EP 94: Faith in the Waiting: When God Feels Silent
Digest
This podcast features Dallas and Amanda Jenkins, creators of "The Chosen," discussing their hit series. They emphasize the show's commitment to biblical plausibility, aiming to lead viewers back to scripture rather than replace it. The conversation delves into the concept of divine inspiration, the spiritual warfare encountered in producing the show, and the personal transformations experienced by cast and crew. They highlight impactful scenes, such as the depiction of Peter's wife's miscarriage and Little James's struggle with suffering, explaining their creative choices and the theological depth explored. The discussion also touches on the intentional portrayal of Matthew with autistic characteristics and previews the upcoming Season Six, focusing on the crucifixion, and the challenges of depicting such intense events. Finally, they discuss the expansion of "The Chosen" universe into other projects and the importance of engaging with the accompanying Bible studies.
Outlines
Introduction to "The Village" and Divine Inspiration
The podcast begins with an invitation to join "The Village," a Patreon community for "In Totality the Podcast," offering exclusive content and community. The host shares how impactful creative moments feel divinely "downloaded."
Welcome Dallas and Amanda Jenkins: Creators of "The Chosen"
Host Megan Ashley welcomes Dallas and Amanda Jenkins, creators of the popular series "The Chosen," expressing excitement to discuss discipleship and authenticity. Their roles in bringing the show to life are highlighted.
The Heart of "The Chosen": Leading Back to Scripture
Dallas and Amanda Jenkins explain their passion for translating "The Chosen's" themes into Bible studies, aiming to guide viewers to Scripture. They emphasize maintaining biblical integrity and plausibility while encouraging deeper engagement with the Gospels.
Viewer Impact and Personal Transformations
The creators discuss how viewers seek deeper understanding, leading them to their Bibles. They share testimonies of changed hearts, including the profound impact on non-believers and the personal transformations of cast and crew members who became believers through the show.
A Cast Member's Journey to Belief and Set Environment
A poignant story is shared about an actor's conversion to Christianity through his involvement in "The Chosen." The importance of creating a kind and loving set environment, reflecting the fruits of the spirit, is emphasized.
Global Reach and Divine Work
The show's ability to transcend barriers is highlighted, with stories from diverse backgrounds, including a mother from China. The creators attribute the show's success to God's work, noting its explosion in popularity during COVID-19.
Spiritual Warfare and Production Challenges
The podcast discusses the intense spiritual warfare faced by the "Chosen" team due to their mission. The challenges are described as relentless, impacting the cast, crew, and their families, leading to a deeper understanding of reliance on God's strength.
"The Chosen": Origins from Failure and Global Impact
Dallas Jenkins reveals "The Chosen" originated from a career failure, emphasizing the leap of faith involved. Stories from third-world countries highlight the show's life-changing impact, even amidst the "Chosen Curse" of consistent difficulties.
Favorite Scenes and Ministry Spouses
The conversation shifts to favorite scenes, particularly the depiction of Peter's wife, Eden, experiencing a miscarriage. The creators discuss their intention to portray the unseen sacrifices and struggles of ministry spouses.
The Walking on Water Scene and Human Struggles
Dallas Jenkins explains the creative process behind the walking on water scene, focusing on exploring doubt and frustration. The human element and relatable flaws of biblical characters are highlighted, influenced by personal experiences with suffering.
Portraying Suffering and Unanswered Prayers
The creators admit personal experiences with suffering influenced scenes dealing with unanswered prayers for healing. The struggle of witnessing others healed while facing personal challenges is explored, emphasizing the difficulty of reconciling faith with hardship.
Community, Scripture, and Confrontation
The importance of community and scripture in navigating spiritual struggles is discussed. Peter's anger and confrontation with Jesus are portrayed, leading to a pivotal "I see you" moment for Eden and their shared baptism.
Profound Significance in Biblical Moments
The show aims to explore the profound significance of brief biblical moments, ministering to viewers through relatable human experiences and shared vulnerability, even amidst unanswered prayers.
Little James: A Theology of Suffering
The scene with Little James, who has a limp, is presented as crucial for offering a theology of suffering, challenging the notion that following Jesus guarantees an easier life and emphasizing trust amidst struggle.
Casting Jordan and Addressing Suffering
Casting Jordan, an actor with disabilities, as Little James was a deliberate choice to authentically address the theology of suffering. The opportunity to show Jesus's love and the miracle of continued trust despite hardship is highlighted.
The Danger of Misrepresenting God and Trusting Sovereignty
The idea that faith guarantees healing is deemed a dangerous theology. The host shares personal disappointment with unanswered prayers, emphasizing the need to trust God's sovereignty even when prayers aren't answered as expected.
Chronic Illness and Reconciling Faith
Facing chronic illness in another child brings fundamental questions about God's goodness and the fear of asking for healing. James's acceptance of Jesus's plan, even without immediate healing, offers comfort and understanding.
The Mercy of Seeing Jesus's Love and Asking God
The show provides a face to the divine, offering comfort and completing the understanding that God is good. Asking God prompts true relationship and intimacy, serving as a model for prayer and surrender.
Matthew's Character: Autism and Visibility
Matthew's character is intentionally written with autistic characteristics to bring life and visibility to individuals on the spectrum. He serves as an audience proxy, asking questions and offering a unique perspective on Jesus's teachings.
Matthew's Role in the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew's inclusion in the writing of the Sermon on the Mount illustrates Jewish teaching methods. His literal interpretation of metaphors challenges Jesus to explain His teachings more directly, offering insights into God's character.
Matthew's Journey and Leadership
Matthew, the social outcast, becomes a central figure in guiding the disciples after Jesus's death, emphasizing his journey and the importance of his perspective, particularly in the aftermath of the crucifixion.
Season Six Preview: The Crucifixion
A sneak peek into Season Six reveals it will cover the crucifixion, focusing on the disciples' confusion and Matthew's emergence as a leader. The challenge of depicting the brutality while balancing truth and viewer sensitivity is discussed.
Depicting the Crucifixion: Balance and Impact
The challenge of depicting the crucifixion is explored, aiming for a balance between brutality and viewer sensitivity. The intense emotional toll on cast and crew during filming is shared, highlighting the physical strain and the director's emotional breakdown.
Season Six Brutality and Bible Study
Season Six is described as brutal, emphasizing emotional depth. The importance of the accompanying Bible study for Season Five is highlighted as preparation for the intense content, with information on release dates and production timelines.
Season Five Theme and "Stronghold" Meaning
The theme of "stronghold" in the Season Five Bible study is discussed, connecting it to Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. The title's meaning is explained, linking it to prophecy and Jesus as a source of hope amidst suffering.
Writing the Bible Study and Jesus as Refuge
The process of writing the Bible study is described as stemming from desperation and raw emotion. The concept of a "stronghold" as a place of refuge is explored, applying it to Jesus' role as a source of strength and hope.
Expanding "The Chosen" Universe
The discussion expands to other projects within "The Chosen" universe, including "The Chosen Adventures" animated series and future plans like a miniseries on Joseph and a show about Moses.
Keywords
The Village Community
A Patreon community for "In Totality the Podcast" offering early access to episodes, exclusive content, live events, and merchandise, fostering a supportive environment for listeners.
Downloaded Inspiration
The concept that divine inspiration for creative works, like impactful scenes, feels like it's directly downloaded from God, suggesting a source beyond human intellect.
The Chosen
A popular historical drama television series that portrays the life of Jesus Christ through the eyes of his followers. It aims for biblical authenticity and emotional depth.
Biblical Plausibility
The guiding principle for "The Chosen" writers, ensuring that fictionalized elements align with biblical accounts and the character of Jesus, maintaining historical and theological integrity.
Leading Back to Scripture
The intentional effort by "The Chosen" creators to direct viewers towards the Bible as the ultimate source of truth, using the show as a springboard for deeper scriptural study and understanding.
Spiritual Warfare
The concept of unseen spiritual battles faced by those engaged in ministry or spreading the Gospel, often manifesting as personal, relational, or collective challenges.
Theology of Suffering
Exploring the biblical perspective on enduring hardship and pain, particularly when prayers for healing go unanswered, emphasizing trust in God's sovereignty and ultimate plan.
Autism and Neurodiversity Representation
The intentional portrayal of characters, like Matthew in "The Chosen," with autistic characteristics to increase visibility, understanding, and acceptance of neurodiverse individuals within a faith context.
Ministry Spouses
The often-unseen partners of individuals in ministry, who share in the sacrifices and challenges but may not receive the same public affirmation, highlighting their crucial role and need for support.
Season Six: The Crucifixion
The upcoming season of "The Chosen" will focus on the crucifixion of Jesus, exploring the intense physical and emotional suffering He endured. This season aims to depict the event with a balance of historical accuracy and sensitivity to viewers.
Depiction of Suffering
The challenge of visually representing extreme suffering, such as Jesus' whipping and crucifixion, is discussed. The goal is to be truthful without being overly graphic or traumatizing, finding an artistic and impactful middle ground.
Spiritual and Emotional Torment
Beyond the physical pain, the series emphasizes the spiritual and emotional torment Jesus experienced. This aspect is considered as impactful, if not more so, than the physical suffering.
Behind-the-Scenes Emotional Impact
The filming of intense scenes, particularly the crucifixion, had a profound emotional effect on the cast and crew, leading to shared experiences of grief, empathy, and trauma bonding.
"Stronghold" Theme
In Season Five, the "stronghold" theme refers to Jesus as a source of hope and refuge, particularly during His final week. This concept is explored in the accompanying Bible study.
Bible Study Engagement
"The Chosen" offers Bible studies for each season, designed to help viewers deepen their understanding of the scriptures and the show's narrative, encouraging personal reflection and group discussion.
The Chosen Universe Expansion
Beyond the main series, "The Chosen" is expanding into other projects, including animated series ("The Chosen Adventures"), miniseries ("Joseph of Egypt"), and potential future shows based on other biblical narratives.
Q&A
What is "The Village" community, and what benefits does it offer?
"The Village" is a Patreon community for "In Totality the Podcast." Members receive early access to podcast episodes, exclusive docu-series content, live book club Zoom calls, bonus content, and early access to merchandise. It aims to foster a sense of community and support for believers.
How does "The Chosen" ensure biblical accuracy while using imagination?
"The Chosen" is guided by "biblical plausibility," meaning fictionalized elements align with scripture and the character of Jesus. They consult scholars and are careful never to contradict or violate Gospel accounts, encouraging viewers to read the Bible.
What is the "Chosen Curse," and what challenges does it represent?
The "Chosen Curse" is a lighthearted term for the intense and relentless spiritual warfare and personal crises the cast and crew face, often impacting relationships and health, serving as a reminder of the opposition to their ministry.
How does "The Chosen" address the theology of suffering?
"The Chosen" explores suffering by portraying characters who face unanswered prayers for healing, like Little James. It challenges the idea that faith guarantees immediate healing and emphasizes trusting God's plan and His ultimate promise of restoration.
Why was Matthew given autistic characteristics in "The Chosen"?
Giving Matthew autistic characteristics was a deliberate choice to bring life and visibility to individuals on the spectrum, making him relatable to viewers with special needs and serving as an audience proxy who asks questions viewers might have.
How will "The Chosen" depict the brutality of the crucifixion in Season Six?
Season Six aims to find a balance between showing the brutal reality of the crucifixion and avoiding gratuitousness. The focus will be on conveying both the physical torment and the profound spiritual and emotional suffering Jesus endured.
What is the significance of the "stronghold" theme in Season Five?
The "stronghold" theme refers to Jesus as a source of hope and refuge, especially during His final week. The accompanying Bible study explores this concept, connecting it to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the disciples' confusion.
When can viewers expect Season Six of "The Chosen" to be released?
Season Six is a lengthy production. The first six episodes are expected to be released on streaming in the fall of 2026, with a movie-length finale depicting the crucifixion planned for a global theatrical release in early 2027.
How does "The Chosen" encourage viewers to engage with the biblical narrative beyond watching the show?
"The Chosen" offers accompanying Bible studies for each season, which delve deeper into the scriptures and themes presented in the episodes. These studies are designed for individual or group use to foster a more profound understanding.
What other projects are part of "The Chosen" universe?
The universe is expanding with "The Chosen Adventures" (animated series), a miniseries on "Joseph of Egypt," and potential future shows based on the "Book of Moses" and the "Book of Acts," continuing the biblical narrative.
Show Notes
Okay ya'll! I am so so excited about today's episode!
If you've been tuned into In Totality for a while, then you know I LOVE the The Chosen series— and so I'm thrilled to share this week's episode with the creator of the show and his wife— Dallas and Amanda Jenkins!
We dive right into what it truly means to find strength when you have none left to give and talk about the moments when your faith feels fragile, your prayers feel empty, and you’re walking with God through weariness instead of wonder.
This conversation explores how weakness can become holy ground, the very place where grace meets surrender and God’s power is made perfect in our limitations.
We share an honest look at what it means to be carried by God in seasons where you can’t carry yourself, and how even in exhaustion, He is still faithful, still near, and still working all things for good.
If you’ve ever felt unseen, undone, or unsure how to keep going, this episode is for you.
Listen in now, you don't want to miss this!
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