“The Chosen TV Show,” Used by Permission
There seems to be a debate going on in Christendom and I don’t mean Russell Moore’s scathing letter to SBC president Greear. I’m talking about The Chosen. The #1 crowdfunded television program ever. Written by Dallas Jenkins, scion of Left Behind’s Jerry Jenkins, wowed audiences, secular, and Christian in its first season. It was made all the more accessible when the Chosen app offered all eight episodes for a voluntary “pay it forward” model. The last big Jesus media splash was Bruce Marciano’s brilliant performance in the word-for-word NIV narration of The Gospel of Matthew. There was a ripple or two with a 2003 Word-for-Word Gospel of John. It’s tough playing Jesus or his disciples. As Movieguide said summing up the Gospel of John’s bad reviews (37% on Rotten Tomatoes)
The Gospel of John takes a reverent approach to its story without ever bringing it to life, proving that cribbing from the Good Book isn’t enough to guarantee a good movie.
Amen. The Chosen has had unprecedented success and now that Jenkins has a fully funded season two the celebrity Christian train is pulling into the station. God help us all. Some people have noticed a bit more artistic license from the writers this season. Jesus seems to find his hipness and Jenkins feels more confidence in telling a story about Jesus that cribs from the Gospels and tries to capture the spirit of following Christ but not sticking to the letter of the ancient text.
From the beginning, Jenkins has made clear that he thinks the Chosen is based on the Bible but it’s not cut from the same cloth as previous Gospel films. It’s not a word for word retelling like The Gospel of Matthew. It is a multi-season story about Jesus’ disciples, fit for the Netflix generation. Jenkins makes clear that the writers condense timelines and take poetic license. Further in this video he says that The Chosen is no substitute for Scripture, which I appreciate.
Any Christian creative project that gets the kind of national attention the Chosen has is going to draw scrutiny. Mormons work on the show? Yep. VidAngel the distributor, is owned by Mormons. Season two is shot on an LDS set. Jenkins recently said on a Mormon interview “Our disagreements are about what Jesus did after he came. We worship the same Jesus.” Dallas is wrong that our differences with Mormons are only about what Jesus did after he was crucified. Dallas is wrong that Mormons and Christians worship the same Jesus. In official Mormon teaching Jesus, and in fact all of us, were born on another planet, and came to earth to acquire a physical body and earn our godhood as all gods before us. I’m concerned about this. I don’t know if he’s just motivated by his job situation to reason this way or if he’s just unaware of the official LDS doctrines but it’s a concern.
It’s also not a reason for me to stop watching the show or using it. That would definitely change if Jonathan Roumie pops over to speak with the American Indians at the end of Season two or the angel Moroni shows up. As it is, I personally (MCOI has not taken a position on the Chosen yet) will judge the show on its own merits as Jenkins asks us to do. That’s fair.
Jonathan Roumie is a devout Catholic who prays the Rosary. Atheists work on the show as well. One of the advisors to the writers is spouting bad theology on Sid Roth’s show. Some of the actors haven’t been to church since Easter? These are all valid concerns. But one concern I keep hearing is that we shouldn’t watch the Chosen because Jesus and the disciples speak and talk way too modern, and the writers add to the story. The depiction of Matthew as on the spectrum from Aspergers to Autism, as some have suggested, is artistic license.
It is historically accurate that as a tax collector Matthew was regarded as a traitor. Creating a storyline which includes Matthew hiring a man to sneak him into the market in an attempt to avoid being accosted for being a traitor is something which could possibly occur. In the episode the man he hires refuses to take him any further into the market than its outer edges. The man calls Matthew a “public anus” a derogatory joke at the expense of the Latin publicanus, for Roman public official.
And you know what? It works. I know I’m not watching the Gospels but I’m watching the world of the Gospels brought to life. Who among us hasn’t tried to explain to Sunday School attenders how radical Jesus was to call a Roman collaborator like Matthew to be His disciple? Who among us, has felt like our students really get it? I don’t know if publicanus’ like Matthew had to sit behind a locked window with a Roman guard. If there is no historical precedent for that, I don’t really care. It gets the point across.
I still get Goosebumps when Roumie says, “Get used to Different.” Jesus didn’t say that. It’s colloquial. It’s modern. and it’s right. That scene conveys a very Biblical point. Jesus’ ministry was radical because of the kind of people he called. That comes through regardless of whether there was a Gaius (Kirk Woller) breathing down his neck. So, quibble about anachronism if you like. (Just be sure to start your nit-picking in the traditional way, by prefacing your corrections with the words “Um Actually . . .” )
Some of the criticism of the show has the worry that people will take the show itself as being the Gospel. Considering that the average Christian sitting in their theater seat in the warehouse-turned-worship service can’t explain Jesus’ divinity without uttering heresies that were condemned in the Council at Nicea, it’s valid. It’s not a reason to condemn the Chosen though. It’s a reason to teach the Bible. I used the Chosen series last year as the opener for a Bible study. We would read the Bible passage first. Noting what is not said and what is emphasized and then we would watch the scene and discuss the Bible passage. I was (and still am) careful to point out what in the scene is poetic license and what is true, in my theological opinion.
I could be wrong but I think some of the concern about the Chosen being biblically accurate is that we have the sneaky suspicion that the average 20-30 something would rather get their Bible understanding from a well-funded tv production than do the challenging work of trying to understand the Bible. But it is not Dallas Jenkins job to make Bible study fun. He’s a creative. His job is to be creative within the bounds of sound theology and his allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Dallas Jenkins is becoming a celebrity Christian whether he wants to or not. This is a trial worthy of us bathing him in prayer. God save us from Christian celebrity status. It has been the downfall of so many. Ravi Zacharias being just the most recent. Pray that Dallas is given all the spiritual strength to stand up to that sort of scrutiny and that he never, ever, starts believing his own press.
And pray he and his team can find a way to speak truth in love. I hope he comes to realize that according to Mormon doctrine, Jesus is the brother of the Satan. The human body of Jesus was the result of the union between the immortal Father and Mary “in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers” as the late Bruce R. McConkie, member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles puts it,1Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Bookcraft, 1966, p 547 This is NOT the Jesus of the Gospels.
So, in sum: Take the show on its own merits. Teach the Bible. Don’t substitute it. Be concerned and pray, especially for Jenkins and his family.Ω
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End Notes
| ↑1 | Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Bookcraft, 1966, p 547 |
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I wish he would issue a full disclaimer about putting so many words in our Lord’s mouth, and to get the real deal, please read the Bible . . .
Well said. A disclaimer would help so fans do not think the Chosen is 100 percent accuracy.
I appreciated these thoughts. We have really enjoyed The Chosen and are thankful that many who watch are digging deeper into their Bibles because of it! I also love the casting of Matthew as somewhere on the spectrum. Having and living with a son with Asperger’s (who is also watching the show), I am intrigued and deeply moved by this character and the reactions of those around him. Jesus acts like he is a completely normal guy, not the least bit annoyed by his uniqueness! Brilliant! My one take away from The Chosen is that it is not “cheesy” or showing everything all fitting in a tidy little moralistic package as nearly every other Christian-based production does. In the end. The Chosen points us back to Christ alone. We need more Christian art, in whatever form, like this.
Just curious, how do you know many are digging deeper into the Bible after watching this Chosen film and not taking it as a substitute for actually reading the Bible?
Not a fan. Not found of the Mormon connection. The Matthew character is very strange.
I totally disagree with your suggestion to keep watching it. It has too many unbiblical elements and it is giving attention and money to people who have a false belief system which can’t help but seep into the series itself. Get people away from their screens and point them to where the truth is — the Bible. I’m really surprised that this ministry would recommend it.
Greeting Glenn, there are different sorts of reasons why I might watch something like this. It isn’t the word of God but is loosely based on the Bible. I thought their making Peter a bar-room brawler/gambler, who run other schemes and scams to raise money to pay off loans and taxes was objectionable. However, like watching Star Wars to be able to address the false worldviews being taught there, being familiar with what is going on in this popular series can be useful to move someone to reading Scripture and getting to know the biblical characters and story directly from the biblical writers. As far as the money, they are crowd funding it, I haven’t contributed any money but watched if free on YouTube (season 1). As always, I appreciate hearing from you to keep us accountable.
Hi Don,
We can use all sorts of things to teach truth, even cults’ own documents and “scriptures,” but recommending them to others is something I just can’t justify in any sense at all. And perhaps you didn’t spend money to see it, but by supporting it and recommending it you are still contributing to the audience which brings in more funds to the perpetrators of this nonsense.
THANK YOU!! Thanks you for this. Joe and I loved Season One and recommended The Chosen to folks until I heard Dallas say he believes Mormons and Christians believe in the same Jesus. Now we preface the recommendation with Dallas’s beliefs. He has said, and I very loosely quote, “LDS have come to me saying ‘That’s it! That’s Jesus!” Which, considering their Jesus is all human, I don’t know, it doesn’t set right with me. As a writer I have no problem with artistic license. None. Until the LDS find there Jesus in it. Link is from an interview Melissa Dougherty conducted with Dallas who explains his views. She’s gracious but does try to hold him accountable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__-Yyq1FPQI&t=1147s
Sad that people won’t read the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to teach them the meaning. Any movie that panders to the crowd is a waste of time. Jesus was not a panderer. While utterly kind and compassionate, He did not mince His words. His followers were told: I am the way and the truth and the life. No man cones to the Father but by me.
No frills. God has t’s and c’s. Why wouldn’t He? He is the Supreme God, the Creator of the Universe and everything in it.
It is sad. There has been a drift away from regular reading and serious study of the word of God as well as sound biblical teaching from the pulpit for about 50 years now. However, like so many films, series and books, etc. which uses spiritual images and storylines, I can use what they are watching to move them to what Scripture actually says and teaches.
In season one, they followed the scriptures very closely and took license on things that didn’t matter. Season 2 ep 5 is kind of a deal breaker for me.
The demoniac named legion story is a very powerful one and the context is important. They completely changed it. And Mary clung so hard to Jesus once delivered, would have NEVER looked back. She washed His feet with her hair and tears. She was the first one to run to the empty tomb. Once delivered a Christian cannot be demonized. The Spirit of God indwells you and cannot cohabitate with demons.
So it’s completely out of character. So is Jesus rehearsing His sermon. He is called “The Word”. By Him and through Him are all things.
He taught scribes in the temple as a young child.
He was God and didn’t have to pick His words. He just spoke truth.
That by itself I can almost give an artistic pass on but the changing of stories and creating new ones kind of seals it for me. If something is 99% true it is still false. Telling the story of Jesus is a huge responsibility not to be taken lightly.
I am very troubled by “professing” Christians who are supportive of the tv series “The Chosen”. I have a dear friend who clearly believes this series is a good teaching tool, despite its obvious contradictions to scripture. I have not watched and do not intend to. However, I have a critique based on a conversation I had with my friend. She was gleefully telling me all about “Mary Magdalene”, where she apparently hides behind an altar ego by the name of Lilith. I researched this and could find nothing, nada, zilch on where this bit of fiction came from. She also told me that she is portrayed as the same Mary who anointed Jesus with the perfume and that she was a prostitute. I researched this as well, this is a lie from the RCC, who decided this Mary’s sin was prostitution. There has never been any scriptural evidence of this at all. Also, the Mary who anointed Jesus feet, was Mary of Bethany–sister of Lazaras and Martha, at least that is what my research and reading of the scripture tells me. So I am guessing Mr. Jenkins got this bit of fiction from his RCC “expert”. I read another reviewer who quotes Mr. Jenkins “that this series is 95% fiction”. Do the math and that makes it 5% truth. The one other thing my friend mentioned was how Jesus has to “prepare” for his sermon on the mount, so he can get it “just right”. Would Jesus, who is God in the flesh, need to prepare in this way? He was able to respond very quickly to those manipulative pharisees who were always trying to trap him into saying the wrong thing, it was the pharisees who always went away from those confrontations as losers of the battle of words. Jesus came prepared to do the work of His Father. I am having a lot of trouble with all the people involved who are not Christian, A devout Roman Catholic who prays his rosary, a Roman Catholic priest who believes you have to go through Mary to get to Jesus, a Morman who falsely believes Jesus is the brother of Lucifer, a Jewish Rabbi who denies the messiah altogether?? This series does not seem like a teaching tool to me at all, it seems more like it is from Satan, designed to confuse what the word of God actually says. My advice, stick to the bible, the real 100% truth provided by God through inspiration of the Holy Spirit because it tells the truth about the Real Jesus!
Thank you for your comments, Linda. Dr. Jonathan Miles piece was as much a critique of the church as commentary on the series. He also was clear that MCOI does not take a position on this series at this point. A key consideration you raise is something which was pointed out in “Harsh Criticism of ‘The Chosen’ Draws Emotional Response from Dallas Jenkins,”
It clearly isn’t the Bible and as Dallas Jenkins points out, isn’t a substitute for the Bible. It is a series loosely based on characters in Scripture. Personally, I was troubled with the series painting up Peter as someone of questionable character, a tax scofflaw who engaged in bar room brawls to supplement his income and acted as a sort of double agent between the Roman government and his Jewish brethren.
As a mission to cults and non-Christian religions we engage with all sorts of people who hold all manner of beliefs and being aware of what they believe, are reading and viewing often gives us starting points to get to what Scripture actually teaches. Too many churches do not teach their people in the essentials of the faith. As Jonathan comments,
Indeed, it is a reason to teach the Bible, especially to those who mistakenly think Jesus had to puzzle though what He might say in His sermon as though the One who is fully human and fully the omniscient God was unsure about what He would need to say.
The show itself is, yes, loosely based on scripture, and yes, there are concerns. What led me to this posting was someone telling me that the show and it’s backers and creators were Mormon. As a pastor, I found that very troubling and would be a deal breaker for me considering Mormon theology.
After extensive study on the subject, including this posting, I’ve concluded that the show itself must be judged based on whether:
– that there’s any blasphemous content … as of yet, I’ve found none.
– that there’s been undue interference by the producers, writers, directors or other staff to influence content … as of yet, I’ve found none. Having worked the the radio and television industry in my prior life before ministry, I can spot bovine excrement of this nature.
– if the content agrees or departs from scripture. Thus far, although license is taken in surrounding plots, scriptural themes are kept.
– whether this can be used as a tool for evangelism. It can. Many unchurched people have a vision of Christ that He’s untouchable and unapproachable. This is totally contrary to scripture, and the show portrays a very approachable Jesus. This is important when evangelizing and trying to plant the seeds of someone confessing their sins and believing in Jesus as their savior.
My job as shepherd a pneumonia evangelist and pastor is made easier by tools such as this, so long as it comports with scripture. If at any time, I see it departing from it, or becoming blasphemous, I will pull my support for it. As for now, I do support it and will use it as a tool in my evangelism toolkit, with the usual caveats included in this post.
1 – Mormonism is a cult. 2 – Satan is behind all cults. 3 – Satan wants to be God and very cunningly uses whatever he can to de-value Jesus Christ, and that is what this series is about. 4 – Watch it if you want, but you are putting your soul in peril.