Episode Details

Summer brings the heat, especially among the Very Online. Not long ago lots of people were yelling at The Chosen because one of the crew was flying a heathen flag on set, as spotted briefly in one behind-the-scenes video. Then two of the disciple actors got bothered and started calling fans “phobes.” They’ve since apologized, but not before a lot of controversy. Behind all this yelling is one big concern: Christians are hiring non-Christians to help make stories and websites and things. Is this allowed? Does the Bible require Christians to create culture only by working with other Christians?

Subscribe to Lorehaven

middle grade • teens + YA • adults • onscreen • author resources • gifts • guild

Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: Estuary by Lisa T. Bergren
2. The Author Conservatory
3. Lorehaven Summer Reading Challenge

Quotes and notes

• ‘The Chosen’ Creator Dallas Jenkins Responds to On-Set Pride Flag Criticism
• Thirty Questions for Critics of ‘The Chosen’ or Other Christian Creators Who Hire Heathens
• 148. Why Do Some Christians Revile ‘The Chosen’? | with Josiah DeGraaf and Jenneth Dyck
• Sometimes Unbelievers Help Make Fantastic Biblical Fiction, So Let’s Thank God for Them

Concession stand

• We’ve already talked about biblical fiction and The Chosen controversies.
• Some people irked by this disagree (deep down) about biblical fiction.
• And yes, it’s right to take (some) offense about a sin-celebrating symbol.
• But the real question is how Christians ought to work with nonbelievers.
• We will need to work with nonbelievers. The only question is how.
• One big question: Do we expect other Christians to do our job for us?
• In other words, if I’m a pastor/pundit, why expect a show to do my job?
• A bigger question is: which sins do we let nonbelievers publicly show?
• In a working relationship, can Christians rightly disagree on the answers?
• We must be aware how our own backstories will inform our view of this.

1. Churches: grace for newbies but rules for Christians

• Many want The Chosen and Christian publishers to be like this.
• We can’t help wondering if this comes from unique kinds of personalities.
• People only familiar with church rules, or with ideals, may expect this.
• And it’s a great setup. Paul, et. al. have specific commands for churches.
• A keystone text about church behavior expectations is 1 Corinthi