Problems with "The Chosen"

Bereans,

It's fascinating how the most often asked questions I get change over the years.  Of course, there are theological questions that are staples, such as, "Why did God allow sin?" and "Why didn't God just start over after Adam and Eve sinned?" and "Who do you think the Nephilim are?" Some of the questions I get asked are very short-lived, related to a particular "hot topic" in the news. Still other questions have more "staying power" and get asked for quite awhile.

I think that the question I've been asked the most over the past three years is, "What do you think of 'The Chosen'?" I've even had a couple of occasions where someone I just met asked me this question (upon learning that I'm a pastor).  I'll start by saying that I have not watched a single minute of it.  That's not to condemn anyone that has.  We watch very few movies or TV.  For the past year, we've mostly watched dog training videos on how to train an American Bully!  I'll say next that the most disturbing things I've heard about this series is that many churches and small groups are using the series for their "Bible study" time.

While the idea of using it in place of a Bible study is a "no brainer" for a Berean, there are still some honest questions that many believers might have about the value of watching it, and some very respectable theologians have differences of opinion.

I'll give you my three main problems here:

     1) I believe it violates the second commandment forbidding the making of graven images of God (see Exodus 20:4-6)

     2) It has some theological errors that can lead people astray

     3) For the sake of making a cinematic drama, it takes "artistic license" by adding dialogue, names, and events that are not in Scripture, which leads to confusion among the unlearned about what the Bible actually says and does not say.

I may post more on this later, but for now, this video gives an example and explanation of some of the theological errors to which I refer.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji9g062ThzQ

The bottom line is that the best way for us to know what God says is to read and study Scripture itself.

Grace and peace to you,
J.W.