The Chosen

[quietthinker]

Sheesh!

If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got.

Much love!

thanks for the dismissal of the question!

 

[JunChosen]

thanks for the dismissal of the question!

LOL That's one of @marks bad habit is that at times he tends to answer a question with another question.

To God Be The Glory

 

[Brakelite]

For me, the changes either remove something or add something from the original narrative, changing the overall message. What concerns me is that people, at least some, are tending to accept the changed message seeing it portrayed vividly on screen.

I've read research that shows video is stored in memory the very same way as is sight/sound, and that blending happens, meaning that video can have the same sway in your mind as things you actually see and hear.

The research was in relation to pornography, and how it affects a person's perceptions and attitudes of others. Objectifying others, depraving the sexual impulse, these were directly attributed to watching porn. So in researching the process of this happening, they learned this is just how the brain works.

So someone watches The Chosen, with it's deep and thoughtful storylines, it's well portrayed scenes, well written, well acted, and presenting a false view of Jesus and His disciples, it's leaven, working it's way through the whole lump.

Much love!

Just takes a little cyanide added to the recipe to accomplish its purpose.

 

[Brakelite]

Let's bring it down to tin tacks. What do you perceive the 'mission' of Jesus to ultimately be? I don't mean the side benefits we derive from it, I mean it's ultimate purpose?

Most people only consider what's good for them. Can't think past that. Not that I would think @marks as belonging to that sector, I believe he's a deeper thinker than many give him credit for. Although you did give him a good clue...quote... I don't mean the side benefits we derive from it.

 

[Wrangler]

I've not watched much of this show at all, only to get a sense of what it is. It's fiction couched in Biblical frames, and poisons the mind. Do you think God is pleased when people tell lies about His Son, and the things He did?

PUL-EASE. It's entertainment. No one should expect so much from entertainment. The Chosen starts off telling the viewer to read the Bible and admit they take certain liberties for creative story telling purposes, even the order of events. The Chosen is a fictional account of what happens between Biblical events, only tangentially intersecting with the Biblical events. This is a novel approach. It is not meant to be an exact playing out of what the Bible states.

For instance, the events leading up to the Sermon on the Mount. The Chosen does not show Jesus giving this sermon verbatim. The episode focuses on the extra-Biblical event of how Judas came to be a disciple and the character development of Matthew, who is the only one who meticulously writes in real time about Jesus ministry. Because of this, the show depicts Jesus working with Matthew on drafting the words to the Sermon.

Still, they have staff of 3 theologians providing insight into various sequences and they have had podcasts delving into how careful they are to be true to the take away, even if not the exact Biblical. The writer and director repeatedly tells people he hopes the show inspires people to have a relationship with the real Jesus and to read the Bible. So, yes, the show is fiction but to say it poisons the mind is dramatic defense of the lazy, who don't want to do the real work of turning to the real Jesus and read the Bible - as the show tells the viewer.

One person I know thought that Peter had ongoing tax issues with Rome.

This is incorrect. The show is very clear that Jesus' miracle of the fish was sufficient to pay Peter's over due taxes.

How the fictional Jesus first interacts with the Apostles, including Mary, is intense and very personal for each Apostle. For Christmas I bought my wife a painting of Mary falling into Jesus arms upon realizing he is divine. Every time I was that episode, it brings tears to my eyes. The same with Peter.

I can't recall but Philip, who Jesus said he saw when he was under the tree, was depicted alone and lost purpose in live when his professional reputation was destroyed when his building project collapsed. In all cases, the fictional Jesus is portrayed as coming into their lives just at the moment they thought their life was over.

This is doubly true for Thomas. Thomas is depicted at the end of season 4 disillusioned by Jesus. Why? They invent a back story that he was engaged to another disciple who was tragically killed. Jesus already displayed the power to bring people back from the dead. Yet, he chose not to bring her back. This is done to add emotional intensity and to make more personal where the story goes as conveyed after the resurrection.

I'm a big fan and so is my wife. It is Biblical fiction but also portrays the Biblical account on a personal level of the apostles Jesus chose.

 

[Wrangler]

I beg to differ with you.

No leaven, just Bible.

Different strokes for different folks.

My sister, she wouldn't watch any movies at all about Jesus, choosing instead that her understanding of Jesus come straight from the Bible, Bible only.

It really is a narrow way, how best do we stay on that way?

You are really missing the mark! The Chosen is NOT about the best way to stay on the narrow path. It's about attracting people to Jesus who are not on the path.

 

[Wrangler]

So someone watches The Chosen, with it's deep and thoughtful storylines, it's well portrayed scenes, well written, well acted, and presenting a false view of Jesus and His disciples,

The ancients knew that just because something was fictional does not make it false.

 

[quietthinker]

The ancients knew that just because something was fictional did not make it false.

Anyone with insight recognises this. Many of the stories/ parables Jesus told were fictional. They weren't intended as a history lesson. They were intended to convey certain true principles.

The story circulating in our culture of 'The Emperors New Clothes' is a fictional story yet embedded in it are indisputable truths

 

[Wrangler]

Anyone with insight recognises this. Many of the stories/ parables Jesus told were fictional. They weren't intended as a history lesson.

I don't recall @marks accusing him of lying and stating things that were false. D'at different.

 

[Brakelite]

PUL-EASE. It's entertainment. No one should expect so much from entertainment. The Chosen starts off telling the viewer to read the Bible and admit they take certain liberties for creative story telling purposes, even the order of events. The Chosen is a fictional account of what happens between Biblical events, only tangentially intersecting with the Biblical events. This is a novel approach. It is not meant to be an exact playing out of what the Bible states.

For instance, the events leading up to the Sermon on the Mount. The Chosen does not show Jesus giving this sermon verbatim. The episode focuses on the extra-Biblical event of how Judas came to be a disciple and the character development of Matthew, who is the only one who meticulously writes in real time about Jesus ministry. Because of this, the show depicts Jesus working with Matthew on drafting the words to the Sermon.

Still, they have staff of 3 theologians providing insight into various sequences and they have had podcasts delving into how careful they are to be true to the take away, even if not the exact Biblical. The writer and director repeatedly tells people he hopes the show inspires people to have a relationship with the real Jesus and to read the Bible. So, yes, the show is fiction but to say it poisons the mind is dramatic defense of the lazy, who don't want to do the real work of turning to the real Jesus and read the Bible - as the show tells the viewer.


This is incorrect. The show is very clear that Jesus' miracle of the fish was sufficient to pay Peter's over due taxes.

How the fictional Jesus first interacts with the Apostles, including Mary, is intense and very personal for each Apostle. For Christmas I bought my wife a painting of Mary falling into Jesus arms upon realizing he is divine. Every time I was that episode, it brings tears to my eyes. The same with Peter.

I can't recall but Philip, who Jesus said he saw when he was under the tree, was depicted alone and lost purpose in live when his professional reputation was destroyed when his building project collapsed. In all cases, the fictional Jesus is portrayed as coming into their lives just at the moment they thought their life was over.

This is doubly true for Thomas. Thomas is depicted at the end of season 4 disillusioned by Jesus. Why? They invent a back story that he was engaged to another disciple who was tragically killed. Jesus already displayed the power to bring people back from the dead. Yet, he chose not to bring her back. This is done to add emotional intensity and to make more personal where the story goes as conveyed after the resurrection.

I'm a big fan and so is my wife. It is Biblical fiction but also portrays the Biblical account on a personal level of the apostles Jesus chose.

I watched about 3 episodes in total about 2 years ago. I found it uninspiring, and effectually reduced the character of Christ to a mere caricature of the powerful divine human we read of in scripture. This probably ought to be no surprise, coming as it does from a production team that is Mormon.

 

[quietthinker]

I watched about 3 episodes in total about 2 years ago. I found it uninspiring, and effectually reduced the character of Christ to a mere caricature of the powerful divine human we read of in scripture. This probably ought to be no surprise, coming as it does from a production team that is Mormon.

Do you have a depiction of Jesus in film which you are drawn to?.....and if you are, why?

 

[Brakelite]

PUL-EASE. It's entertainment. No one should expect so much from entertainment. The Chosen starts off telling the viewer to read the Bible and admit they take certain liberties for creative story telling purposes, even the order of events. The Chosen is a fictional account of what happens between Biblical events, only tangentially intersecting with the Biblical events. This is a novel approach. It is not meant to be an exact playing out of what the Bible states.

For instance, the events leading up to the Sermon on the Mount. The Chosen does not show Jesus giving this sermon verbatim. The episode focuses on the extra-Biblical event of how Judas came to be a disciple and the character development of Matthew, who is the only one who meticulously writes in real time about Jesus ministry. Because of this, the show depicts Jesus working with Matthew on drafting the words to the Sermon.

Still, they have staff of 3 theologians providing insight into various sequences and they have had podcasts delving into how careful they are to be true to the take away, even if not the exact Biblical. The writer and director repeatedly tells people he hopes the show inspires people to have a relationship with the real Jesus and to read the Bible. So, yes, the show is fiction but to say it poisons the mind is dramatic defense of the lazy, who don't want to do the real work of turning to the real Jesus and read the Bible - as the show tells the viewer.


This is incorrect. The show is very clear that Jesus' miracle of the fish was sufficient to pay Peter's over due taxes.

How the fictional Jesus first interacts with the Apostles, including Mary, is intense and very personal for each Apostle. For Christmas I bought my wife a painting of Mary falling into Jesus arms upon realizing he is divine. Every time I was that episode, it brings tears to my eyes. The same with Peter.

I can't recall but Philip, who Jesus said he saw when he was under the tree, was depicted alone and lost purpose in live when his professional reputation was destroyed when his building project collapsed. In all cases, the fictional Jesus is portrayed as coming into their lives just at the moment they thought their life was over.

This is doubly true for Thomas. Thomas is depicted at the end of season 4 disillusioned by Jesus. Why? They invent a back story that he was engaged to another disciple who was tragically killed. Jesus already displayed the power to bring people back from the dead. Yet, he chose not to bring her back. This is done to add emotional intensity and to make more personal where the story goes as conveyed after the resurrection.

I'm a big fan and so is my wife. It is Biblical fiction but also portrays the Biblical account on a personal level of the apostles Jesus chose.

I think many Christians would defend the Left Behind series of books and movies also as entertainment, and Jenkins would probably approve. However, the vast majority of Christianity accepts the impending "rapture" as a biblical fact, and that series has done nothing than to bolster that belief.

 

[Brakelite]

Do you have a depiction of Jesus in film which you are drawn to?.....and if you are, why?

No, I don't. I haven't watched any other depictions of Christ in movies. I have watched Christian movies of course, and most of those seem to depict Christ, through those who believe in Him in the movie, as someone whose goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, mercy and grace was something to be admired and emulated. And those qualities are His power... Reflecting as they do His righteousness and love. It was these qualities that were also a reflection of the character of His Father, a powerful rebuttal to the accusations of Satan and his agents on earth who would depict God as a God bent on enforcing His will on others through power and coercion and premeditated predetermined control.

I've never seen a movie depicting Christ in that negative light which is great...one wonders therefore from whence came the current passion in the American church for political control and power considering such isn't and never was a trait belonging to God. Oh, actually yes, I do know where it's coming from. But we aren't talking about that right?

 

[Wrangler]

reduced the character of Christ to a mere caricature of the powerful divine human we read of in scripture.

As I said, different strokes for different folks.

My wife and I, along with billions of fans, are touched by the humanity The Chosen's portrayal of Jesus, making him more relatable. One of the early episodes, 4 or 5, I think was totally extra-Biblical. It depicted Jesus in between major Biblical events interacting with children at his camp site. It was nice to see him in a scene with levity, humor, the innocence of children interacting with our hero about to get into heavy life experiences.

God sent Jesus to be our mediator and many have put him back on the unreachable shelf of the divine. I hate how most portrayals of Jesus are of him being above it all, unaffected by the stress in life. This portrayal of Jesus I can relate to, see his compassion and frustration of even his followers not understanding their caricature of the Messiah is NOT what God plans.

Another scene I loved was before his 1st public miracle. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus is reunited with his mother and friend getting married. He brings his disciples and I think it was Andrew who was a terrible dancer. Enjoying himself dancing at a wedding. We've all done it. It was nice to see our Lord enjoying a little bit of the good times in life. YMMV.

It was also great to see the joy our Lord had in playing a game with his good friend Lazarus the last time he went home to Nazareth. Developing the character of Lazarus, Mary and Martha deepened my understanding of the Biblical account as the show brings the characters to life in personal ways.

 

[Wrangler]

I stopped watching the Chosen after one episode that claimed Matthew was Jesus's speech writer

And this offends you how?

For the record, I reject that characterization. It's more like Jesus used Matthew to help him organize his thoughts and consider how certain words would make the impact intended. This is more realistic than supposing any sermon is delivered off the cuff with no draft or consideration before hand. Realism.

 

[quietthinker]

God sent Jesus to be our mediator and many have put him back on the unreachable shelf of the divine.

A small digression re 'mediator'. Who was it that Jesus mediated for? It is most often taken for granted that Jesus mediation was about appeasing an angry God however, I would say that Jesus was mediating God to us. Yes, we were the ones angry with God. Jesus came to show us that God's affection for us is worth dying for. In other words, it was to change our mind about God not God's mind about us.

 

[Wrangler]

the last time he went home to Nazareth.

A counterpoint to his first public miracle, where he told his mother his time had not yet come ...

The development of the character of Joseph and Mary. The Chosen invents a back story that Joseph had a family heirloom in his family for generations. It was a horse bridle used during the Exodus. Before the temple service where Jesus reads the fulfillment of Isaiah that dramatically ends with the rabbi wanting to throw Jesus off a cliff, he has quiet time in his boyhood home with his mother.

She knows who he is and what his mission is. The tension is that she loves her son and wants no harm to come to him. Anybody can relate to that! We need the hero but who mourns for what he sacrificed, the life not lived, to meet our desperate need?

Anyway, he gently tells her he's come for the bridle, which he intends to put on the donkey he rides entering Jerusalem during Passover week. Grief overtakes her immediately as she struggles to ask out loud as if her breath was taken away, "Is it time, already?" Softly, he tells her this is the last time he will come home. Holding her hands, they both cry. I cried watching it. I'm sure millions cried watching the scene. It's false, fiction lie, huh? The story forces us to confront our tendency to reduce our heroes to not struggle in performance of their heroism, just grit and determination and supplication to the almighty. I'd be surprised if such an event did not actually happen even if it is not recorded in Scripture. How about you?

 

[quietthinker]

The four gospels are a rather scant record of Jesus 3.5 yr ministry....John 21:25 confirms this.
Subsequently any film made on this matter will inevitably have filler to make it flow. Picking apart the filler because it is not 'purist' defeats its purpose.

 

[Brakelite]

As I said, different strokes for different folks.

My wife and I, along with billions of fans, are touched by the humanity The Chosen's portrayal of Jesus, making him more relatable. One of the early episodes, 4 or 5, I think was totally extra-Biblical. It depicted Jesus in between major Biblical events interacting with children at his camp site. It was nice to see him in a scene with levity, humor, the innocence of children interacting with our hero about to get into heavy life experiences.

God sent Jesus to be our mediator and many have put him back on the unreachable shelf of the divine. I hate how most portrayals of Jesus are of him being above it all, unaffected by the stress in life. This portrayal of Jesus I can relate to, see his compassion and frustration of even his followers not understanding their caricature of the Messiah is NOT what God plans.

Another scene I loved was before his 1st public miracle. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus is reunited with his mother and friend getting married. He brings his disciples and I think it was Andrew who was a terrible dancer. Enjoying himself dancing at a wedding. We've all done it. It was nice to see our Lord enjoying a little bit of the good times in life. YMMV.

It was also great to see the joy our Lord had in playing a game with his good friend Lazarus the last time he went home to Nazareth. Developing the character of Lazarus, Mary and Martha deepened my understanding of the Biblical account as the show brings the characters to life in personal ways.

I think you would thoroughly enjoy reading the Conflict of the Ages series by Ellen White. She also filled in the background and gives all the characters in scripturel a great deal of context and nuance. Edpecially the 3rd in the series, Desire of Ages, and the 5th, Great Controversy.

 

[Rockerduck]

And this offends you how?

For the record, I reject that characterization. It's more like Jesus used Matthew to help him organize his thoughts and consider how certain words would make the impact intended. This is more realistic than supposing any sermon is delivered off the cuff with no draft or consideration before hand. Realism.

Jesus spoke with authority and, in the Gospels, could not be outsmarted. No one can argue against Jesus, who knew the thoughts of others. He needed no one to write a speech for Him. That offends me that it belittles Jesus's divinity, and yours and my Savior. I believe it was done on purpose that way and not poetic license. Other places, like, Jesus walking on the water, did a good job of showing Jesus as God. Personal stories of the Apostle's were fine and even Nicodemus was a good part. I just pointed out the two bad places. That was enough.