I think everyone in Effective Living has some basic familiarity with the stories in the Bible but frequently one of the questions people new to church want to know is: "why waste time in the Old Testament"? It is full of stories about people we can't pronounce and some pretty gruesome tales of murder and mayhem. This first episode of The Bible flies through the first 22 books of Genesis at a pretty good clip. They land for a good part of the episode on the story of Abraham, Sarah and Lot.
SO as we start our summer journey, here are a couple of things I'll throw out for your comments:
The producers are very clear that they wanted to keep the tradition and at the same time help those without extensive Bible knowledge follow the plot by staying with the overarching themes but not necessarily accurate to the text.
Is it ok to perpetuate the 'familiar' myths that many unchurched and some churched people accept?
How much of the accurate story do the adults and children in our own church know?
Is it ok to take artistic, poetic license with the Bible stories? What happens if people go looking for them in the Bible and they don't match? Is that important to the faith or the church?
Is is more important to be accurate or compelling?
We'll be together in the Youth Lounge to share their comfy couches and new big screen with surround sound (they tell me) on Sunday. Show starts promptly at 10 a.m. Bring snacks and drinks, if you want.
I can't wait to see what everyone has to say about our first look at the History Channel's The Bible.
Alana
(Wait til you see those angels!)
Checking in to see if I could make a post.......
ReplyDeleteI'm curious how everyone else felt about Abraham taking Isaac to be sacrificed? I have previously heard and read this story multiple times. For me, seeing this story being acted-out by live characters was very powerful and really reinforced Abraham's faith in God. I have a long way to go!!
I think seeing and knowing that Isaac was not a child...he was at least 14 or 15...some students of the Bible say as much as 17! How did Abraham get him to go along? And I was really struck with the reuniting with Sarah. You bet that was a household in turmoil after that incident.
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