Posted on 03/03/2013 11:17:34 AM PST by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
My wife and I enjoyed a special blessing yesterday. We sat in the front row at Saddleback Church in SoCal where Pastor Rick Warren played host to Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, husband and wife producers of the new ten-part miniseries, “The Bible,” which premiers tonight on the History Channel.
Mark has brought such well-known reality shows to television as “Survivor,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” “The Voice,” “The Job” and “Shark Tank.” Roma is best known for her role as Monica, on the popular television series “Touched by an Angel.”
Many, I imagine, had an inkling that Roma might be a Christian. After all, she played an angel – lovingly and joyfully so – for the better part of a decade. But hardly anyone suspected Mark of being a Christ follower. I know I didn’t.
Mark and Roma told the Saddleback faithful yesterday that they believe they were called by the Lord to bring “The Bible” to the small screen. To shine a light in dark places, said Mark. To share the Good News of Jesus Christ, said Roma.
Pastor Rick is convinced that the miniseries, two parts of which will air every Sunday between now and Easter, will prove as epic as “Roots,” the eight-part miniseries that aired in 1977, that won nine Emmy Awards and remains today the third-highest rated television program in U.S. history.
“The Bible” is, arguably, the most ambitious cinematic adoption of the Good Book in Hollywood history.
More so than “The Ten Commandments,” Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 retelling of the book of Exodus, in which the estimable Charlton Heston starred as Moses (and also happened to provide the voice of the Burning Bush).
More than “Ben Hur,” the 1959 epic directed by William Wyler and also starring Charlton Heston, which won a record 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture (an achievement unmatched until “Titanic” in 2007).
More than “King of Kings,” “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Jesus of Nazareth” and “The Passion of the Christ,” all of which painted, in their own way, powerful cinematic portraits of the Messiah.
That’s because Mark and Roma’s labor of love does not cover a single period of Bible history, but brings to the small screen the stories of both the Old Testament and New Testament, from Genesis to Revelation.
The husband and wife producers do not retell all 66 books of the Bible. (I’m sure they would lose much of their audience if they devoted, say, an hour to the retelling on the book of Numbers).
Instead, their narrative was driven by the stories of the Bible’s major figures, showing how the arc of Biblical history ultimately led to the arrival of Christ the Lord, whose life, death and resurrection gave meaning to everything that came before Him and everything that has followed.
Mark and Roma caution that their miniseries is not a documentary. It takes some artistic license. For instance, it refers to Simon Peter simply as Peter. And to Saul of Tarsus as Paul, before his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
Those minor details in no way detract from “The Bible.” In fact, it probably makes the ten-parter more accessible to those who do as yet count themselves as Christians, who are not intimately familiar with Scripture.
Among the many stories Mark and Roma shared yesterday about the making of “The Bible,” the one that filled me with the Spirit concerned their filming of a scene involving the actors playing Jesus and Nicodemus. It occurred on a still night in the Morocco desert, without a breath of wind.
Jesus, played by actor Diego Morgado, explains to Nicodemus, played by actor Simon Kunz, that he must be “born again.” By that, says Jesus, He is not speaking of physical rebirth, but spiritual. And he likens the Holy Spirit to the wind. It blows where it pleases. No one knows where it comes from or where it is going.
At that very moment in the filming, a sustained wind blue through the set, as if on cue. Mark and Roma felt it was supernatural.
Roma said that it brought to mind some of the occurrences that took place during the nine seasons she appeared on “Touched by an Angel.” She and her fellow cast members used to say “Coincidences are God’s way of staying anonymous.”
Well, I think it no coincidence that Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, Hollywood’s leading Christian couple, have brought “The Bible” to television. I believe God chose them for this Kingdom building work for such a time as this.
I did not know that Mark Burnett might be a Christian.
That’s good to know.
This Sunday, tune in to @history at 8/7c for the premiere of @bibleseries - produced by my friends @markburnetttv & @realromadowney!— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) March 2, 2013
". . . more accessible to those who do as yet count themselves as Christians, who are not intimately familiar with Scripture."
Let's see a show of hands for how many people expect at least one full episode to focus on, "judge not" and another full episode on how Jesus was a community organizer?
“It takes some artistic license.”
Yes, I have read that they have the character playing Jesus saying he wants to change the world.
SO- I am not going to watch. As long as people understand that this is entertainment and NOT the word of God, then it is really no different than American Idol. The TV show isn’t going to present the gospel to anyone.
“SO- I am not going to watch. As long as people understand that this is entertainment and NOT the word of God...”
Little House on the Prarie; The Walton’s; Touched by an Angel - none were “The Word of God” - but they portrayed eternal Chrsitian values in a good light - not mockigly.
Any time we can introduce the unchurched to the Word of God (as long as it’s not heretical or blasphemous) - it is a good thing.
Is it a serious Bible study? No - that is for those of us who have moved on past the “milk” and onto solid foods. Some of them may be there someday too.
We should be praying for this series - its producers - and for the hearts of those that may tune in - that the unchurched being reached in this way may come to know Jesus as their personal Savior also.
I have set TIVO to record the series.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” certainly deviated from the Gospels (the Scriptures do not record the apostles inquiring of the Lord, “What’s the buzz? Tell us what’s happening”). Yet, the musical introduced many young people who are today mature Bible-reading Christ followers.
I was hopeful of this at first, but soon realized it is just entertainment to make modern people feel good about themselves.
I’m not sure about that. The Sodom and Gomorrah scene, with armor-clad, sword-wielding angels bringing down the wrath of God upon the Sodomites, certainly isn’t to make the gay community - which Hollywood loves - feel good about itself.
Myself, included.
Myself, included.
Since the majority of Un-Churched are the YOUTH of today and they are hooked on Computers and Television..PRAISE GOD that Roma Downey and Mark Burnett are bringing this BIBLE series to the TV screen..
Many people were transformed by the Passion of the Christ movie and I believe this might have the same impact....
I hope everyone will watch, and I encourage everyone to watch...
We have just set to record. Thanks for the reminder.
Despite Rick Warren’s endorsement, I plan to watch anyway.
EWTN World Over of the past week, Thursday Feb 28, Raymond Arroyo interviewed both of them. Their segment begins about 40-some minutes in to the hour show. Some interesting info.
- They were only about 6 weeks from beginning to film and they still had not cast the actor for Jesus. And they started to pray for that and in less than a week - a Portuguese actor.
- She is from Derry, NI (like 2-of-the ThePriests, the UK city of culture of 2013 - they had a big concert bash there last month with just Derry, or Derry-like performers.
- They wanted a drama that would engage with people. unquote
- Card. Wuerl was advisor for them.
They showed a clip from it.
(I’m sure they would lose much of their audience if they devoted, say, an hour to the retelling on the book of Numbers).
Really? Some pretty intense stuff happens in Numbers.
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near
Yes, Numbers has its moments (precious few). But, in the main, it goes like:
3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division numbers 74,600.
5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His division numbers 54,400.
7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 His division numbers 57,400.
And so on.
I believe Joel Osteen was a consultant.
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