Years ago a friend of my husband’s returned to faith with great excitement and fervor. Not long after, we ate dinner with Ralph and his wife, Helen, and then wanted to watch a movie together. Ralph chose the classic Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston.

Several times during the movie, Ralph pulled out his Bible to see if the details lined up with the account in the book of Exodus.

When you love a book, you want the screen version to get it right. Just ask anyone who read Harry Potter or The Hunger Games before they saw the movies. Or Les Miserables or Gone with the Wind or To Kill a Mockingbird or …

Some who see the film might never read the book. I always want the movie version to communicate the book faithfully to them.

Beginning March 13, actress Roma Downey and her producer husband, Mark Burnett, bring to The History Channel the story of the Bible in a 10-hour, 5-part docudrama called simply THE BIBLE Series. Roma plays Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the series.

I’m counting on the story of the Bible being faithfully communicated to many who might never read the book. I don’t expect to be disappointed, judging by the faithful teaching found in Roma’s Little Angels™ series for preschoolers.

Some stories are condensed for the sake of surveying the Bible in just ten hours (in the trailer, I spotted the Magi at the stable, for example). Although I wish these kinds of details weren’t tampered with, it shouldn’t detract from the sense of the Bible as the big story of our powerful, just, and loving God.

In a USA Today story last month, Burnett said:

“In the end, what we’ve done is a meta-narrative, a grand narrative of emotionally connected stories. We know we’re not qualified to teach the Bible. We’re qualified to be good television producers and storytellers. By telling these emotionally connected, big stories, hopefully millions of people will reopen their Bibles.”

You can keep up with news about the series, including music videos and sneak peeks, at “Pray for Roma and Mark” and “The Bible Series,” or follow @RealRomaDowney or @BibleSeries on Twitter.

DIANE

Visit Diane at www.dianestortz.com

Comments

Coming in March–THE BIBLE Series — 7 Comments

lindamcquinncarlblom on January 11, 2013 at 2:17 pm said:

Wow, Diane. That looks incredible. I hadn’t heard about this. Thanks for informing me and for posting the trailer. I can’t wait to see this.

Linda

Reply ↓
- Diane Stortz on January 11, 2013 at 5:50 pm said:
  
  Me too. We’ll have to compare notes!
  
  Reply ↓
Janice D. Green on January 11, 2013 at 5:08 pm said:

I’m excited to learn about this! The prayer of my heart is that more people will take an active interest in learning what the Bible really says. Maybe this Bible series will inspire people to look inside and see what is there.

Reply ↓
- Diane Stortz on January 11, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:
  
  I hope so too, Janice!
  
  Reply ↓
Lindsay Bonilla on January 11, 2013 at 5:29 pm said:

I wish I had cable! This would be great to see! 🙂

Reply ↓
- Diane Stortz on January 11, 2013 at 5:48 pm said:
  
  Lindsay, maybe after it airs it will be released as a DVD. We just expanded our channels during the holidays while my father was visiting. I thought we’d go back to the most basic level now … but I’d like to wait until I’ve had a chance to watch this series. Hope you’ll find a way to see it too!
  
  Reply ↓
Denise on January 16, 2013 at 10:34 pm said:

Tears well up watching the trailer on Sarapac—I wanted to learn more about the series and found your site… I realized that the emotion that welled up was for people to understand who Jesus is….in a world that seems to be spinning out of control and evil raising it’s head everywhere you turn.. it was a powerful reminder that he is our future, our comforter our HOPE !

Reply ↓