I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about the movie series, The Chosen, and what my thoughts are on it. To be transparent, I had the first season gifted to me. I was very appreciative because the person who did so has a tremendous love for the Lord, and their heart was absolutely in the right place. But to be honest, I’ve not been inclined to watch the rest of the seasons. If you’re like most people who have enjoyed the series, you’re probably asking “Why wouldn’t a pastor enjoy this series?”
From eternity past God chose to reveal Himself through His Word.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
– Romans 10:8-18
I’ve highlighted bits of the above passage that relate to the giving and receiving of God’s Word. There’s a lot there, huh? We might even say that the Truth is conveyed primarily through God’s Word. My point is that as disciples, this is the way we learn about God. Faith comes from the Word (v17).
In all fairness, the Bible also teaches us that He reveals Himself through His creation. However, we understand this Truth because the Word informs us.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.
– Romans 1:19-20
God has given us the faculties to experience Him firsthand through His Word. With Holy Scripture as our touchpoint and the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, we have all we need to grow in His grace and knowledge.
[Having] put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
– Colossians 3:10
We live in a society today where people prefer images over the written word. This trend is accelerating. Here’s a few statistics for you:
The steepest decline in literary reading is in the youngest age groups.
– Over the past 20 years, young adults (18-34) have declined from being those most likely to read literature to those least likely (with the exception of those age 65 and above).
– The rate of decline for the youngest adults (18-24) is 55 percent greater than that of the total adult population (-28 percent vs. -18 percent).
– Reading at Risk, National Endowment for the Arts (arts.gov)
What do television, smartphones, Netflix, and social media have in common? They’re visually appealing. People have exchanged the written word for image driven content. This trend runs contrary to God’s intended vehicle for communicating who He is. People read less of their Bibles and therefore receive less Truth from God’s Word.
What was Jesus like, personally (other than what we know about Him through Holy Scripture)? Was He funny, solemn, animated? I have no idea. What about His disciples? Did you know that some experts believe that upwards of 93% of all communication is nonverbal? So, if I make a movie with Jesus and His disciples in it, how much creative license do the actors and director have in depicting them? A lot. In fact, the vast majority of content would be the result of moviemaking. Ultimately, those watching the film would receive more communicated content from the actors and the director than from Holy Scripture.
Are you getting my point yet? This is why I don’t want to watch movies about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While many people seem to think they’re getting more of Jesus from a movie, the truth is they are getting much less, along with a heavy dose of someone else’s interpretation of God’s Word. God’s eternal choice was to communicate to readers/hearers of the Bible, personally teaching them through His Spirit. Which is more fruitful?
When we trade in literature for images, we lose something – we handcuff the God-given talent called imagination. It turns out that God uses our imagination to build a very real and lasting image of Him in our hearts. For example, if you say you love Jesus, do you recall the actor’s face from The Chosen series, or do you have your own personal rendition in your mind? Which is more accurate? Which is more personal? Which is more meaningful? The same goes for personality, character, and any other attribute God has chosen to disclose in Holy Scripture.
So much is lost in translation when we exchange the written Word of God for images conjured up by other people. We think we’re gaining something, but the truth is just the opposite is happening – we’re shutting down our imagination. That seems terribly tragic to me. So, I guess if you’ve ever asked me what my thoughts are regarding The Chosen series, now you know why I don’t watch it. I don’t want someone else’s interpretation of what I read in the Bible – that seems terribly limiting.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
– Hebrews 4:12
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
– Matthew 4:4
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
– Matthew 24:35
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
– Psalm 119:105
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
– John 17:17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
– Colossians 3:16
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
– Luke 11:28
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins