Dallas Jenkins is the creator and director of The Chosen, the most successfully crowdfunded series of all time. Dallas Jenkins is the son of the son of Jerry B Jenkins, Tim LaHaye's co-writer behind the bestselling fictional "Left Behind" franchise of the 1990s. Unfortunately, the Left Behind series sparked renewed interest in the pre-tribulation rapture, a false doctrine that has blighted a number of dispensational churches in the West. Dallas Jenkins follows in his father's footsteps with his questionable depiction of Jesus Christ in this series.
Filming of The Chosen began on rental sets in Texas. However, Jenkins later accepted the offer of using a Jerusalem film set in Utah created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Although popular, the series has been widely criticized on a number of levels, due to its association with its Mormon distributors Angel Studios; hiring LGBT members to work on the film set; its use of artistic license; and concerns that Jenkins was injecting Mormon theology into the script. These criticisms have been countered by Jenkins and others, but LDS involvement is impossible to deny, and evidently, Jenkins regards Mormons as Christians "despite some theological differences". In fact, these "differences" are irreconcilable! Jenkins has a flawed understanding of the gospel and is biblically illiterate.
Jenkins: "..beautiful things about this project have been my growing brother and sisterhood with people of the LDS community that I never would have known otherwise. And learning so much about your faith tradition and realizing, gosh, for all the stuff maybe we don't see eye to eye on, that all happened.. after Jesus was here. The stories of Jesus we do agree on and we love the same Jesus.."2
Jesse T Jackson: "Angel Studios was co-founded by brothers Neal and Jeffrey Harmon, both whom belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which has caused confusion for some fans of the show. Angel Studios is strictly a distribution partner for the show and doesn’t fund the show, according to Jenkins. Rather, 'The Chosen' is 100 percent funded by viewers."3
Jeffrey Harmon: "I am a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (we don’t use 'Mormon' anymore). And I have devoted the last three years of my life to helping an Evangelical, Dallas Jenkins, create his vision of the hit TV Series, THE CHOSEN. I have no control over the content of the show."4
LDS Irreconcilable "theological differences"
A brief summary of LDS theology:
The Book of Mormon is the word of God (they actually have four sources of doctrine but the Book of Mormon takes precedence).
Salvation is only found through the Mormon church.
Jesus is a created being.
All people ever born, including Jesus Christ, lived with God as His spirit children before this life.
Jesus is the "spirit brother" of Lucifer.
Jesus was a married man.
"As man now is, God once was" God was once a man who existed on another planet, and through obedience he "progressed" into being the God of his own planet. You and I can also become gods of our own planet and progress through obedience.
God the Father and Jesus Christ are two distinct beings; each is a distinct personage with His own perfect glorified body.
Mormons believe that we "progress" into our godhood in the same way that God progressed and became God of planet Earth.
We are saved by grace after we have done all that we can.
"All denominations are an abomination." Mormons believe they are the only ones that have the truth, all other denominations are apostate.
Joseph Smith wrote himself into Genesis 50 and added a prophecy about himself.5
Jenkins' "theological differences" are far more critical than his allusion suggests. LDS theology fundamentally denies the scriptures and should be absolutely rejected by bible believing Christians. Similarly, those who promote LDS teachings should not be included in any project claiming to represent Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:11).
A different Jesus
Jenkins claims that his life goal is to portray the "authentic Jesus". However, the "Jesus" of The Chosen is inauthentic and is a lethal departure from the scriptures. The ecumenical appeal of The Chosen with its acceptance of multi-faith traditions including Mormons and Roman Catholics is extremely dangerous! Ecumenism always involves compromise! The Chosen has put many people at risk of accepting a different Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Religion News Service:“The Chosen has a biblical advisory council, made up of representatives of various faith traditions.. YouTube videos show Jenkins hosting roundtables with a Protestant theologian, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, addressing 'the red flags' that might be raised by the show."6
Shane Cox, administrator of The Chosen: Do Not Be Deceived Facebook group and the Point2TheWord YouTube channel, has posted shockingly unbiblical clips from The Chosen, and interview clips with The Chosen’s director Dallas Jenkins and cast members.
Below are are some clips representing unbiblical examples in The Chosen.
The Chosen "jesus" messing up (youtube.com)
The reckless jesus of the Chosen (youtube.com)
The Chosen loves to have "jesus" refuse worship (youtube.com)
The chosen: Would jesus miss a word or 2? (youtube.com)
(352) Is this in scripture or just in the chosen? - YouTube
What would the "chosen jesus" do without his mother? (youtube.com)
Is the Chosen hinting at something? (youtube.com)
“Why haven’t you healed me?” (The Chosen scene) (youtube.com)
This information should raise major red flags amongst bible believing Christians.
2. (351) I will go down swinging defending Mormonism! Dallas Jenkins / The Chosen says they have same Jesus - YouTube
3. 'The Chosen' Uproar: 'We’re Not Produced by Mormons'; Seminary Professor Warns People Not to Watch (churchleaders.com)
4. Why I, a Latter-day Saint, am helping Evangelicals create the hit TV Series THE CHOSEN | by Jeffrey Harmon | Medium
5. A Brief Comparison of Mormonism and Christianity (with Allen Parr) (youtube.com)
6. Film series ‘The Chosen’ explores its Catholic side in the Eternal City (religionnews.com)
7. Dallas Jenkins discusses the focus and purpose of The Chosen – Catholic World Report