In Defense of Biblical Fiction
In college, I took a course on French Medieval literature. In it we studied a French miracle. The common people had no ability to read the Bible for a multitude of reasons. The active suppression of Biblical literacy is a discussion for another time.
Miracle plays were performed to teach biblical truths to an illiterate population. They didn’t necessarily portray miracles; the word is derived from the Latin for wonder. I love that. Because these plays truly leave you with a sense of wonder – in both senses. Awe at how holy God is and wonder as in seeking answers.
One play gave me a deeper appreciation for Jesus’s sacrifice and for His concern for those He loved. The impact was powerful enough I’m still talking about it four decades (!!!) later. It portrays an intimate conversation between Mary and Jesus in which he tells his mother about his imminent death. (I won’t spoil it – I might try my hand at recreating it one day.)
Did such an exchange take place?
Probably not.
Is creating a fictional story about Jesus heretical?
Maybe, maybe not.
What standards help us determine if a work is heretical or not?
Recently, Todd Friel of Wretched posted a harsh critique of Amazon Prime’s The House of David.
In response, Jon McCray of Whaddo You Meme? posted a response.
If this interests you, I encourage you to watch both videos.
Here are some questions you can ask to determine whether Scripture is being twisted.
- Does the work present itself as truth or a as a work of fiction designed to give a deeper appreciation for or understanding of the biblical text?
- Does the work accurately represent the characters presented?
- Does the work draw you into a closer relationship with Jesus?
- Does it make you open your Bible to get a better handle on the truth?
If you haven’t watched The House of David yet, I encourage you to check it out. I don’t agree with every editorial choice, but it’s well done. And it’s not claiming to be authoritative. It’s an interpretation, filling in gaps where we just don’t know the answers.