Have you watched “The Chosen” yet? Many are loving this multi-season, high-quality TV series about the life of Christ. It’s wonderful to see the culture sit up & take notice of Jesus like this (it’s happened before with movies like “Jesus Christ Superstar” &”Godspell” in 1973 & “The Passion of the Christ” in 2004, & “Son of God” in 2014.)
I’ve been asked for months if I’ve watched it, & have always said, “No.” When asked why not, I’ve answered that I’m not crazy about watching something that presents non-biblical material as though it were. No matter how well-intentioned, it would just annoy me to hear words & see events take place on screen that didn’t really happen (which was also my reaction to “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Godspell”, “The Passion of the Christ” & “Son of God”).
How many movies have we watched that are “based on” a real-life story, but changed or added to what actually happened? I’ve been disappointed many times to watch what I thought was a “true” story on the screen, only to later research it online to find that the movie significantly altered or imagined important details.
I want to be clear that I have nothing against people watching “The Chosen” anymore than any of the other numerous biblical dramas that are “based on” the Bible, including the classic “The Ten Commandments” which I’ve seen multiple times. Many people, I’m sure, have come to appreciate the Bible better as they see it being “brought to life” by actors. But each time I’ve watched it, I roll my eyes because so much of it is just Hollywood writers’ imaginations–not Scripture. I mean, how many people think that Moses was actually being seduced by a woman named “Nefreteri” (hint: she’s made up).
When a couple in our church recently approached me to tell me that they traveled to Texas to don costumes & be “extras” in “The Chosen” scene where Jesus feeds the 5,000, I thought, “How great.” So, I was finally ready to relent & watch the series. But I still haven’t because I know as much as “The Chosen” may “bring to life” the Gospel stories, they’re putting words in the mouth of God (which is a dangerous thing to do). I wonder how many people are not able to tell the difference between what really happened & what are just fictional imaginings. A good Bible student will be able to tell, but I fear the average person will not be able to distinguish fiction from fact. Hopefully “The Chosen” will drive people to research the Scriptures like those “based-on-true-events” movies drive me to do further research of the actual event.
My point is that the Scriptures are sufficient. The stories & words recorded there are the ones God wanted us to have. It should be enough. How would you feel if a movie were made of your life where the actor portraying you is saying things you never said, but giving the impression you did? That may not be the intent of the filmmakers, but it will be the message received regardless.
“The Chosen” no doubt is doing lots of good, & I rejoice in that. Every Christian has freedom to watch it or not. But it’s not just entertainment. It matters because when you stray from Scripture itself, you’re getting “teachings” that may seem to be biblical, but aren’t–just like you get from other kinds of extra-biblical or apocryphal “revelations”. Jesus warns in Revelation 22 not to add to or take away from the words written. So we would do well to heed what Paul cautions in 1 Cor. 4:6, “…That you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written….” Be careful you know the real thing, not just something “based on” it.