Movie
‘The Chosen’ creator Dallas Jenkins responds to critics of ‘unbiblical’ scene with Judas
“The Chosen” creator Dallas Jenkins has defended the portrayal of an interaction between Jesus and Judas Iscariot as biblically grounded after pastors and Christian critics criticized the scene as “unbiblical.”
In a livestream video Sunday, the 49-year-old director addressed criticism over a scene from the forthcoming season of “The Chosen,” which depicts a conversation between Judas and Jesus.
“You have a choice to make, Judas,” Jesus says in the scene in which Judas challenges Jesus to “reclaim” his “birthright.” “Who [do] you belong to? Who has your heart? I want it, and I’ve had it before. You followed me willingly.”
“I want to continue,” Judas replies. “There’s nothing more that I want than that.”
Jesus takes an emotional Judas’ hand, telling him, “Then I will pray for you. But for now, please leave me in peace.”
“It’s over the issue of, ‘Did Jesus pray for people? Did Jesus pray specifically for Judas? Did Jesus want Judas to change His mind? Did Judas have free will? Was Judas ever saved?’ — all the typical Judas questions started to come up,” Jenkins said.
“There’s a measurable amount of people who believe that we got it wrong,” Jenkins added, “that I got it wrong.”
The director, the son of Left Behind author Jerry B. Jenkins, said some criticism was fair and “worth considering,” particularly the question: “Would Jesus have prayed for Judas to change his mind?”
“While I’m somewhat surprised that the concept of Jesus saying the words ‘I’ll pray for you’ are controversial, I’m not actually that surprised that something like this comes up because it’s a sensitive topic,” said Jenkins.
“Whether it’s Jesus and Judas or whether it’s eternal salvation or not, these are important issues, and that’s why I’m actually glad sometimes when this happens.”
Jenkins said these types of controversies provide a “great opportunity and a great reason to have the conversation, to talk about these kinds of things.”
Jenkins dismissed unfair criticism that misrepresents the show, clarifying he was speaking to those genuinely seeking understanding or needing answers for critics of “The Chosen.”
“I’m talking to you, the person who is either genuinely seeking or genuinely trying to understand, or maybe isn’t as familiar with some of these topics or issues, or also has a friend who came to you and said, ‘Why do you watch this heretical show’ and [it would] be good for you to have an answer,” he explained.
Jenkins said that two teams of conservative Bible scholars look over the script before it’s utilized.
“No, we are not implying that Jesus is going to pray that Judas will change his mind,” he said. “Yes, Judas’ betrayal is part of the Father’s will. It is part of this crucifixion and, ultimately, salvation story. So Jesus did not say in the scene, ‘I’ll pray for you, Judas, that you’ll change your mind from whatever you’re about to do.'”
Second, the director said Jesus “has known for a while that Judas would betray Him,” stressing that “we are not implying that at this point in the story [that] Jesus wasn’t sure what was going to happen [or] was hoping things wouldn’t happen bad. Jesus knew.”
“So no, I’m not saying that Jesus didn’t know or that Jesus was hoping things would change,” Jenkins emphasized, adding that he believes “Jesus and the Father share the same will and that their wills are inextricably united.”
The director addressed the scene where Jesus tells Judas, “Who has your heart? I want it, and I’ve had it before.” Jenkins said this “is not referring to salvation” and shared that he doesn’t “believe you can just gain and lose your salvation at your own will.”
“How we’re interpreting it is, of course, is that Judas did believe in Jesus and now might not, and then, ultimately, may not. We don’t know,” Jenkins said.
“Those of an Arminian theological bent might argue that Judas was a believer who gave up his belief, while Calvinists might argue Judas was never truly saved,” he said, quoting Dr. Huffman, a New Testament scholar who consults on “The Chosen.”
“To me, it matters little because if Jesus could pray for unbelievers while they were crucifying Him, it seems that Jesus could pray for Judas even while Judas was planning to betray Him.”
“The most simple explanation of the scene and of Jesus’ phrase,” Jenkins contended, is understood by reading His words in Matthew 5:44: “Pray for your enemies and those who persecute you.”
“[Jesus] is talking about praying for your enemies. Praying for those who curse you. Praying for those who do evil. Jesus did not say, ‘But I won’t because I happen to be a member of the Trinity and don’t need to pray,” he said.
“There are many ways to pray for someone, many reasons to do so. Compassion is a big one. Jesus could have had, absolutely, must have had, compassion for Judas. … [Jesus] had compassion for those who rejected Him. He had compassion and sorrow for Jerusalem.”
“Jesus did not say in this scene, ‘I’ll pray for you, Judas, that you will change your mind.’ He said, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ which can mean any number of things, and there are many reasons to pray for someone,” Jenkins clarified.
Jenkins believes that Jesus’ will and the Father’s will are “inextricably linked, but pointed to Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where He was “asking for a potential change from the plan.”
“In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus actually said, ‘Not My will, but Yours be done,” Jenkins said. “Not mine, but yours, because in that moment, He was actually, in fact, saying, ‘Could You take this cup from me?'”
“Now, scholars have debated what exactly that means, and eventually you’ll see that scene portrayed, but it’s absolutely unarguable that he said, ‘I want your will to be done, not mine,'”
Jenkins said, “That seems to be the most likely scenario for a comment like that. Of course, there’s people who disagree, and that’s fine. … I don’t claim that I have the monopoly on every single theological debate. … It’s not impossible for Jesus to pray for Judas’ heart while still saying to the Father, ‘Not my will, but yours be done.'”
Though the show never portrays Jesus actually praying for Judas, Jenkins said, “I’m not saying that’s exactly what Jesus would have prayed for Judas, but I’m just saying it’s not impossible that He would have.”
When Jesus tells Judas, “I have had your heart, and I want it now,'” He is “not necessarily referring to salvation,” Jenkins continued. “Of course, He wants everyone’s heart. He wants salvation, but the crucifixion hasn’t even happened yet. … The true act of salvation has not actually occurred just yet.”
“We’re referring to the fact that Judas absolutely was a follower of Jesus and absolutely, most assuredly, believed in Him,” Jenkins said. “He had authority to cast out demons and preach in His name.”
Now, as to “whether or not he had salvation and then lost it,” Jenkins said, “that’s a debate for the Calvinists and the Armenians to have, but we’re referring to his belief.”
Jenkins stressed that he and the show’s writers “believe that Judas was originally a follower of Jesus and did believe that He was the Messiah and did believe in His miracles and whatever that meant for his salvation.”
“I do believe that [Judas] did believe and then didn’t — and that by that time, by that point in time, he did not have a choice. It was part of God’s will, especially once the spiritual, dark fears, spiritual forces entered into him, as the Bible says,” Jenkins said.
“I do believe that Jesus can pray for people,” Jenkins added. “I do believe that Jesus can pray for His enemies. I do believe Jesus can pray for Judas.”
John 17 references “one of Jesus’ big prayers [where] He talks about how in that moment He was praying for those who God gave Him, but not the one, the son of perdition, not His betrayer,” Jenkins said.
“So in that moment, He was not praying for Judas,” said Jenkins. “But that’s not to say that He never was. But [Jesus] absolutely, throughout his ministry, prayed for all of His apostles, many of His enemies and Judas.”
While acknowledging the sensitivity of the issue, Jenkins said he welcomed the controversy as an opportunity for conversation and biblical reflection.
“It’s good to have these kinds of conversations. We just ask and pray that we’ll continue to do it respectfully and that we will be accurate in what we are assuming about others,” he said.
Sources:Christian Post
ചെന്നൈ : സിദ്ദിഖ് ലാൽ സംവിധാനം ചെയ്ത വിയറ്റ്നാം കോളനിയിലെ റാവുത്തർ എന്ന കഥാപാത്രത്തിലൂടെ ശ്രദ്ധേയനായ തെലുങ്ക് നടൻ വിജയ രംഗ രാജു (70) അന്തരിച്ചു.ചെന്നൈയിലെ സ്വകാര്യ ആശുപത്രിയിൽ ഹൃദയാഘാതത്തെ തുടർന്നായിരുന്നു അന്ത്യം സംഭവിച്ചത്.
കഴിഞ്ഞ ആഴ്ച ഹൈദരാബാദിൽ സിനിമാ ചിത്രീകരണത്തിനിടെ വിജയ രംഗ രാജുവിന് ഹൃദയാഘാതം അനുഭവപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു.തുടർന്ന് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ചെന്നൈയിലെ സ്വകാര്യ ആശുപത്രിയിലേക്ക് മാറ്റി.ഇവിടെ ചികിത്സയിലിരിക്കെയാണ് മരണം സംഭവിച്ചത്.അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അന്ത്യകർമ്മങ്ങൾ ചെന്നൈയിൽ നടക്കും.
തെലുങ്ക്, മലയാളം സിനിമകളിലായി വിജയ രംഗ രാജു വില്ലൻവേഷങ്ങളിലും സഹനടനായും തിളങ്ങി.നന്ദമൂരി ബാലകൃഷ്ണയുടെ ഭൈരവ ദീപം എന്ന ചിത്രത്തിലൂടെയായിരുന്നു തെലുങ്കിലെ അരങ്ങേറ്റം.അശോക ചക്രവർത്തി, സ്റ്റേറ്റ റൗഡി, വിജയ് തുടങ്ങിയവാണ് മറ്റ് ശ്രദ്ധേയ ചിത്രങ്ങൾ.അഭിനയത്തിന് പുറമേ ഭാരോദ്വഹനത്തിലും ബോഡി ബിൽഡിംഗിലും വിജയ രംഗ രാജു ശ്രദ്ധ പതിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നു.
Telugu actor Vijaya Rangaraju, also known as Raj Kumar, passed away due to a heart attack in Chennai. The 70-year-old actor had reportedly suffered an injury while shooting for a film in Hyderabad last week. He was later shifted to a private hospital in Chennai for treatment. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and health complications.
Vijaya Rangaraju was a popular actor in the Telugu and Malayalam film industries, known for his strong performances in negative and supporting roles. He gained fame with his portrayal of villains in various movies, which showcased his versatility and talent. One of his most iconic roles was in Gopichand’s film Yagnam, where he played a villain, earning immense praise for his acting skills.
Raj Kumar began his acting journey with theater in Chennai and later transitioned to the film industry. His first breakthrough came with the Telugu film Bhairava Dweepam, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna. Over the years, he worked in several notable films, including Ashoka Chakravarthy, State Rowdy, Vijay, and many others. He also worked with legendary director Bapu in the film Seetha Kalyanam, which marked his entry into Telugu cinema.
Beyond acting, Vijaya Rangaraju was passionate about weightlifting and bodybuilding. He was admired for his dedication both on and off-screen. His contributions to the film industry left a lasting impact, and he was respected by his colleagues and fans.
A popular retelling of the Bible in comic book form just hit a major milestone, selling more than three million copies in the United States.
“The Action Bible,” first released in 2010, continues to dominate Amazon bookselling charts, remaining in the top 100 among all books.
Brock Eastman, senior director of The Action Bible brand at David C. Cook, said he believes the project’s success is rooted in its unique approach to bringing the Gospel to young and emerging generations.
“What strikes people that read ‘The Action Bible’ is just the beautiful, full action-packed [presentation] and our illustrations that really bring the story to life,” he said. “And we like to think about … bringing the Bible to life in a different way.”
Eastman continued, “For this generation, specifically, who is involved with graphic novels, this Bible appeals to them because they like that kind of, ‘Oh, I can see the images of the story moving,’ and there’s a narrative, like a paraphrase narrative of the Bible story that’s easy to understand and sounds like a conversation.”
This all creates what Eastman called an “inviting” experience that allows young people to fully immerse themselves in this Bible version, including 230 stories from Scripture and extends to 830 pages.
The roots for “The Action Bible” were set in the 1970s with a preceding project known as “The Picture Bible.” With young people diving into the comic book world — and with new ways of evangelizing emerging — “The Action Bible” was seen as an innovative tool to build upon successes with “The Picture Bible” and deliver timeless truth to a new generation.
As a dad of four kids himself, Eastman said, “The Action Bible” does two important things: it seizes upon the interest of youths in graphic novels while also delivering hope to youths who desperately need it.
Many of the popular graphic novels and comics of the day simply don’t offer “hope,” he said.
“Those stories don’t provide the hope and the beautiful story that God does and the redemptive story … of the plan of bringing Jesus and our salvation,” Eastman said. “And, so, the Bible does that.”
This is especially important right now, as young people in Generation Alpha — those born between 2010 and 2024 — recently dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and other struggles. Hopelessness, for some, has been a result of the chaos, with Eastman believing “The Action Bible” holds power and sway to help ease some of this pain.
“Something like ‘The Action Bible’ that has these graphics that the kids … are drawn to, telling this narrative of this beautiful story of redemption, of hope, of stories and the characters in the Bible that are just like them — people who struggled with things, who had fear but overcame it with courage because they were empowered by God,” he said. “These fantastic stories that kids are connecting to. They’re like, ‘I see myself in that story and I can be that.’”
“The Action Bible” has carefully worked to ensure it keeps “true to what God’s word is.”
“There’s a lot of careful effort put into not only the language and the words, but also the imagery that took those pages and basically … brought them to life,” Eastman said.
The impact of “The Action Bible” has been undeniable, with the project being translated into 108 languages around the globe. While the book has sold 3 million copies in the U.S., the worldwide number is “much larger.”
“In the last four years alone, we’ve sold 1.1 million action Bibles around the world,” Eastman said, explaining this is in addition to the 3 million sold in America.
Ultimately, Eastman said the mission of “The Action Bible” — to bring Jesus’ story to the masses — is being recognized, with stories of the project’s impact continuing to reach his team.
Sources:faithwire
Movie
Actor Carlos PenaVega Praises God, Shares ‘Supernatural Peace’ He Experienced After Loss: ‘God Has Just Been Covering us’
Actors Carlos and Alexa PenaVega believe God has been faithful in their lives, expressing how they have found peace and contentedness even amid the unthinkable.
“God has just been covering us,” Carlos recently told CBN News.
The couple, who maintain a busy Hollywood career and just released their new movie, “Get Him Back for Christmas,” made headlines last year after the stillbirth of their fourth child, Indy.
Despite such a difficult challenge, they relied on the Lord to find strength and overcome.
Carlos recently recalled the tragic Saturday Indy passed away. As he and Alexa pondered whether to attend church in the aftermath — just one day later — they felt God calling them to do so.
“Me, and Alexa, and our three kids went to church that next day and we didn’t know anybody,” he said. “It was our second time ever going, and we were worshiping … and I’ll never forget that we’re standing in the middle … and Alexa and I are holding each other and we’re just bawling.”
In those moments, Carlos described finding a “supernatural peace,” as parishioners — people they barely knew after having recently moved to Tennessee — surrounded them and prayed over them.
“It was like God’s saying … ‘You’re not alone. I got you, and I have you here for a reason, and I’m gonna take you [through] this and make it into something amazing,’” he said.
Since the loss, the PenaVegas have seen God work in amazing ways.
“It’s been amazing to see, especially with Alexa, how much God has been working in her through this loss, because how do you live after that?” he said. “That we have over it … I just keep saying it’s … supernatural — like, God is just covering us.”
Carlos continued, “He has a reason for everything, and He takes whatever the enemy meant for evil and turned it to good.”
As CBN News previously reported, the couple went on to work on passion projects throughout the year. The film “Get Him Back for Christmas” offers a heartfelt romantic story — typical holiday fare.
But it also delivers much deeper themes about doing good, caring for others, and being inspired by genuine and unadulterated kindness. And it’s the first project to come from their new production company, Good for You Entertainment.
“We really believe in creating content that is good for you,” PenaVega said, noting the couple plan to continue creating powerful films and projects. “We feel very strongly that we need more content that is family-friendly. It doesn’t need to be PG-13 or R to be a good movie.”
Sources:faithwire
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