The CHOSEN and Why (Good) Christian Art Matters

I still remember getting a text from my uncle telling me that I needed to watch this new TV show he had discovered about Jesus and his disciples. I took a quick look at it and dismissed the idea. I had seen other productions like this and had been pretty disappointed, even embarrassed. Christians don’t necessarily have a good track record when it comes to producing movie or TV content that’s not cheesy, cringey, or worse.

The next day another text came and then another. This went on for a couple weeks. He was not giving up. The only way to satisfy him was to actually watch it, so I pulled up the first episode and set my expectations low. At least I could tell him I tried and it just wasn't for me.

A couple minutes in, I knew that this show was different. The acting was good, the cinematography solid and the plot had depth. I watched closely, my mind working hard to place the complex, relatable characters I was seeing into the gospel narrative I was familiar with. When the episode was over, I sat stunned - impressed really - my cheeks damp with tears. I knew why my uncle had been so insistent.

That was two years and three seasons ago (the last of season 3 just released this week) but my experience with each episode of The Chosen has been the same: delight in seeing the scriptures I love come to life, joy in experiencing them in a whole new way, and tears.

Lots of tears.

Jesus taught, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” We tend to focus most often on our minds to the neglect of our hearts. What The Chosen does is help bridge that connection. It moves the truth of scripture from our heads to our hearts and into our soul.

It causes me to be emotional because my belief is no longer just about knowledge, it permeates all of my being (heart, mind and soul), the way that it should be.

That’s what good Christian art can do!

I believe that is why believers over the centuries have used whatever method and medium they could to creatively express the gospel. Whether it was DaVinci’s painting of Jesus’ Last Supper, Michelangelo’s depiction of Biblical narrative on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Handel’s composition of The Messiah, or John Bunyan’s epic writing of The Pilgrim’s Progress, their goal was the same.

The Chosen continues that legacy, effectively using the art of visual storytelling to share Jesus’ life and message in a way that engages the heart and glorifies Him.

We should do likewise.

That is our vocation, our calling. For Christian writers, painters, composers, sculptors, designers, craftsman and the like; what greater work can we have than to devote ourselves to creating things that engage the heart and the mind and the soul, expressing, the best we can, the full beauty and goodness of our God and Savior.

Let’s go make GOOD art for the glory of Christ! And maybe make some grown men cry.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

** If you like The Chosen, you’ll want to check out my new short stories; Lazarus POV, a dramatic, first-hand view of one of Jesus’ greatest miracles, and The Older Son, a unique perspective follow-on to the parable of the Prodigal Son.