Choosing a Side: The Hollywood Bible or the Holy Bible

I know what some of you were thinking when you saw The Bible mini-series on the History Channel: “Our God…and His Holy Word are being presented to an eager audience (of millions).  What an amazing opportunity to spread the gospel. Surely, eyes will see, ears will hear, and hearts will turn!”   And yet, I see no cause to rejoice.  This series is not the great revival we are all praying for.  It is a ravenous wolf cloaked in wool. 

As millions of eager viewers keep up with the weekly episodes, eyes will see a god void of his holy character, just nature, and majesty… being depicted as arbitrary, absent, and apathetic toward his people.  Ears will hear of a god that has been reduced to a secondary character in a man-centered plot.  And hearts will be turned to men who have been named heroes, stories that have been twisted to neglect reverence and truth, and so far away from Our God…and His Holy Word. This should grieve the heart of Christ’s church.  This should cause us to stand up for the truth of God.  It should lead us to rebuke those who bear false witness against our Lord with cunningly devised fables and CGI graven images, who take up the Lord’s name (and the title “The Bible”) in vain! This shameless heresy should spark the great revival we are all praying for.

But instead, I have read the promotions from AIG, ChristianPost, and Christianitytoday. I have read the blogs, articles, posts, and comments by “fellow Christians” who have acknowledged the series’ tendency toward “minor discrepancies”, “subtle script variations”, and the “omission of truth” within their curiously glowing reviews. I guess they figure all scripture is given by inspiration of God…except when special effects and colorful add-ins make it better. I guess we shouldn’t expect anything more from Hollywood. I guess it mostly sticks to the story, so it’s okay.  I guess the salt has lost it’s savor. So, let’s just pop some popcorn and enjoy the show. What can it hurt?

I can’t help but wonder:

Who will the Lord hold accountable for the lost souls who will never seek the true unadulterated Word of God after being presented with the fictional one?  Who will the Lord hold accountable for the confusion brought upon children and new believers who watched those “minor discrepancies” with eager eyes?  

Is it those - who claimed they were “called” to write, script, and produce the film?  Who acted out fictitious scenes and spoke the words contrary to scripture, without even a fundamental understanding of the character they portrayed? Who were in charge of sound, lighting, and special effects? Who openly promote the series in their church or business?

Or is it you and I- who know better and say nothing? Who have been redeemed by the mercy of God, but are unwilling to get a splinter by going against the grain?  Who have turned a blind eye to the slander of God?  Who just want to watch the live-action bible in HD with the rest of the world…while the devil applauds our cowardice?

We must remember the breadth of this deception. Satan twisted scripture to temp Christ in the desert, and he has used the same tactic to suit the itching ears of this modern age. Be not ignorant of the devil’s devices.  If we don’t stand against him, we stand with him in this evil work.

The bible is not a fictional tale, open to interpretation. It is not an entertaining novel open to creative license. It is the infallible living word of our Almighty Father.  It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. It reveals to us God’s character, God’s power, God’s mercy, and God’s plan for us.  It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We are to desire it as food, hide it in our hearts, use it as a weapon in warfare, and delight in it. We will, in the end, be judged by it.  Nothing is to be added to or taken from it.  This warning has been blatantly ignored by the creators of The Bible mini-series.  Let us not be so foolish.

The bible was never meant to be entertainment….especially at the expense of truth.

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” – 2 Peter 1:16-21

If you have watched any or all of the mini-series, think carefully on what your eyes have seen and your ears have heard.

Search the scriptures.

Compare notes.

Choose a side.

 

 

Be Not Ignorant, The Bible Mini-series Review

Episode 1: Beginings An Honest Review