Ep. 334 Does Viewing the Chosen Violate the 2nd Commandment?

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Shows Main Idea – The Chosen television series is a wildly popular multi-season production about the apostles’ lives. Of course, Jesus is a central character in their lives. However, many believers have shared how they would not watch The Chosen because it breaks the second commandment—Exodus 20:4-6. In this episode, Rick discusses this tension with Barbi Blackert, who has many years of Christian production and drama experience.

Listen to the podcast:

Rick’s Take on “The Chosen” TV Series

Show Notes

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#1 – Conscience

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

• Free to watch 
• Free to abstain 

#2 – Condemnation 

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God (1 Corinthians 8:1-2).

• Be careful. 
• Christians on both sides of this

#3 – Collaborators

And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians (Exodus 12:36). The Hebrews used many of these items to build the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 25:8).

• Mormons, Jews, Catholics
• We enjoy or participate in many “amalgamated” things
• We have unbelievers helping with our ministry 
• You benefit many ways from unbelievers 

#4 – Consistency 

• Does the series distort Scripture?
• Does it stay within the biblio-centric expectations of Scripture?
• E.g., On Jesus practicing the Sermon in the Mount. 
  • He grew and learned (Luke 2:40).
• Hypostatic Union
  • He was not 98% man

#5 – Creeds and Catechisms

• Written to speak to issues or bring clarity to Gods Word
• Not binding or revelatory
• What is the exegesis of the passage?

#6 – Chiastic 

“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain (Exodus 20:3-7).

• Can’t separate carved from worship.
• Based on the chiastic structure of the second commandment, we can summarize its meaning as don’t make images to worship and don’t worship images you make.
• Thus, what is being forbidden is the creation of any images to worship (eg Exodus 32:4) or the worship of existing images (eg 2 Kings 18:4).

#7 – Commentary

• The rendering of the text is talking about a 3-dimensional image, not a 2D image. If you believe it’s a 2D image, you must argue from that perspective, but you would be arguing from silence since the text does not say. They had 2D images at that time, but it is not mentioned in the text.
  • The Hebrew term pesel refers to carved or sculpted (graven) images, and not (necessarily) to paintings or drawings.
• God is invisible. Thus, we can’t represent Him. But He did represent Himself many times in the Bible.
  • E.g., appearances of God: Genesis 15-18; 32; Exodus 24:9-11; Exodus 33:11; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 6; 13; 1 Samuel 3; 1 Kings 22; Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1; Ezekiel 1; Daniel 7.

https://vimeo.com/167410637

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).