Letter to the Editor: Took Concerns About A.D. T.V. Series to Pastor – He Says “Result Will Be Good” – David Jeremiah Part of the Problem

To Lighthouse Trails:

I took my concerns to one of my pastors at my church regarding the bible A.D. Series. I was given Philippians 1: 15-18 that as long as the Gis preached or the Bible story being told, the result will be good. No matter who they are or what their motives are.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thank you,

K.

Our Comments:

The thing that needs to be pointed out to those with such reasoning is that because of the spiritual persuasions of the producers of such films (in this case, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett), wouldn’t it make sense that “the Gospel” message could be altered, and in fact, a different gospel could be presented? Yes, it’s true that the Bible is the focal point in the series, but the Bible itself warns that those coming as if in the faith will present “another gospel” and another Jesus.”

It’s also hardly comforting to know that David Jeremiah is turning out to be a major spokesperson, adviser, and promoter of the A.D. series when he himself has shown little or no discernment regarding spiritual deception during the past decade. With his widely promoted book, Life Wide Open, in which Jeremiah says that people like Rick Warren, Brother Lawrence, Buddhist sympathizer Peter Senge and goddess worshipper Sue Monk Kidd are a handful of people who have found the secret to a passionate life, we don’t see his involvement as some kind of assurance that the series is going to be biblically sound. How interesting that a New Age sympathizing producer (Downey) picks a New Age-promoting evangelical to help promote and create the series. But then as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. It’s just too bad that multitudes of pastors (like the one described in the letter above) are going to fall into step with Jeremiah and Downey, having completely ignored what Scripture says about spiritual deception and a great falling away.

American Christians seem desperate for everything but the Bible. They’ve got to have the most popular “Bible teachers” (e.g. Rick Warren and Beth Moore); the most exciting and sensually appealing books (e.g. Jesus Calling and The Shack); a wide assortment of exciting, sensual, wordly music;  the most mystically drawing teachers (e.g. Richard Foster and  Brennan Manning) and mystically oriented practices (e.g. lectio divina and contemplative prayer); and they’ve got to have the most thrilling and captivating movies about God (e.g. The Passion of the Christ and Son of God). The fact is, reading and studying the Bible itself has become too boring and blasé for most Christians today. And the pastors and leaders keep feeding this unsatiable hunger for sensual foods because the truth is, they want to to be filled with them too.