Little did I know that when I committed to writing these movie reviews some six weeks ago at the beginning of Lent that I would end up agreeing with a Huntington Beach LCMS pastor by the name of Sam Schuldheisz reviewing the last of the five episodes. But this is what ended up happening!
Almost from the beginning, I felt that this History Channel docudrama presents us with “theology light” or rather “theology too light.” While the five-part mini-series definitely has a narrative plot (“people of faith who trust in God”), I continue to feel that something is sorely amiss in this series.
As a Lutheran, I am accustomed to look for solid undergirding theological themes. Lutherans tend to read the Bible as the gradually unfolding story of God’s “prevenient grace” (which is a fancy theological term for divine grace that precedes all human attempts at embracing of that grace). Both the Old and New Testament, we Lutherans believe, witness to how God initiated relationships with human beings, how God saves us from our own sinfulness and inability to live lives of mercy, love, and justice. First, God gave the people of Israel the Law. When the people failed to obey God’s Law and continued to sin, God became incarnate in flesh to take upon Himself our sins and to reconcile us to Himself. The Law reveals to us our fallen nature; Jesus Christ saves us from our sinfulness and restores us to a right relationship with God.
According to Lutheran theology, this tension between human sin and God’s salvation always remains. Lutherans believe that Christians always remain justified sinners (“saints and at the same time sinners”), despite the salvation that Christ has won for them. No amount of faith and no amount of faithful living can change us completely from sinners into saints.
In my heart and mind, I have deeply embraced this theological tension between Law and Gospel. Any plot that simplifies the Biblical story or lacks theological substance tends to make me feel uneasy or leaves me dissatisfied.
Pastor Schuldheisz, to whose review I am indebted, alluded to an old Wendy’s advertising slogan: “Where’s the beef?” To him, that little question, “Where’s the beef?” not only works well for selling hamburgers, but points to a profound theological question: Where’s the substance and the solid food of doctrine? To Pastor Schuldheisz (and myself) the most glaring problem with the final episode of “The Bible” miniseries was not so much what was said, but what wasn’t said. The solid food of Scriptural doctrine was missing at key points and the main course of Christianity – Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins – wasn’t on the table after the movie account of Holy Week was over.
To be sure, episode five had some good appetizers: for example, when the camera showed the disciples saying the Lord’s Prayer just as Jesus had taught them. When it came to the main course, though, the overall meal amounted to little more than empty calories. The problem wasn’t so much what was on the plate as what was left in the kitchen. So, here are four courses Lutherans might find missing from the table on Sunday evening.
(1) Thomas’ Confession
When the risen Christ appeared to the apostles behind locked doors, the apostle Thomas – more or less – confesses that Jesus “is back.” We hear Thomas say, “It is you,” but not the words that he says in John’s Gospel: “My Lord and my God!” In other words, Christology was entirely missing from this event. So, where’s the beef?
(2) The Risen Christ and His Teaching
The next major scene zeroes in on the disciples gathered around Jesus at Bethany just prior to His ascension to the right hand of the Father. But does Jesus say anything about the preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations? Do we hear anything about teaching Jesus’ doctrine and baptizing all nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? Do the disciples receive a promise that Jesus will be with them always to the end of the age? No, none of these things are taught. Rather, we hear Jesus say, “Ask for the Holy Spirit and I will send it to you.” Not only are Jesus’ words and promises absent from His ascension sermon to the disciples, but the work of the Holy Spirit is reduced to some kind of bargain and deal between the disciples and God, “if you ask I will send it to you.” Again, where’s the beef?
(3) Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
In one of the next scenes, the disciples are gathered inside a darkened locked room during the Jewish Festival of Pentecost and are praying the Lord’s Prayer. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit rushes in like a mighty wind, the disciples begin to speak in a number of languages known at the time, and all are left excited at what they just experienced. Again, the problem is not so much what is present, but what is missing from the story: Peter’s Pentecost proclamation of repentance and the forgiveness of sins is skipped over with laughter and excitement over the disciples’ new-found language skills. In other words, the entire substance and center of the Christian faith is lacking from Pentecost in “The Bible.” The mini-series presents us with the base facts of the story and the surrounding context but gives us no meat to chew on. To quote Chris Pastor Schuldheisz, “The big deal at Pentecost was not that the disciples could speak in foreign languages. The big deal at Pentecost was the Gospel being proclaimed to all nations.” Where’s the beef?
(4) The Apostle Paul and His Doctrine of Justification
Finally, the movie spends a significant amount of time on the Saul’s conversion, his work as an apostle, and the growth of the Christian church as a result of Paul’s ministry. Instead of focusing on Paul’s teaching, though, the producers of “The Bible” chose to focus on the person of Paul. Instead of focusing on the Gospel and the justification of sinners, we hear about Paul’s struggles to fit in with the early Christian community. Yes, some of his writings were quoted here and there, especially 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. But if all we preach is love and not Paul’s theology of the cross, we are missing the point of his ministry.
The Lutheran reformers rightly taught that the doctrine of justification is the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls. Justification by grace through faith is, indeed, the center of the Scriptures, the very purpose for Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The fact that this teaching is lacking in "The Bible" by extension also means that the Gospel is lacking. Yes, there are “moments,” hints and implicit or brief accounts of the Gospel, but again, what was there wasn’t as problematic as what was missing. What’s missing? The central article of the Christian faith: justification by grace through faith. Where’s the beef?
Conclusion
In conclusion, let me simply quote Pastor Schuldheisz, who expressed very well what I would say, too: “Finally, the overall problem from my perspective, is that the real Gospel is absent from The Bible precisely because it isn’t nearly as palatable as what was broadcasted in The Bible. Leaving the Gospel off the menu makes Christianity marketable to a wider audience. But what kind of Christianity are we serving up if we take the solid meat of Christ, the Gospel and Justification, the work of the Holy Spirit and the means of grace, and the promises and Words of Jesus for His Church? We are left with a counterfeit and Christ-less Christianity. […] Although The Bible may be more like spiritual candy to be eaten sparingly and with caution, it is no substitute for the daily bread Christ dishes up for His people at the Lord’s Table and in His holy Word. Where’s the beef? Don’t look for it in The Bible, rather, search the Scriptures (the book is way better than the movie anyhow) and find a faithful church where the regular meal being served up is a feast of Christ’s body and blood, His Word and water, and His forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.” Amen!
In one of the next scenes, the disciples are gathered inside a darkened locked room during the Jewish Festival of Pentecost and are praying the Lord’s Prayer. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit rushes in like a mighty wind, the disciples begin to speak in a number of languages known at the time, and all are left excited at what they just experienced. Again, the problem is not so much what is present, but what is missing from the story: Peter’s Pentecost proclamation of repentance and the forgiveness of sins is skipped over with laughter and excitement over the disciples’ new-found language skills. In other words, the entire substance and center of the Christian faith is lacking from Pentecost in “The Bible.” The mini-series presents us with the base facts of the story and the surrounding context but gives us no meat to chew on. To quote Chris Pastor Schuldheisz, “The big deal at Pentecost was not that the disciples could speak in foreign languages. The big deal at Pentecost was the Gospel being proclaimed to all nations.” Where’s the beef?
(4) The Apostle Paul and His Doctrine of Justification
Finally, the movie spends a significant amount of time on the Saul’s conversion, his work as an apostle, and the growth of the Christian church as a result of Paul’s ministry. Instead of focusing on Paul’s teaching, though, the producers of “The Bible” chose to focus on the person of Paul. Instead of focusing on the Gospel and the justification of sinners, we hear about Paul’s struggles to fit in with the early Christian community. Yes, some of his writings were quoted here and there, especially 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. But if all we preach is love and not Paul’s theology of the cross, we are missing the point of his ministry.
The Lutheran reformers rightly taught that the doctrine of justification is the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls. Justification by grace through faith is, indeed, the center of the Scriptures, the very purpose for Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The fact that this teaching is lacking in "The Bible" by extension also means that the Gospel is lacking. Yes, there are “moments,” hints and implicit or brief accounts of the Gospel, but again, what was there wasn’t as problematic as what was missing. What’s missing? The central article of the Christian faith: justification by grace through faith. Where’s the beef?
Conclusion
In conclusion, let me simply quote Pastor Schuldheisz, who expressed very well what I would say, too: “Finally, the overall problem from my perspective, is that the real Gospel is absent from The Bible precisely because it isn’t nearly as palatable as what was broadcasted in The Bible. Leaving the Gospel off the menu makes Christianity marketable to a wider audience. But what kind of Christianity are we serving up if we take the solid meat of Christ, the Gospel and Justification, the work of the Holy Spirit and the means of grace, and the promises and Words of Jesus for His Church? We are left with a counterfeit and Christ-less Christianity. […] Although The Bible may be more like spiritual candy to be eaten sparingly and with caution, it is no substitute for the daily bread Christ dishes up for His people at the Lord’s Table and in His holy Word. Where’s the beef? Don’t look for it in The Bible, rather, search the Scriptures (the book is way better than the movie anyhow) and find a faithful church where the regular meal being served up is a feast of Christ’s body and blood, His Word and water, and His forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.” Amen!
