Like many I watched the BBC Nativity dramatisation just before Christmas. Of course such a TV programme is always going to provoke a broad range of reactions, but I was surprised to read this article about it in the Daily Express.
The article quotes a Christian leader speaking out against the programme, with the leader vociferously attacking the BBC and it's portrayal of the Christmas story, giving rise to the Express' headline that the series was an insult to the Christian faith.
In my view, the remarks of the person quoted are not well judged or warranted. Of course the drama puts an interpretation on the events, and in places goes beyond the gospel text. That is inevitable for such a programme. I felt the story-writer took an approach that was plausible, and which made the story realistic for the contemporary viewer. For me that is not an insult, but a great opportunity to explore with other viewers the dynamics of the original situation, and thus touch on the big picture of what God was doing.
It is true that members of some other faiths get very upset at the slightest imaginative or supposedly non-orthodox portrayal of their faith stories or characters. Yet as Christians are we to respond likewise?
No, there is no need for that, especially in this case where no offence need be taken. Rather we can engage with such material and discuss with casual viewers in a positive way, which potentially makes the Gospel accessible to those who would otherwise not contemplate the true meaning of the 'greatest story ever told'.
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It's not surprising to read Stephen Green attacking this programme. I've been in conversation with him before and he cannot be reasoned with. He takes black and white thinking to the the most extreme levels.
ReplyDeleteBut, it's simply a reflection of his fundamentalist approach to the Bible.
Hi Tom: I agree, a reflection on his approach to the Bible.
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