The Chosen - Godly Truth or Dangerous Fiction?

[Matthias]

“I am the Law of Moses.” Fictionalized Jesus exclaims in an episode of The Chosen. @Wrangler kindly provided me the clip from the program.

The non-fictionalized Jesus said no such thing. Jenkins himself acknowledged this.

So where does that line come from? As one reviewer pointed out, it comes - not quite but almost - verbatim from the Book of Mormon.

Do the viewers of the episode know this? Do the viewers of the episode even care?

The Book of Mormon doesn’t present the Jesus whom I proclaim.

 

[Matthias]

Hypothetical.

An unbeliever wants to learn about Jesus. Do you offer the unbeliever a fictionalized Jesus or a non-fictionalized Jesus?

Let the apostles be your guide?

 

[quietthinker]

I should be sleeping. Instead, I’m waiting patiently on you. Have you turned with me in the Bible to the Gospel of Matthew? We will both be introduced to Jesus there.

When one knows Jesus, they share him, particularly when asked. Those who don't know him talk about him but can't introduce anyone to him.

You might know about the President, even talk about him but does that qualify you as knowing him ? ....and when asked for an introduction, talk about yourself?

The system of Christianity is loaded with those who can't make that introduction. They talk about everything that opens and shuts focusing primarily on themselves but can't introduce another to Jesus.

It's painful to the hearer particularly when a Pastor is making the claim....as if the volunteered title carries with it an assumed knowing on the matter.

 

[Matthias]

When one knows Jesus, they share him, particularly when asked. Those who don't know him talk about him but can't introduce anyone to him.

You might know about the President, even talk about him but does that qualify you as knowing him ? ....and when asked for an introduction, talk about yourself?

The system of Christianity is loaded with those who can't make that introduction. They talk about everything that opens and shuts focusing primarily on themselves but can't introduce another to Jesus.

It's painful to the hearer particularly when a Pastor is making the claim....as if the volunteered title carries with it an assumed knowing on the matter.

You may not like how I’m going about introducing you to Jesus. Maybe you just don’t have a Bible readily at your finger tips this morning. It sounds to me like you may not believe that I know Jesus.

Let’s reverse the scenario. I invite you to introduce me to Jesus.

All I’ll say in advance is that if you intend to introduce me to Jesus by offering me a fictionalized Jesus then it will be my turn to assert that you don’t know Jesus.

The floor is yours. Introduce me, if you will, to non-fictionalized Jesus.

 

[quietthinker]

You may not like how I’m going about introducing you to Jesus. Maybe you just don’t have a Bible readily at your finger tips this morning. It sounds to me like you may not believe that I know Jesus.

Let’s reverse the scenario. I invite you to introduce me to Jesus.

All I’ll say in advance is that if you intend to introduce me to Jesus by offering me a fictionalized Jesus then it will be my turn to assert that you don’t know Jesus.

The floor is yours. Introduce me, if you will, to non-fictionalized Jesus.

Turning the question with the associated excuses/ reasons is nothing but a decoy.

Go and get oil in your lamp before the master returns and finds you knocking on his door with the answer of 'I don't know you"

 

[Matthias]

Turning the question with the associated excuses/ reasons is nothing but a decoy.

Go and get oil in your lamp before the master returns and finds you knocking on his door with the answer of 'I don't know you"

That’s an epic fail on your part.

 

[Matthias]

Any Gnostic fans in the house this morning?

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas

gnosis.org

Is this a fictionalized or a non-fictionalized Jesus as a child?

Does it matter?

Are you going to be speaking with Muslims? You had better be prepared because you are going to be confronted with some of this in the Noble Quran.

 

[Matthias]

What if someone used it to write a novel and then it was adapted into a movie? Would you endorse it?

*Spoiler alert.*

It was. The novel. Anne Rice, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt -> the movie; The Young Messiah.

What would you say, what would you do, if your pastor suddenly began preaching the gospel according to the Gnostics at the church you attend?

 

[Matthias]

Extra. Extra. Read all about it.

The Church fought hard against Gnosticism in the ante-Nicene period. Who really won the fight?

I didn’t preach Gnosticism before I retired. I preached against the revival and influence of Gnosticism.

Now we “entertain“ ourselves and others with it. (I have a copy of Anne Rice’s novel in my personal library. I’ve sometimes wondered if when after I die and someone goes through my personal library, will they think I was secretly a modern-day Gnostic?)

Gnosticism - Godly truth or dangerous fiction?

 

[Wrangler]

what personal item from Joseph he came to get, the prophetic insight he only shared with his mother - and what it meant.

Oh, one other point that I did not make as clear as I could before. These prophetic insight he only shared with his mother are not doctrinally important, only personally and temporily important.

When Jesus told his mother he came to get the personal item from Joseph, she clearly knew what it meant in terms of his time on Earth and destiny to die horribly.

The emotion of his mother, coupled with Jesus teary response of feeling his mother's pain made for an intense scene. She asked if he was sure? Is it so soon that you will not be coming back?

Implied is that when he told her the day would come when he would retrieve this family heirloom that David gave him. And on that day, it would mark the last time he'd come home.

 

[Mr E]

“There are more problems with The Chosen than the bad theology involved and the Mormon influence on the show. …”

The Chosen—Godly Truth or Dangerous Fiction?

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth—the apostle John (3 John 1:4) By Maria Kneas There are more problems with The Chosen than the bad theology involved and the Mormon influence on the...

www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

I’ve only watched part of one episode, and found it to be wildly inaccurate. That’s hardly a fair hearing.

Programming like this is a pet peeve of mine. (There’s my bias.) I’ve met too many people who get their theology from television and movies rather than from the Bible.

The Chosen is a fictional account, a dramatization, of the biblical Jesus story. The writers take certain creative liberties to provide entertainment for their audience.

I‘m aware that many people love this program. Several whom I’ve spoken with acknowledge the inaccuracies and don’t allow it, they say, to influence their theology.

But what about those who love the program and aren’t aware that it is inaccurate? What is it doing to their theology?

Is it harmless or is it dangerous? Let me know what you think.

It has tremendous appeal and does a good job of introducing Jesus to folks who've never met him. They have no trouble with the presentation. It's folks who think they know him better than the producers who take exception. It's entertainment and as such it has great entertainment value as a great many films do that are similarly 'based on a true story.'

Too many high-nosed critics can't get past their own perceptions of Jesus, nor tolerate someone else's.

 

[Matthias]

It has tremendous appeal and does a good job of introducing Jesus to folks who've never met him. They have no trouble with the presentation. It's folks who think they know him better than the producers who take exception. It's entertainment and as such it has great entertainment value as a great many films do that are similarly 'based on a true story.'

Too many high-nosed critics can't get past their own perceptions of Jesus, nor tolerate someone else's.

I resemble that remark.

Perhaps what gets me off the hook is my balanced position on the issue expressed much earlier in the thread - that it is a matter of conscience for every individual.

Just as a person whose conscience allows him / her to accept a fictionalized Jesus is free to speak out in support, so too a person whose conscience doesn’t allow him / her to accept a fictionalized Jesus is free to speak out in opposition.

Accept or oppose. Every person must decide for himself / herself.

 

[Mr E]

I resemble that remark.

Perhaps what gets me off the hook is my position on the issue expressed much earlier in the thread - that it is a matter of conscience for every individual.

Just as a person whose conscience allows him / her to accept a fictionalized Jesus is free to speak out in support, so too a person whose conscience doesn’t allow him / her to accept a fictionalized Jesus is free to speak out in opposition.

Accept or oppose. Every person must decide for himself / herself.

Compare with 'The Sound of Freedom' by the same Angel Studios.

It's not a completely accurate depiction of what actually happened. "Based on a true Story" -- enough to resemble and reflect the true story, yet not entirely precise in terms of a historical record. Yet it projects a valuable message.

 

[Matthias]

Compare with 'The Sound of Freedom' by the same Angel Studios.

It's not a completely accurate depiction of what actually happened. "Based on a true Story" -- enough to resemble and reflect the true story, yet not entirely precise in terms of a historical record. Yet it projects a valuable message.

How far will your conscience allow you to go?

Transgender Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Homosexual Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Bestiality Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Aryan Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Arian Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Gnostic Jesus would be too far for me. You?

I’ll pause at this juncture, in order to avoid running afoul of Board policy.

 

[Mr E]

How far will your conscience allow you to go?

Transgender Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Homosexual Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Bestiality Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Aryan Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Arian Jesus would be too far for me. You?

Gnostic Jesus would be too far for me. You?

I’ll pause at this juncture, in order to avoid running afoul of Board policy.

You should have stopped before running afoul of Board credibility. The Chosen depicts none of these things.

 

[Matthias]

You should have stopped before running afoul of Board credibility. The Chosen depicts none of these things.

But it does depict a fictionalized Jesus.

Enjoy the entertainment. It comes at a cost.

 

[Matthias]

A.W. Tozer going scorched earth on Christian movies. (A little too scorched, imo. Still, some good points to weigh and consider. Reminds me a lot of Tertullian.)

THE MENACE OF THE RELIGIOUS MOVIE -- A. W. Tozer

www.biblebb.com

 

[Matthias]

Another Christian group taking a balanced approach in response to The Chosen.

The Chosen: Should Christians watch it?

A production about Jesus actually done well?I was a little skeptical when I kept hearing rave reviews about The Chosen. Christians have a notoriously bad reputation for making religious films and shows. Low-quality production, bad storytelling, poor acting, overwhelming cheese factor, etc. Not...

www.gospelmattersblog.com

 

[Matthias]

Surfing around the internet I’ve come across an apt phrase for our discussion: “entertainment theology”. (It’s probably been around for a long time. I didn’t coin the term.)

****

A jingle I composed, debuting on this afternoon’s show.

“Where do you get your theology from? Your theology from? Your theology from?

Where do you get your theology from? Hollywood.”

 

[Wrangler]

But it does depict a fictionalized Jesus.

I'm disappointed that you are not staying in your lane but being an obstacle to the calling God has given others.

You are just repeating yourself. The premise of The Chosen is the backstory of the Apostles chosen by Jesus. While the story line intersects Scripture, most of the show presents a feasible narrative of what happened between verses.

If this was written 2,000 years ago, it might be called Apographa, not blasphemy or heresy.

Enjoy the entertainment. It comes at a cost.

What is this cost of entertainment you keep going on about???