Discussing “Living Biblically” (Episode 1)

Note: While I try not to have any spoilers, it’s hard to talk about a show without talking about a show. So, you may want to watch the episode here.

The new CBS sitcom calls into question what it would be like to live life biblically. While the show has many characters that wouldn’t hold to biblical values, so does life. Chip, a “lapsed Catholic,” decides he is going to live for nine months according to the Bible. While the show doesn’t represent an Evangelical understanding of the Bible, it does help us to see how the culture at large views things. And it provides us with an opportunity to discuss our faith with one another and the world around us. In an interview with The Gospel Coalition, “Walsh described Living Biblically as a platform to have respectful discussions about faith, which is a significant part of the lives of most people in the world.”

I write this to say; the following observations are meant to be talking points. I have not intentions of deriding, Missouri native, Patrick Walsh for his show; I want to interact with it. In fact, you could consider this project as a public display of my inner wrestling with how to be a better steward of the Good News in the culture at large. I’m also taking it one episode at a time, which I recognize will have me taking it out of the context of the whole, but as we go, we can reevaluate.

While there are many competing questions, the primary concern for episode 1 is the role of Scripture. I would propose we examine this with these three question.

Literal vs. Figurative: One of the shows most prominent premises that the Bible, mainly the Old Testament is to be taken literally. You can see the struggle for interpretation in the Father Jean says, “I tell my Sunday schooler the Bible stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Chip replies, “Basics never done it for me I have to go all the way.”

Millions of people have responded to polls, that they interpret the Bible literally. While millions make that declaration, they tend to pick and choose which text they take literally. We need to more have conversations about how we interpret scripture.

God Squad: Gary’s lack of knowledge about the Bible leads him to need a mediator to tell him what the Bible says. Unfortunately, he gets some of his ideas about the Biblical life from movies like Seven. This view misses the blessings we have in containing copies of God’s Word and being filled by the Spirit which leads us into all truth(John 16:12-15). While we need fellow believers to bring truth to remembrance and help us to understand God’s word, the truth is found in the God’s Word. In episode one, you won’t see them opening the Bible and reading a passage. Instead, you will see them referencing small snippets of text out of context.

Old Testament and New Testament: As for the first episode you won’t hear anyone mention the New Testament and you won’t hear the name of Jesus used either positively or negatively. While the show touts living Biblically, so far it only includes half of it. Why is that significant? Considering the program is a spin on the New York Times Best Seller The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs, which is a Jewish man’s quest for ‘religion,’ it shouldn’t surprise us. Even one member of the God squad is a Jewish Rabbi.

This is a problem for an Evangelical because we hold that the New Testament interprets the Old and the Old Testament gives meaning to the New. Even Jesus himself taught all that concerned him from the Old Testament. (Luke 24:27)

As you move through episode 1, you will find a few motivations mentioned for Chip.  The first motivation cited is the death of a friend.  No doubt death leads many to consider eternity.  In addition to the harsh words from his friend’s mother, Chip is wrestling with his eternity as well.  The second is the motivation is the impending birth of his child.  This too is a motivation for many to become “religious.”  The practical benefits of religion appeal to many, but they are not enough to sustain a holy life.  Some think, “If I become more moral, then it will fix my marriage” or “If I go to church, then I will have better-behaved children.”  If this is our motivation, what will we do when our children misbehave or our marriage struggles.  The final reason Chip declares is to have a soul cleanse that he might be more spiritually healthy.  He believes that if he starts living by this moral code, the sins of his life will be removed in the same way that a diet removes fat.

The underling theme seems to be that if I obey the rules, then my life will be better, I will be a better father, and I might just make it to heaven.  However, I think he will realize that he is unable to live out even the intent of the law entirely.  Until the character, producers, or writers recognize this, they will continue to miss the need for Christ.

The desire to live a more holy life(Biblical Life) is honorable, and I wish more people would seek it. However, a life lived out of worship for what God has accomplished in Christ’s PERFECT life, death, and resurrection on our behalf is a more biblical motivation. (Philippians 3:4-10)

You might leave the first episode with the impression that living Biblically always produces positive blessings. After following just a few random Old Testament commands, Chip gets a raise and new column at the paper, convinces his adulterous coworker to work things out with his wife, and moves past his best friend’s death. It even leads his friend Vince to say, “You’re making more money, your happier, and you got to hit Gary in the face with a rock?! I might have to try this Bible thing out…”

Contrary to this secular show’s presentations of Biblical Living, stands Christ’s presentation of the Christian life:

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. ²⁷ But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:23-27)

¹⁶ “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, ¹⁸ and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹ When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ²¹ Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²² and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (Matthew 10:16-24)

or consider Paul’s discussion on suffering

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25)

As you can see from just a few short texts, we are not promised ease but hardship. We can even see this for example in many narratives throughout Scripture. This doesn’t mean that the Christian will experience no good things. Instead, it says that we have to take the good with the bad.

While the nature and place of Scripture is the central theme, it is not the only one.  Here are a few more topics that emerge:

• Where do we go when we die and how is that determined? (Consider the conversation with his friend’s mother or the closing scene)
• What is the significance of faith? (Consider the communication between Chip and his wife)
• How does living Biblically impact your relationship with others? (Consider the conversation between Chip and his wife)