So, I thought I
could write one of those short posts of the kind that the biggies release to their millions
of followers, who hang on to every word that leaves their pens. And although I
am neither a star nor have more than 1 follower (yes, you, Mum), I wanted to write
this (somewhat) short note on a unique and commendable piece of work that I came
across. Besides, if Seth Godin can quip on his blog once a day with random
thoughts, so can I, no?
The Bible Project is a series of short clips, around 5 minutes long, on the various books
of the Bible. Well, they started with covering the books, but have moved on to
making videos on themes, word studies, and concepts such as ‘The Holiness of God’, 'The Image
of God', 'Animated Explanation of the Law', 'Animated Explanation of Heaven and
Earth', to name only a few. It is a spectacular effort to break down the most complex of theological
issues into simple (but not simplistic) ideas.
As an example,
check out their video on the ‘Book of Leviticus’. Not for the faint-hearted, this book covers a lot of details on rituals, ceremonies, festivals, and even treatment of
diseases and bodily fluids. Leviticus is not an easy read and most Christians
struggle to understand the purpose, appreciate the symbolism or grasp the
context in which this book was written, and subsequently preserved within the
Word of God. The Bible Project creates an engaging outline of Leviticus,
systematically organizing the contents of the book into thematic parts, while
pointing to its central mission. Again, in no way, is the video dumbed-down or
even attempts to sanitize some of the difficulties we face while reading passages
from the Old Testament.
Another
masterful case is the video on the 'Book of Job'. It carried a more profound
exposition on human suffering, than I have often heard, preached.
These short videos are an
absolute must-watch. Whether you’re a new Christian, a wandering seeker or have
had a long walk with Christ, these videos from the Bible Project will whet your
appetite to read the Bible systematically, and help you visualize an underlying thread linking chapter
and book. Significantly, it will give you a deep insight into the essential
continuity, unity and oneness between the God of the Old and New Testaments. I
have heard it said that the New Testament is in the Old concealed, and the Old
Testament is in the New revealed. These clips do an amazing job in bringing this
idea to life. The Bible Project is executed with creativity, passion and
excellence – a stand-out execution that deserves a shout-out.
(Not such a short note, after all).
