t change her testimony nor will it remove my concern.

 

[Matthias]

The Spirit of madness is everywhere and here we have Matthias concerned about a series on Jesus?

F2F

Is the spirit of madness in The Chosen?

It isn’t a series about Jesus. It is a series about a reimagined Jesus and about reimagined apostles.

Will those reimagined images in your head interfere when you read about the true Jesus and the true apostles in the New Testament? (See post #323.)

 

[Matthias]

“I have a conviction derived out of God’s word that it is unwise to depict Jesus with actors. … The issue at play is worship because there is a concept being implanted in your mind. This is a wisdom issue and an application issue. But as you can hear, a wisdom and application issue is not a binding feature upon every conscience.”

Why You Might Watch The Chosen

Why You Might Watch The Chosen

www.odfellowship.org

“There is a concept being implanted in your mind.“

The concept being implanted in your mind isn’t the concept implanted in your mind that comes from only reading scripture.

 

[Matthias]

And where did “that image” of Jesus in your head come from? A picture in the Children’s illustrated Bible you were given as a kid? Maybe a pic on the wall in the hall on the way you your Sunday School classroom?

Everyone should be asking themselves that question.

Everyone has been impacted in varying degrees by these external influences. That is precisely what I’m drawing attention to and warning about.

The Chosen is just a vehicle I used - thanks to @Wrangler - to start the conversation about the larger issue. Prior to his introducing the program from out of the blue into a conversation we were having that had nothing to do with it, The Chosen wasn’t on my mind.

As is the case with the pastor I quoted in post #327, I think it is unwise to depict Jesus (and the apostles) with actors. As is also the case with that pastor (and others), I treat it as a matter of conscience.

If people are aware of the pitfalls and still want to watch fictionalized depictions of Jesus and the apostles in movies, television programs and books, they are at liberty to do so.

 

[Mr E]

If people are aware of the pitfalls and still want to watch fictionalized depictions of Jesus and the apostles in movies, television programs and books, they are at liberty to do so.

That goes without saying. But still, you’ve said it over and over. Do you believe it? - That’s the bigger question regarding things said. Does repeating it make it more or less true?

YOLO

True or false?

 

[Matthias]

This is the image of Jesus that was hanging on my bedroom wall at my grandparents’ house. To this day when I read scripture, this image sometimes still comes into my mind. It’s definitely not what the real Jesus looked like.



This is an image of Jesus that is much closer to what Jesus actually looked like. The first time I saw it, I was repulsed by it.

Is it exactly what Jesus looked like? No.

When I read about Jesus I read with a mind that was conditioned in my childhood. As a boy I was in love with an image - a Jesus that never existed.

My experience isn’t unique.

 

[Matthias]

That goes without saying.

It should be said.

But still, you’ve said it over and over. Do you believe it?

Yes, I believe it. Does everyone believe it? No.

- That’s the bigger question regarding things said. Does repeating it make it more or less true?

No. Repeating the truth drives home the point.

YOLO

True or false?

False.

 

[face2face]

Is the spirit of madness in The Chosen?

It isn’t a series about Jesus. It is a series about a reimagined Jesus and about reimagined apostles.

Will those reimagined images in your head interfere when you read about the true Jesus and the true apostles in the New Testament? (See post #323.)

Is there a specific doctine in the series that is an afront to you and your understanding of the Bible? Please don't reply with what you have already stated.

 

[quietthinker]

“When I respond to Jesus as portrayed in ‘The Chosen,’ am I responding to the true Jesus? Well, maybe. To the degree my response relates to attributes of Jesus established by the Bible, I believe I am. …

The trouble for me was, it wasn’t only working in that direction (pointing me to Scripture). What I found disturbing was the way that images from the show would start playing in my head when I read certain stories in the Bible. In some places, the show had taken over my imaginative response to the written word. My ability to meditate on the stories and form my own ideas had been seriously compromised. Indeed, the strong emotions I experienced in connection to the way ‘The Chosen’ interpreted them made me not even want to.

I’m sure it’s obvious that that presents a serious problem. Our response to Jesus should come most dominantly from reading his Word - since that’s the only completely trustworthy place we can go to find the true Jesus. So when I realized the propensity for my heart to be more strongly influenced by ‘The Chosen’ than Scripture, I had to make the decision to leave off watching it. The temptation was just too strong to dabble with.”

The Chosen and The Word - The Gospel Coalition | Australia

When I realised the propensity for my heart to be more strongly influenced by ‘The Chosen’ than Scripture, I had to make the decision to leave off watching it.

au.thegospelcoalition.org

”Am I responding to the true Jesus?”

That’s a great question. Are viewers of the program asking themselves that question?

Your mind is being conditioned by what you’re watching.

Every advertisement whether a billboard, on this site or moving images on television leave their impact.
The choice to what we expose ourselves to is ours........from pokemon to pulpits to pornography.

I expose myself to 'The Chosen' because in It I see a compassionate and relatable Jesus. I do not see a Jesus who is above it.....halo and all, or a baby Jesus who looks like he never pooped in his diapers and far too intelligent for his age.

Talking about compassion......it is something I feel, it is not something I think. My relationships of value are visceral not only cognitive.

My relationship with the Prime Minister is purely cognitive; even though he leads the country, I don't know him. I think that is a critical factor when it comes to connecting with the lover of our souls. God desires a visceral relationship; a relationship where there is a drawing one to the other.
When one reads the testimonies displayed of ones who have written in to 'The Chosen', that factor is evident.

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me.

 

[Rockerduck]

View attachment 35191

This is the image of Jesus that was hanging on my bedroom wall at my grandparents’ house. To this day when I read scripture, this image sometimes still comes into my mind. It’s definitely not what the real Jesus looked like.

View attachment 35190

This is an image of Jesus that is much closer to what Jesus actually looked like. The first time I saw it, I was repulsed by it.

Is it exactly what Jesus looked like? No.

When I read about Jesus I read with a mind that was conditioned in my childhood. As a boy I was in love with an image - a Jesus that never existed.

My experience isn’t unique.

Jesus showed me that the face on the Shroud of Turin is what He actually looked like before His resurrection.

 

[Mr E]

View attachment 35191

This is the image of Jesus that was hanging on my bedroom wall at my grandparents’ house. To this day when I read scripture, this image sometimes still comes into my mind. It’s definitely not what the real Jesus looked like.

View attachment 35190

This is an image of Jesus that is much closer to what Jesus actually looked like. The first time I saw it, I was repulsed by it.

Is it exactly what Jesus looked like? No.

When I read about Jesus I read with a mind that was conditioned in my childhood. As a boy I was in love with an image - a Jesus that never existed.

My experience isn’t unique.

The first image is familiar… it’s one most of us were spoon-fed as babes. I suppose it is someone’s “idea” of what Jesus ‘should have’ looked like.

No different than you second image.


Of course, we all now know better thanks to Hollywood.

 

[Matthias]

Is there a specific doctine in the series that is an afront to you and your understanding of the Bible? Please don't reply with what you have already stated.

I’ve only watched a portion of one episode and the clip that @Wrangler provided.

The portion of one episode I watched was goofy. (I commented to Wrangler that Soupy Sales came to mind when I saw it.) The clip he asked me to watch placed words in Jesus’ mouth that probably came subliminally from the Book of Mormon.

Some of the reviews I’ve read have expressed concerns about doctrinal issues. Several have pointed out that the series is trying to appeal to a wide audience and suggest that doctrinal matters will be downplayed and subtle. The show is striving to produce a lovable Jesus that will be warmly welcomed and embraced by all viewers, irregardless of their individual doctrinal positions.

 

[Matthias]

The Spirit of madness is everywhere and here we have Matthias concerned about a series on Jesus?

F2F

Is the spirit of madness in The Chosen?
Please don’t reply with what you have already stated.

 

[Matthias]

A universally appealing Jesus. Is that the real Jesus? No.

Where do we find the real Jesus? We find the real Jesus where the creator of The Chosen asks his viewers to look for him -> the Gospels.

This has come up a number of times by fans of the program, and it’s good as far as it goes. Does Jenkins tell his audience to look for Jesus in other books of the New Testament? Maybe he does, but I haven’t come across him doing it. If he doesn’t, he should. If he does, good on him.

 

[Wrangler]

The show is striving to produce a lovable Jesus that will be warmly welcomed and embraced by all viewers, irregardless of their individual doctrinal positions.

/momentarily lapse in exile …

Those dirty rats!

Better they produce a hateful, obnoxious Jesus that turns everyone off regardless of their individual doctrinal positions.

… return to exile/

 

[Matthias]

/momentarily lapse in exile …

Those dirty rats!

Better they produce a hateful, obnoxious Jesus that turns every off regardless of their individual doctrinal positions.

… return to exile/

Yours is a self-imposed exile. I left the door open when you left and welcome your return. Feel free to come and go as you please.

You fictionalized me with this comment and the sentiment expressed is far from the truth of what I believe.

I wrote and posted something several days ago, following one of your personal attacks. I wrote it for you. I wrote it for me. I wrote for everyone -

“Mind your witness.”

 

[quietthinker]

Yours is a self-imposed exile. I left the door open when you left and welcome your return. Feel free to come and go as you please.

You fictionalized me with this comment and the sentiment expressed is far from the truth of what I believe.

I wrote something several days following one of your personal attacks. I wrote it for you. I wrote it for me. I wrote for everyone -

Mind your witness.


“Mind your witness.”

far too much navel gazing in my opinion!

 

[face2face]

I’ve only watched a portion of one episode and the clip that @Wrangler provided.

The portion of one episode I watched was goofy. (I commented to Wrangler that Soupy Sales came to mind when I saw it.) The clip he asked me to watch placed words in Jesus’ mouth that probably came subliminally from the Book of Mormon.

Some of the reviews I’ve read have expressed concerns about doctrinal issues. Several have pointed out that the series is trying to appeal to a wide audience and suggest that doctrinal matters will be downplayed and subtle. The show is striving to produce a lovable Jesus that will be warmly welcomed and embraced by all viewers, irregardless of their individual doctrinal positions.

So no doctinal issues then.