Daily Christian Journey

In an ever-evolving media landscape, something remarkable is happening. Stories and sounds rooted in Christian faith are not just finding an audience; they’re breaking records, sparking global conversations, and even pioneering new technological frontiers. From blockbuster films landing on Netflix’s most-watched lists to groundbreaking series re-envisioning biblical narratives, and from innovative museums to AI-enhanced music videos, Christian media is experiencing a dynamic surge. But this isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a fascinating look into how media reflects, refracts, and actively shapes Christian identity in the 21st century.

I. Introduction: A New Wave of Faith in Media

The digital age has democratized content creation and distribution, allowing voices and stories that once resided on the periphery to step into the spotlight. Christian media, long a consistent presence for its dedicated followers, is now making notable inroads into mainstream culture. This isn’t merely a continuation of past efforts; it represents a new wave characterized by higher production values, broader appeal, and a willingness to engage with contemporary cultural and technological trends. Films are achieving unexpected commercial success, series are building global fanbases that cross religious divides, new institutions are being established to celebrate faith-based artistic heritage, and artists are experimenting with cutting-edge tools like artificial intelligence. This evolving landscape prompts a compelling question: How is this burgeoning visibility and innovation impacting not only the cultural footprint of Christianity but also the very way believers see themselves and their faith in the modern world?

II. Blockbusters and Belief: Christian Narratives Hitting the Mainstream

Two recent phenomena, the film The Forge and the series The Chosen, serve as powerful examples of Christian-themed productions achieving significant mainstream traction, each in its unique way, signaling a shift in how such stories are produced, consumed, and perceived.

• A. Case Study: The Forge – From Sermon to Streaming Success

  The 2024 film The Forge, directed by Alex Kendrick, tells the story of Isaiah Wright, a directionless high school graduate who finds purpose and guidance through a new job and mentorship.¹ With a modest budget of $5 million, the film achieved impressive box office returns, grossing over $40 million worldwide.¹ Perhaps more strikingly, in its second week on Netflix, The Forge climbed into the Top 10 most-watched films in the United States, sharing chart space with general entertainment behemoths.³ This placement is a significant indicator of its cross-over appeal.

  The film’s reception offers a fascinating glimpse into its audience. While some critics described it as feeling like a “sermon” or a “bible study,” noting that the powerful religious message at times overshadowed the cinematic elements ¹, audiences responded with overwhelming positivity. It received a rare “A+” grade from CinemaScore and an average of five out of five stars from PostTrak polls, with 88% of viewers stating they would definitely recommend it.² This divergence highlights a key aspect of its success: The Forge deeply resonated with its target Christian audience while also proving accessible enough for broader streaming viewership. The film’s narrative, centered on mentorship and making better life decisions, touches upon universal themes of growth and redemption, even as its core message is explicitly Christian.¹ It exemplifies how a film with an unambiguous faith-based message can achieve commercial viability and mainstream platform visibility, challenging the long-held notion that such productions are confined to a niche market.

• B. Case Study: The Chosen – The Enduring Power of Humanized Scripture

  The Chosen is more than a TV series; it’s a global cultural phenomenon that has redefined how biblical narratives can be presented and consumed. An estimated 280 million people worldwide have watched the series, a staggering figure for any show, let alone one produced largely outside the traditional Hollywood studio system.⁴ Remarkably, producers estimate that about a third of this vast audience is not religious, underscoring its broad appeal.⁴

  Its production and distribution model is as innovative as its content. The first season became the most successful crowdfunded TV series in history.⁴ Initially available via a dedicated free-to-watch app, The Chosen has also strategically utilized theatrical releases for season premieres and finales, generating significant box office revenue (over $120 million total as of May 2025 ⁴), and has now forged partnerships with major streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.⁴

  The series’ profound appeal lies in its deep focus on the humanity and emotional depth of biblical characters. Creator Dallas Jenkins has emphasized that the show prioritizes storytelling over sermonizing, aiming to bring an authentic humanity to these well-known figures.⁵ This approach allows viewers, even those intimately familiar with the scriptures, to connect with the stories and characters on a new emotional level, to “feel them like this before”.⁵ For instance, the portrayal of Matthew as neurodivergent has deeply resonated with families with autistic children, demonstrating an unexpected but powerful relatability.⁵

  However, such widespread visibility and unique storytelling approach do not come without scrutiny. The Chosen has faced controversies, with some critics and viewers raising concerns about the artistic liberties taken with scripture or the production’s association with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for filming locations.⁴ These debates highlight the inherent complexities of interpreting and representing sacred texts for a diverse global audience. The success of both The Forge and The Chosen points towards a “relatability revolution” in faith-based storytelling. The Forge‘s focus on a young man’s everyday struggles and his transformative mentorship ¹, coupled with The Chosen‘s commitment to infusing biblical accounts with “real emotional weight” ⁵, suggests a significant shift. This move towards character-driven, emotionally resonant narratives makes faith stories more accessible, particularly to younger audiences or those less familiar with traditional religious discourse, explaining the engagement of non-religious viewers with The Chosen.⁴ This contrasts sharply with older models of Christian media that might have been perceived as more insular or overtly didactic.

  Furthermore, as Christian media gains a larger platform, it naturally invites a wider spectrum of interpretations and criticisms. This is the double-edged sword of mainstream visibility. The Forge‘s “A+” CinemaScore from audiences ² sits alongside critical skepticism about its preachy tone.¹ Similarly, The Chosen‘s massive viewership is accompanied by debates over its creative choices and affiliations.⁴ This indicates that increased mainstream presence inevitably leads to a more complex feedback environment, moving beyond the consistent affirmation typical of a purely niche audience and requiring creators to navigate a more diverse field of reactions.

III. Building Bridges: New Spaces for Faith and Culture

Beyond the screen, Christian culture is also finding new ways to solidify its presence and tell its story, most notably through the upcoming establishment of a dedicated museum for one of its most vibrant art forms.

• A. The Museum of Christian & Gospel Music: A Monument to Sound and Spirit

  A significant development in the landscape of Christian cultural expression is the upcoming opening of The Museum of Christian & Gospel Music (The C&G). Scheduled to open its doors on Labor Day weekend 2025, the museum is strategically situated in the heart of downtown Nashville, just steps from the legendary Ryman Auditorium.⁶ This location itself is a statement, placing the heritage of Christian music in direct proximity to mainstream music history.

  Presented by the Gospel Music Association (GMA), the museum’s mission is to “honor the legacy and future of Christian & Gospel music” and to “expose, promote, and celebrate the Gospel through Music”.⁶ It aims to be far more than a repository of artifacts. Plans describe an “immersive, interactive experience” that blends innovative technology with live elements.⁶ Visitors will be able to engage with powerful stories of faith and transformation, listen to impactful music, and even create their own remixes of iconic songs on-site.⁶

  The C&G intends to be a “living, breathing part of the industry,” hosting live performances, workshops, interviews, and artist encounters.⁶ Its rotating collections will showcase music milestones, timeless memorabilia, and emerging moments across diverse genres, including Gospel, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), Southern Gospel, Rap/HipHop, and Worship music.⁶ The overarching goal is to invite every visitor to “experience the gospel in sound, spirit, and story”.⁶

  The establishment of such a museum in a major music hub like Nashville represents an act of cultural assertion. It is a move to place Christian and Gospel music firmly within the larger narrative of American music history and contemporary culture, moving it from a subculture to a recognized and celebrated part of the broader cultural tapestry.⁷ By creating an “immersive, interactive experience” ⁶ that honors the “full spectrum…past, present and future” ⁶, the museum is not just preserving history but actively engaging current and future generations, thereby legitimizing these genres beyond their immediate faith communities.

  Moreover, the museum’s design reflects a broader trend in cultural institutions towards active participation, an “experiential imperative.” The emphasis on “interactive experiences,” “live performances, workshops, interviews, and artist encounters,” and allowing visitors to “create remixes of iconic songs” ⁶ signals a shift from passive consumption to active engagement. For a faith-based initiative, this approach is particularly potent, aiming to create encounters that are not merely informative but potentially spiritually engaging or transformative, recognizing that personal encounter and interaction can significantly deepen impact.

IV. The Digital Pulpit: AI and the New Frontiers of Faith Expression

As technology continues to reshape every facet of life, Christian artists and communities are beginning to explore the potential of artificial intelligence, leading to innovative expressions of faith and new discussions about the role of technology in spiritual life.

• A. Case Study: Steph Carse’s “Kneel (Holy Holy)” – AI as an Artistic Enhancer

  A compelling example of this integration is “Kneel (Holy Holy),” a song and music video by six-time Emmy Award-winner Steph Carse. Inspired by the awe-inspiring beauty of a Florida sunset, Carse sought to create a visual and auditory experience that would inspire worship and reverence.⁹ Filming captured stunning natural scenes in Florida and the Smoky Mountains.¹¹

  What sets this project apart is its intentional use of Artificial Intelligence. AI was employed to “accent the production,” specifically by adding “golden flares” and enhancing certain scenes to evoke a “presence of divine light and angelic warmth”.⁹ According to Carse, these AI-driven effects were not about altering reality but about “illuminating the divine in every frame,” seamlessly blending artistry with technology to deepen the song’s spiritual impact.¹¹ “Kneel” serves as a tangible illustration of how AI can be used not to replace human creativity in Christian art but to augment it, aiming to evoke spiritual or transcendent experiences.

• B. Broader Trends: AI in the Pews and Production Suites

  The use of AI in faith contexts extends beyond individual artistic projects. Nearly half of U.S. churches now report using artificial intelligence in their daily operations. The primary applications are for creating images and graphics (47%) and generating social media content (44%).¹² This demonstrates a practical embrace of AI for outreach, communication, and administrative efficiency.

  In the realm of Gospel music, AI’s role is also expanding. Beyond visual enhancements in music videos, AI tools like AIVA, OpenAI’s Jukebox, and Amper Music are now assisting musicians in composing instrumental accompaniments, thereby enhancing production quality.¹³ This indicates a growing comfort with AI as a collaborative tool in the creative process itself.

• C. The Dialogue and Dilemmas: Navigating AI in Faith

  The integration of AI into faith practices, while offering exciting new avenues for creativity and reach, also brings forth a host of challenges and ethical questions. There are concerns about the authenticity and spiritual depth of AI-generated worship music, and a recognized need to balance technological innovation with the traditional values and spiritual core of gospel music.¹³ Can an AI-enhanced spiritual experience feel truly genuine?

  Another significant issue is algorithmic bias. AI-driven music recommendation systems often favor mainstream genres, which can inadvertently limit the visibility and discoverability of gospel and other faith-based music.¹³ Furthermore, the potential for misinformation is a serious concern, as highlighted by the creation of a fake Ed Sheeran “worship song” using AI, which managed to fool many online users and even generate AI bot comments praising it.¹⁴ This underscores the ease with which deepfakes can be created and the challenges in discerning authentic content.

  Perhaps most profoundly, there’s a discernible caution regarding AI’s role in core spiritual leadership. While churches are increasingly comfortable using AI for practical tasks, there is significant reluctance to employ it for pastoral responsibilities like sermon writing, with only 18% of churches using AI for such purposes.¹² This reluctance stems from the belief that spiritual leadership is a vocation pursued “through the Holy Spirit” ¹², and that the human element, with its capacity for empathy, personal experience, and perceived divine inspiration, is irreplaceable in these central roles. This mirrors broader concerns in creative fields that AI might “stifle authentic creation”.¹⁵

  Steph Carse’s use of AI in “Kneel” to create “divine light and angelic warmth” ⁹ points to an emerging aesthetic of the “augmented sacred.” Here, technology is not generating faith itself, but is used as a tool to enhance or evoke feelings and perceptions associated with the sacred or transcendent. This suggests a new artistic direction where technology can mediate or amplify spiritual themes, potentially offering novel ways to visualize the invisible or articulate the ineffable.

  The contrast between the ready adoption of AI for operational tasks like graphics ¹² and the strong hesitancy towards its use in sermon writing ¹² reveals a clear “trust threshold.” Practical applications are welcomed, but core spiritual leadership and the delivery of sacred teaching are still viewed as intrinsically human—and Spirit-led—domains. This nuanced adoption positions AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for pastoral roles, highlighting where the perceived capabilities of AI meet the deeply valued human element in faith practices.

V. Media, Mosaics, and Identity: How Are These Narratives Shaping Us?

The burgeoning landscape of Christian media, with its mainstream successes and technological innovations, inevitably raises profound questions about its impact on Christian identity. Media, in general, plays a crucial role in shaping public perception of religion and societal values.¹⁶ It can foster understanding or, conversely, exacerbate tensions and prejudice.

• A. The Power of Portrayal: Media’s Role in Reflecting and Refracting Faith

  Culture, which inherently includes the media we consume, profoundly “shapes people’s worldview, thinking patterns, life habits, goals, pursuits, choices, and desires”.¹⁷ Within this dynamic, a significant observation is that many Christians consume various forms of media—music, films, TV shows—without always critically filtering the content through the lens of their faith.¹⁷ This passive consumption can lead to an assimilation of cultural norms that may or may not align with their core beliefs. The power of media portrayal is immense, and understanding how it interacts with faith is key to grasping its influence on identity.

• B. Navigating the Cultural Landscape: Diverse Christian Approaches to Media

  Christians themselves exhibit a variety of responses to culture and media. Some may practice a form of cultural indifference, where popular media is consumed uncritically, leading to their cultural expressions becoming almost indistinguishable from the surrounding secular culture. Others adopt cultural aversion, choosing to avoid mainstream or even all digital culture, fearing negative influences and potential compromises to their faith.¹⁷

  Another approach is cultural trivialization or accommodation, where Christian cultural expression is limited to superficial forms, or popular trends are adopted without deep theological alignment or critical thought.¹⁷ Conversely, cultural separation involves building “Christian alternatives” – distinct Christian schools, radio stations, television channels, and other media platforms.¹⁷ While these alternatives can create safe havens and reinforce community values, their influence often remains limited, primarily reaching those already within that Christian sphere, sometimes creating an “echo chamber” effect.¹⁷ The ultimate, often implied, goal for many is a form of engagement or transformation, a call to “revisiting culture matters so that we can deeply ponder about how to reform our Christian cultural identity, and finally to be a saltier salt, a brighter light of the world”.¹⁷ Understanding these diverse approaches helps to contextualize the varied landscape of Christian media and how different productions might be received and interpreted within the Christian community itself.

• C. The Ongoing Debate: Is Media a Mirror or a Mold for Christian Identity?

  This brings us to a central question: How is the current wave of Christian media—from mainstream hits like The Forge and The Chosen to innovative AI-enhanced music videos and new cultural institutions—shaping contemporary Christian identity? Are these media productions primarily reflecting pre-existing Christian values, desires, and identities? Or are they actively molding new forms of Christian self-understanding and engagement with the world?

  These media forms have the potential to foster a more confident and culturally engaged Christian identity, particularly when faith is portrayed positively and successfully in mainstream spaces. They might also, depending on the breadth and diversity of narratives, inadvertently create new echo chambers or reinforce existing ones. Furthermore, they can influence how Christians perceive their role in wider culture—perhaps shifting from a posture of separation to one of active engagement, or vice versa. New artistic expressions, especially those using innovative tools like AI, can also provide new languages and symbols for articulating faith. This dynamic interplay between media consumption and identity formation is at the heart of the current cultural moment for Christian media.

  The “alternative culture” dilemma is particularly relevant here. The approach of creating separate Christian media ecosystems, as noted, serves to reinforce identity within the believing community but often struggles to achieve influence “beyond their Christian sphere”.¹⁷ This contrasts sharply with the mainstream success of productions like The Forge on Netflix ³ and the global, multi-faith audience of The Chosen.⁴ This raises a strategic question for Christian media creators: should the priority be reinforcing the faithful, potentially within a more insular environment, or reaching a wider, more diverse audience, which might involve different narrative approaches? The current trends suggest a growing capacity and perhaps desire for broader engagement, which could reshape Christian cultural identity from one of primary separation to one of more confident public presence.

  However, a critical challenge remains: the “unfiltered consumption challenge.” The observation that “a lot of Christians consume music, films, or TV shows without considering the relevance of the content with their faith” and “only follow what’s popular in society without filter it through Christian values” is a crucial point.¹⁷ Even with an increase in high-quality Christian media, if the audience lacks discernment or critical engagement skills, the impact of any media—whether explicitly Christian or secular—on identity formation might be superficial or even counterproductive to fostering a deeply rooted faith. This suggests that the mere availability of more Christian content like The Forge or The Chosen doesn’t automatically translate into a “reformed Christian cultural identity”.¹⁷ The way this media is consumed, processed, and integrated (or not integrated) with personal faith and community discussion is a vital intervening variable, pointing to a deeper need for media literacy and critical thinking within faith communities regarding all forms of cultural engagement.

VI. Conclusion: The Evolving Dialogue Between Faith, Media, and Modernity

The landscape of Christian media is undeniably in a period of vibrant transformation. We’ve seen how films and series with explicitly Christian themes are achieving unprecedented mainstream success, how new cultural institutions are being established to honor and promote faith-based artistic traditions, and how cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence are being woven into new forms of spiritual and artistic expression. This is not a static picture but a dynamic, evolving field characterized by innovation, broader outreach, and a renewed cultural confidence.

These developments, however, signify much more than just new forms of entertainment or sophisticated methods of outreach. They are intrinsically linked to the ongoing, complex conversation about how Christian faith is understood, expressed, and lived out in a contemporary world marked by pluralism, rapid technological advancement, and shifting cultural norms. The successes, the debates, the experiments with new tools, and the varying audience receptions are all part of this larger dialogue. They reflect a search for meaning, connection, and authentic expression in an age saturated with media.

As these trends continue to unfold, the journey for Christian communities and creators will involve navigating a fluid and often challenging terrain. The key will likely lie in finding a thoughtful balance: embracing the immense opportunities for creative expression and broader cultural engagement while diligently working to preserve the core tenets and spiritual authenticity of their faith. The role of individual discernment and communal discussion will become ever more critical in determining how this expanding universe of media shapes both personal and collective Christian identity. Will this new wave lead to a more integrated and influential Christian voice in the public square, fostering greater understanding? Or could it, if not navigated wisely, lead to new forms of fragmentation or superficial engagement? The horizon is thought-provoking, filled with both promise and profound questions for the future of faith in the frame.