We live in a veritable golden age of Christian media and entertainment. In recent years Christians have had the opportunity to enjoy great feature-length films, amazing TV shows, an entire streaming platform for Christian content , and even a service that filters secular content. However, so much media presents a unique challenge (and opportunity) when it comes to portrayals of Biblical events.
I’m one of those people that points out (much to the chagrin of my children) how the Bible NEVER SAYS there were three wise men, only that there was more than one and they brought three gifts. I’m a stickler for detail, and all of the available media means my brain is going into overdrive more often than I’d like. If you’re anything like me, or just want to have a more critical but appreciative approach to Christian media, I offer three pieces of advice.
1 - Exercise Discernment
Stephanie and I found a great YouTube channel about six months ago that did a terrific job of explaining the historical context of certain books for the New Testament for kids. We loved them! They were entertaining, accurate, and our kids learned a lot. However, we also noticed there were a few videos on some golden tablets, and a certain journey from Missouri to Utah.
I love my Mormon neighbors more than most, and really enjoy discussing their religious views with them… but I don’t want to be teaching my children their unique perspectives on the Bible, the church, etc. Exercise discernment! Not everything marketed to a Christian audience is even Christian, and just because some content is Christian doesn’t mean it accurately conveys Christian teaching. You have to judge for yourself. It doesn’t mean to shun that content, but it does mean you need to be with your kids when viewing it.
2 - (Don't Necessarily Trust and) Verify
This goes a bit deeper than the previous point, but if something occurs on your favorite disciple-focused TV show, or Mary expresses interest in not getting married in the cutest nativity-themed musical you’ve ever seen, verify if there’s anything biblical to back it up. That’s it! Worst case scenario, you end up doing a Bible study alone, or better yet with your spouse and kids.
A note on this – don’t just Google it, or ask a friend. Sources on Google may or may not be trustworthy, and your friend may have a poor memory. The point of this piece of advise is to do a bit of work and reap the rewards of Bible literacy. Don’t skip (biblical) leg day people!
3 - Look for the Good
You’ll probably notice that nearly all Christian or faith-based media take liberties somewhere. Sometimes its as benign as clumping certain events together that may or may not have happened sequentially or near the same time (a possible criticism of Chosen) or you realize that Mary wanting to be a teacher in Journey to Bethlehem is absolutely baffling as women didn’t live alone and work professionally in that culture at that time, at least as far as I’m aware (comment back if I’m misinformed!) Sometimes the ‘issues’ may even be larger, such as in Risen when Jesus appears to a Roman Centurion who wasn’t first a believer, a direct contradiction to what Peter says to Cornelius:
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:40-41)
Regardless of the issue, eat the meat and spit out the bones. Sure, The Chosen may have some issues, but the character of Jesus is portrayed so well there are still scenes from Season 1 that have me tearing up just thinking about them. Yes, in Journey to Bethlehem, Mary wanting to wait to be married so she could start a teaching career is so bizarre it makes it hard to pay attention to the first part of the movie, but the genuine difficulty Mary and Joseph had with each other at the very beginning of their relationship is something I’ve never seen portrayed before, let alone done very well.
Bonus - Talk with Your Kids (aka Homeschool Via Movies)
Talk to your kids about these issues. Pause the movie or show to analyze what’s going on. I know they’ll groan and throw popcorn at your head, but you’re giving your children a chance to exercise their own discernment and critically consume media, not mindlessly absorb it.
The reality is that all Christian media is imperfect, just like all Christians are imperfect. Judge both fairly and accurately, but then focus on the good in them.
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24),
As Paul says in one of his final epistles:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Keep renewing!
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1 KJV)