Wow.

When I brought up the hidden race-game that I thought was being played in History Channel’s The Bible (read here), I did not see this one coming.

Seems like the series is also taking heat now because the Devil in The Bible tends to have a striking resemblance to, well…

Hey, I’m just saying.

While I’m not in Hollywood, but I have slept in a Holiday Inn Express before, I know NOTHING happens by mistake when making a film. Everything from where people stand, to what they look like, what they say, how many times they say it and to who they say it to is all controlled…and that’s to name just a few areas.

Now my wife, and in full disclosure she is not of a darker-skinned people group, noted that it’s interesting that the devil even favors anyone “black”, when there’s no making that mistake with Jesus! Let me go as far as to say (my apology, Jesus doesn’t have blond hair), I think Jesus resembles one Brad Pitt a little bit!

 

However, one thing’s for sure.

Nobody’s confusing Jesus for another guy who was from that part of the world:

I don’t think, and I could be wrong, that had the Jesus character resembled old-boy up above, that no one would not have noticed.

I’m yet to watch episode #3, but early word on the street is that the enthusiasm of many Christians about the mini-series is declining. The unnecessary violence, loose interpretation of scripture and lack of context is causing a bit of a backlash.

May I also mention, the racial overtones as well may make me turn off.

Fox News reports, “The couple behind the show, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, dismissed what they called “foolish” reports that their show’s villain looked like the President.

“This is utter nonsense. The actor who played Satan, Mehdi Ouzaani, is a highly acclaimed Moroccan actor,” they said in a statement sent to FOX 411. “He has previously played parts in several Biblical epics– including Satanic characters long before Barack Obama was elected as our President.”

Downey added: “Both Mark and I have nothing but respect and love our President, who is a fellow Christian. False statements such as these are just designed as a foolish distraction to try and discredit the beauty of the story of The Bible.” – (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/03/18/bible-creators-history-channel-deny-show-satan-resembles-president-obama/)

Okay, if I give them the benefit of the doubt, Mehdi Ouzaani may not have been chosen because he looks like the president. But, how did they not notice his transformation after make-up (see photo below)? Also, regardless of what he played in the past, why did his skin become so dark?

Sounds like the old O.J. Simpson Newsweek cover.

As a matter of fact, why didn’t Mehdi Ouzaani play Jesus?

Paul says in Philippians 2:2-4

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Sometimes we as Christians just assume that everyone thinks and sees the world as we do, but anyone who is part of the non-dominant people group in any region can attest that this is not true. We need to ask, “Is this offensive, does this offend the people I’m trying to reach?” That’s not being “PC”, that’s having the mind of Christ and it also builds up unity in The Church.

But what do you think?

Is this a big deal about nothing? Let us know in the comments below!