Most years it would be a safe bet that preachers leave space in their Easter sermon notes headed: "Insert latest "Jesus exposé' here!"
Perhaps by Pancake Tuesday, probably before Palm Sunday, and almost definitely by Good Friday, some sensationalist story will appear in the media purporting to disclose the falsity of some cherished aspect of Christian belief. The fact that these stories generally have little credible basis does not prevent them from being widely circulated and influencing public opinion.
The Christ Files DVD seeks to undercut the impact of such allegations by presenting what mainstream scholarship can tell us about Jesus as an historical figure. Based on the John Dickson book of the same name, The Christ Files concludes that since Jesus is a historical figure who is taken seriously by mainstream historians and Jesus scholars, we should take him seriously as well.
To establish this, John Dickson and his team travel from Sydney to England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Egypt and Israel to film archeological sites, view manuscripts, and speak to experts such as Richard Bauckham, James Dunn, Martin Hengel and Tom Wright (as well as Alana Nobbs of Macquarie University). Vox pops, cafés, pubs and rugby balls are also used to good effect.
Some will know Dickson as a singer and musician, others as an evangelist, an author, a pastor, a preacher and/or an academic (ancient history). Thankfully, and perhaps not surprisingly, he also makes a good presenter. He is personable and clear, and sounds genuine and informed without being patronizing.
All these factors combine with clever camera-work and editing to produce a highly professional product that should hold its own on commercial television. There is nothing of the cringe-factor sometimes present in Christian resources.
The main focus of the DVD is four 26 minute episodes entitled: "Gnostics and Romans', "Jews and Christians', "Lost Sources and Oral Traditions' and "Archaeologists and Artifacts'. These episodes look at what ancient writings (Greco-Roman, Jewish and Christian) and archaeology can tell us about Jesus.
The DVD also contains the one-hour Christ Files television documentary to be shown at 12 noon on Channel Seven in Sydney on Good Friday (essentially a shorter version of the material contained in the four episodes). In addition, there are six hours of extended interviews with the historians and theologians who appear in the documentary.
A few points of clarification should be made. This is not a DVD that seeks to "prove" that Jesus was the Son of God, who died and rose from the dead. As such, it is not like, say, a Josh McDowell book. It does not conclude by saying that we should all repent and believe the good news. Rather, it concludes by saying says that we should take Jesus seriously.
Also, one should note that the "mainstream scholarship' is not the same as "reformed evangelical scholarship'. Accordingly, some of the experts interviewed would hold opinions on some issues with which many Sydney Anglican clergy would disagree. However, these issues are not obvious in the television documentary or in the four episodes.
This DVD will be of significant interest and encouragement to Christians. It should also be a good thought-provoker for non-Christians in that it should dispel many misconceptions about the historicity of our faith.
The one-hour television documentary will appeal to the greatest cross-section of people. The four episodes should stimulate interested church groups and engaged enquirers. The six hours of interviews with experts will have a narrower audience "full-time church workers and the more academically inclined.
Stephen Liggins, a former lawyer and editor with Anglican Media, is currently assistant minister at St Stephen's, Penrith.
