‘It’s Not Like That’: TV Takes a Christian Pastor Seriously

I’ve not seen a show that takes sincere Christian life and ministry seriously as a focal point for drama. Until now.

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I’ve long wondered when—or if—someone in Hollywood would create an interesting TV show about the life of a pastor and his family. The drama inherent in ministry—interpersonal conflict, familial strain, theological wrestles, political division, to name a few—feels like a treasure trove for a TV dramedy.

Television has occasionally featured Christian characters, but they tend to be unfair caricatures or exemplars of hideous hypocrisy (e.g., The Righteous Gemstones). I’ve not seen a show that takes sincere Christian life and ministry seriously as a focal point for drama.

Until now.

With Wonder Project’s new series It’s Not Like That—premiering Sunday on Prime Video—showrunners Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson are taking up the challenge of creating an entertaining, not-cheesy, not-condescending show about Christian characters—one where faith and church life take center stage. While not perfect, the result (I’ve seen the first five episodes) is refreshing and full of potential.

‘Parenthood’ Meets Pastoring

House of David and The Chosen have been big hits for Prime Video, proving there’s an audience and a hunger for prestige-quality TV about faith, even on major streamers. And with a show like this, plus the forthcoming Nate Bargatze comedy film The Breadwinner, Wonder Project is poised to break new ground for faith-friendly stories. But will a contemporary dramedy about a Christian pastor find viewers?

Will a contemporary dramedy about a Christian pastor find viewers?

As the title might suggest, It’s Not Like That plays with audience expectations. On one hand, this is a show about a pastor, Malcolm, played by Scott Foley (Felicity, Grey’s Anatomy). He’s a faithful, longtime pastor of an Atlanta church called Grace Community. But he’s not a one-dimensional stereotype, and about 75 percent of the show focuses not on his pastoral vocation but on his complex personal life. A widowed father of three, he’s struggling to shepherd his adolescent kids through the trauma of losing their mom, even as he wrestles with his own pain and romantic loneliness.

The title’s rom-com vibe reflects this plot point. The other lead character, Lori (Erinn Hayes), is a divorced single mom at Grace Community whose family has always been close with Malcolm’s. Lori was best friends with Malcolm’s late wife, Jenny. But in the wake of both their losses, Lori’s friendship with Malcolm might become more than friendship. Or will it?

As I watched the first episodes, I kept thinking of how much it reminded me of Parenthood and Friday Night Lights, shows that capture the messy drama of relationships but also aspire to showcase genuinely good, healthy families. Those shows featured some of the most real and honorable depictions of parenthood I’ve seen on TV. It’s Not Like That feels like a kindred spirit (turns out its writers also worked on Parenthood).

As much as this is a show about pastoral ministry, it’s also just about parenthood. Lori’s two kids have their own issues, exacerbated by the shock waves of their parents’ divorce (J. R. Ramirez plays their dad, Lori’s ex). In addition to the grief of their mom’s death, Malcom’s three kids have other challenges as they carry the burden of “PK” expectations on top of the normal stresses of bullies, dating, and other teen drama.

The creators said in a press release that the title, It’s Not Like That, ultimately reflects the fact that people are more complex than our surface assumptions, carrying burdens and pain we can’t always see. They write,

Everyone you meet is battling something you don’t know about. In other words, it’s not like that. There is always a deeper, more complex story, one that requires an extension of grace. That’s really the overarching theme.

Some Concerns

While there’s a lot to like about It’s Not Like That, I do have concerns about the kind of Christianity it so far exhibits (bear in mind I haven’t seen the final three episodes of season 1).

There’s not a lot of explicit talk of Jesus, for example. It’s clear Malcolm is a Protestant Christian pastor. But sometimes the feel of his Christianity is more therapeutic than theological, overtly inoffensive more than clearly confessional. Grace Community is heavy on acceptance and inclusion (“Where all are welcome” is the slogan on the marquee) but noticeably avoidant of “sin” talk or Christ’s exclusivity (John 14:6), at least so far.

Ecumenical community work seems to be a bigger value than gospel proclamation and evangelism. One of Malcolm’s best friends is a Muslim imam, for example, and in one episode Grace Community participates in an interfaith rummage sale with local mosques, Jewish temples, and Catholic churches.

Sometimes the feel of Malcolm’s Christianity is more therapeutic than theological.

When asked why he became a pastor, Malcolm describes what he felt called to: “To see people and love them, right where they are. I think that’s the best way to describe what it means to be a pastor.”

But isn’t that also a good description of a therapist? Surely a description of “what it means to be a pastor” should include mention of discipling people to become more like Jesus, preaching God’s Word, and helping believers know and apply Scripture. A pastor’s job certainly includes seeing people and loving them, but it’s more than that.

Currently, the Christianity in It’s Not Like That is thin and generic. As in Rian Johnson’s recent Wake Up Dead Man, it feels like the progressive-leaning, inclusive Christianity that Hollywood would like to see normalized. Perhaps the show’s producers want Grace Community to mirror the actual progressive mainline church in Atlanta where the church scenes are filmed.

If so, it feels like a missed opportunity. Because while it’d be what Hollywood creatives might want to see on-screen, it’s not really the Christianity that Wonder Project fans are likely to practice.

Suggestions for Future Episodes

The show is just starting out, though, so maybe my concerns are premature. We’ll see. I’d welcome a Hollywood show that takes seriously not just Christianity but biblically faithful, traditional Christianity.

The writers would find a lot more intrigue and drama if they explored Malcolm’s pastor character—and Grace Community Church—as theologically conservative and committed to unapologetic adherence to God’s Word, even when it’s culturally unpopular. Just think of the possible plotlines:

Malcolm has hard conversations with his interfaith clergy friends about Christ’s exclusivity.

Malcolm speaks biblical truth about God’s view of homosexuality when someone in his congregation (or family) comes out as gay.

Malcolm loses half his congregation when he says a Christian shouldn’t support abortion rights.

Walking with a terminally ill, aging parishioner, Malcolm takes a firm stance against her wish to end her life through euthanasia.

During a national election season, Malcolm has to field questions about why he’s not publicly supporting one candidate or another.

A trans person becomes a Christian at Grace Community, and Malcolm advises detransitioning.

A Christian teen gets cut from an athletic team for prioritizing church on Sunday over playing in Sunday games.

Someone in the church gets fired for refusing to participate in a workplace Pride Month initiative.

These scenarios are controversial—if not unthinkable—for a typical Hollywood writers’ room, but they’re truer to real life for most churchgoing Christians today. And they’d be fascinating to watch on TV.

Maybe It’s Not Like That won’t be the show that really goes there in its exploration of contemporary church life. But I hope some show, at some point, does.