ASK ELLE: Is It Okay To Watch The Chosen?

What are your thoughts of The Chosen Series? Are there dangers of The Chosen? I would absolutely love to know your perspective on this.

I think the best way I can answer this question is my sharing the initial thoughts that come to mind when it comes to Christian-affiliated entertainment.

1) It’s high quality Christian content 

When it comes to dramatized, historical interpretations of the life of Christ and His apostles, there are a few things that might come to mind for a believer. For me, usually the first thing I’m thinking about is just how cheesy they can be and often are. Christians have a notoriously bad reputation for making religious films and shows. Am I right or am I right? Low-quality production, bad storytelling, poor acting. Some of the stuff out there is seriously so cringey! 

That said, I do think The Chosen stands out amongst the rest as far as the overall production quality. One look at it will tell you that right off the bat. They had the budget to create something high quality, and that they most certainly did. If you don’t know, The Chosen was a crowd-funded project. It brought in over $11 million in donations, which is more than any other media project ever.

In a world with an endless amount of entertainment via shows and movies seeking to draw people away from Jesus, The Chosen exists to do the exact opposite. Those I know who watch and enjoy the show agree that it grabs your attention and makes you want more.

2) Even with it’s creative liberties, The Chosen aims for Biblical faithfulness

One of the next things to come to mind at the thought of a biblical TV show is the question of just how many creative liberties it takes, and how said liberties are executed. Productions such as The Chosen do not sit right with many Christians for this reason, and I totally get that. Because where do you draw the line between creative liberty and biblical accuracy with productions like The Chosen, The Passion of the Christ,  the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, and so forth?  

One of the things Dallas Jenkins, the director of The Chosen, has said in regards to Biblical accuracy and creative liberties is that they approach said liberties through the filter of plausibility based on a shared desire to be faithful to the Scriptures and to the character and intentions of Jesus we see portrayed in the Bible.

Certainly, this is far from easy and there is plenty of Scripture. 

I think it’s important to point out here, too, that this show and its production team has never, ever claimed to be Scripture, nor does it exist to add to Scripture. The Bible has not changed since the release of The Chosen and nor will it. This is a show that uses the Bible as its primary source. Does that make the show infallible? Nope. The Bible is the only source of infallibility-the only source of Truth and authority–that we have and should look to. It starts and ends there. 

All of that being said, of course there are going to be parts about this show that you don’t agree with. The creative liberty choices Jenkins and his team incorporate may not line up with the creative liberties you would incorporate if you were in Jenkins shoes. As he should, Jenkins recognizes they do not know whether or not the creative liberty choices they make within the show are fact. The same can be said for the things that we feel might have looked different than how they decided to portray it.  And that’s okay. It sparks our imagination, it leads us to asking questions and, most importantly, it points us to Scripture. The show does not shy away from the fact that those who watch the show should absolutely read the Gospels for themselves. The show exists to point people to the Gospels, which leads me to my third thought.

3) The Chosen is drawing people to Jesus and His Word

This show is the first series to be launched in every country simultaneously via its own app. It has over 400 million views in over 150 countries, and that number is growing on a daily basis. 

There are countless testimonies from viewers that claim how the show made them want to read their Bibles, love Jesus more, be bold in telling others about Him, study the gospels with others, and even consider following Jesus with their lives.

Questions are being asked, Bibles are being opened, and Jesus is being talked about, which is the entire goal of this series: To glorify God and point those who lay eyes on the show to the One who first put the idea of it in Jenkins’ heart.

Whether you do or do not watch The Chosen, God is using it.

I think it’s important for us to remember The Chosen is not a documentary. It's Christian-affiliated entertainment. It’s not meant to take the place of Scripture in our lives, and they make this abundantly clear. It’s meant to point us to the Bible. Our job as Christians is to know God through His holy, infallible Word. We can find joy and entertainment through the experience The Chosen offers us, but we get our theology from the BIble and the Bible alone. 

So, to sum it up, I believe watching it is a matter of Christian liberty and conviction. If something is not sitting right with you about the show, prayerfully consider and ask God to reveal the root of why that is. As Romans 14:5 says, “Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” 

As long as you recognize The Chosen is not the Bible and that the show takes on creative liberties that may not accurately reflect the reality of the times the episodes portray, and as long as you desire, consume and digest God’s Word as the priority and authority of your life, then I think it’s absolutely okay to watch and enjoy it. 

I think we should rejoice for the ways people are being challenged to know their Bibles and for how God is using it to lead others to the Bible. And I think we should pray for Jenkins and his team. 

I would encourage you to listen to interviews Dallas Jenkins has been a part of if you haven’t already hear him speak about the show. I am going to link the interview Allie Beth Stuckey hosted with him in today’s show notes because I thought it was very well done.