From ‘The Chosen’ to ‘The Righteous Gemstones’: When the Gospel Travels from the East to the West (and Back Again)

From ‘The Chosen’ to ‘The Righteous Gemstones’: When the Gospel Travels from the East to the West (and Back Again)

There’s a phrase from the Psalms that’s echoed throughout scripture and echoed in my own mind more times than I can count:

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” —Psalm 103:12

It’s a promise of grace. Of radical, geographical separation between who I was and who I am in Christ. But recently, I’ve also started to see that verse in a new light—not just about my sin, but about storytelling.

Because when it comes to telling the story of Jesus, there are shows on TV that are literally that far apart—from the East to the West. And somehow, both are carrying the gospel in their own unique, even uncomfortable way.

Two creative series stand out in this category:

The Chosen
The Righteous Gemstones

If you’ve seen both, you know what I mean when I say: these two shows are not the same planet, let alone the same hemisphere. One reverently walks with Jesus through dusty villages, the other blows up megachurches and spotlights spiritual dysfunction with a flamethrower of satire. And yet, somehow… both got me talking about God.

One stirred my spirit.
The other sparked real, raw conversations.
Both brought me closer to my son.
Both made me wrestle with what the gospel really looks like.
And both, in their own strange, sovereign way, are participating in the Great Commission.

Two Sides of the Gospel Coin

Let’s start with The Chosen.

It’s the Bible come to life—but not in a stiff, Sunday School felt-board way. It’s cinematic. Deep. Intimate. It takes creative license, yes, but always points back to Jesus with awe and reverence. You feel the weight of His words. The compassion in His touch. The divine authority wrapped in simple sandals and dusty robes.

I cry almost every time I watch an episode.

Then there’s The Righteous Gemstones.

Let’s just say—this ain’t VeggieTales.

It’s foul-mouthed. It’s outrageous. It’s full of greed, backstabbing, and dysfunction. It’s like the televangelist world gone full HBO. But you know what else it is?

It’s honest.

Painfully honest.

It holds up a mirror to the Western church—warts and all—and asks the question no one else wants to ask: Is this really the gospel, or is it just show business with a cross on top?

And as someone who’s walked the line between faith and failure, leadership and learning, fatherhood and discipleship—I can’t ignore the impact.

Conversations with My Son

Here’s what surprised me most: The Righteous Gemstones got me talking to my son about God more than most sermons do.

Why?

Because it’s messy. Because it’s unfiltered. Because it doesn't try to sanitize the real.

We sat there watching the ridiculousness unfold on screen—pastors in Learjets, faith healers in silk suits, families falling apart behind the scenes—and my son turned to me and said:

“Is this what church people are really like sometimes?”

We didn’t flinch. We leaned in.

I told him the truth: Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. But in all of it, God’s still working.

And in that space, we talked about authentic faith, grace, and how we don’t have to be perfect to be loved by God. We talked about how God calls out the phony, but never stops reaching for the prodigal. We talked about how even when Christians mess up the message, the Kingdom still advances.

I’m grateful for those conversations.

And whether it came through a reverent portrayal like The Chosen or a wild satire like Gemstones, the truth is—the gospel still got through.

Does God Use Unorthodox Tools?

Now here’s where a lot of Christians might pull back.

They might say, “But that show’s not honoring. It’s not biblical. It’s too crude. Too worldly.”

And I get it. I really do.

But here’s what I’ve learned after years of watching God show up in unexpected places:

If you’re only looking for God in the clean and polished, you’re probably missing Him in the wild and honest.

Let’s not forget that Jesus spit in the dirt to heal a blind man.
He touched lepers.
He broke Sabbath traditions.
He hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, and skeptics.
He told stories that made religious people clutch their pearls.

So… is it really that hard to believe He can use a gritty HBO show to spark a spiritual awakening in someone’s living room?

Jesus never said, “Only speak through a worship band and a three-point sermon.”

He said:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” —Mark 16:15

And sometimes, “all the world” includes streaming platforms and nontraditional voices.

When the Medium Is Messy—But the Message Is Still Moving

I’m not saying The Righteous Gemstones is doctrinally sound. It's not meant to be. It’s not a sermon. It’s a satire. It exposes, it provokes, and, ironically, it makes room for real talk.

I’m also not saying The Chosen is the perfect final word on biblical narrative. It’s a dramatization, not scripture itself.

But what I am saying is this:

Both are inviting people to think. To question. To seek. To wrestle with who Jesus is and what faith really looks like.

That’s not small.

That’s Kingdom work.

And maybe, just maybe, we need to stop policing the method and start celebrating the movement.

Philippians 1:18 hits this perfectly:

“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way… Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

Paul is saying: Whether from pure motives or not—if Jesus is being talked about, I’ll take it.

That’s a message the church needs to hear today.

Three Ways to Share the Gospel—Even in Unconventional Spaces

So, if we’re serious about living out the Great Commission—and doing it in a world that’s skeptical, burned out, and bombarded with noise—how do we actually share the gospel?

Here are three ways to do it with authenticity, creativity, and courage.

1. Use the Stories People Are Already Watching

You don’t have to create a new stage to share Jesus. Just walk onto the ones people are already paying attention to.

When people are watching shows like The Chosen or Gemstones, ask questions.

“What did you think of that character’s journey?”
“Did anything in that episode remind you of real faith?”
“Why do you think Jesus chose those people to follow Him?”

Let the content be the doorway. Don’t force it. Just invite conversation.

Remember Acts 17—Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, surrounded by statues of Greek gods. And what did he do?

“I see that in every way you are very religious… now let me tell you about the unknown God.” —Acts 17:22-23

He used what was in front of them to point them to Christ.

You can do the same. Even if the platform is Hulu and the content’s got a TV-MA rating.

2. Embrace Honest Conversations (Even the Messy Ones)

People don’t want plastic faith. They want something real. Something gritty. Something that looks like wounds that healed and grace that actually changes things.

So when your kid or friend or coworker brings up The Righteous Gemstones with a smirk and says, “That show is wild,” don’t shut the door.

Open it.

Talk about spiritual abuse. Talk about authenticity. Talk about how you’ve seen both the real and the counterfeit.

And then, point them to the Jesus who flips tables when people exploit faith—and then sits at dinner tables with sinners who want a second chance.

Be vulnerable. Be available. Be real.

3. Live the Gospel Before You Preach It

You don’t have to always quote scripture to be scriptural.

You can embody the Good News by how you love. How you forgive. How you laugh. How you admit when you’re wrong.

Romans 12:9 says:

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

That kind of love—sincere love—makes people curious about Jesus.

So yes, post that verse. But also show up with a meal. Send the text. Forgive the grudge. Ask hard questions. Live with joy.

Because the gospel isn’t just a message. It’s a lifestyle.

And when people see it alive in you—they’ll want to know what power makes that possible.

Final Thoughts: Let the Gospel Run Wild

Look, I get it.

Not everyone will be comfortable with the idea that a satirical, R-rated show could bring someone closer to God.

But you know what’s even more uncomfortable?

Missing out on the conversations that are already happening because we’re too focused on controlling the method.

Jesus never asked us to gatekeep the gospel.

He asked us to go. To preach. To live. To be salt and light in a world full of shadows and noise.

So whether it’s through a cinematic series like The Chosen or a chaotic comedy like The Righteous Gemstones—if it leads someone to reflect, to seek, to pray… then God’s working.

And if it leads a dad and son into honest, real, deep conversations about faith, forgiveness, and who Jesus really is…

Well, then I’d say that’s hitting the mark.

Every. Single. Time.

Sunday, 13 April 2025