Thoughts on the Chronicles of Narnia

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is fascinating in its imaginative quality and overall appeal. To create a different place, indeed a different world altogether, and then bring to life the supreme fight between ultimate good and absolute evil, is nothing short of amazing. Many of us in Birmingham were honored with a sneak preview of the movie last night (Thursday)! Here are a few of my thoughts, for whatever they are worth.

* The movie is mostly faithful to the book. Considering the number of people (believers and unbelievers) working on this, offering advice and criticism, it is amazing that the story is as close to the book as it is. The major themes are certainly there.

* The production itself is one of the best ever. I have never actually seen talking beavers, but if I did, I am sure they would look exactly like Narnia’s talking beavers. Oscar may be calling.

* This movie is an outstanding witnessing tool. The sacrifice of Aslan, and the correspondence to the work of Christ, is crystal clear to anyone who has any familiarity with the Gospel at all. Thus, I encourage you to take an unbelieving friend or family member to see the movie. It will start a conversation about what Christ has done to save guilty sinners (like Edmund and me). It may make the work of Christ make sense in a way some people have never thought of before.

* The winter of Narnia and the enslavement of Edmund are strong pictures of the ravages of sin and death. The stark contrast between the evil and the good in this movie unmistakably parallels reality. In the real world, however, the lines are far too often blurred. We must help people see that life apart from Christ, no matter what it may seem to be on the surface, is enslavement to sin and the wages of sin is death.

* There is a theological problem demonstrated in the movie, however, of significant proportion. Aslan pays the ransom for Edmund’s life to the White Witch. Is Lewis saying that God pays the ransom for guilty sinners to the devil? Biblically we know that the death of Christ is an appeasement of the wrath of God, that is, the payment goes to the Father, not the devil. It is the Father who has been offended. “God set [Him] forth as a propitiation by His blood…to demonstrate His [God’s] righteousness” (Rom. 3:25). But then again, Lewis may have a more accurate vision for the atonement in mind, because Aslan speaks of a wonderful and mysterious magic behind the magic. In other words, maybe the ransom paid to the White Witch is actually part of a bigger plan wherein the payment is ultimately made to God. This point is worth thinking through in more detail.

* Here is an important point: Narnia depicts a war between the forces of Aslan and those of the white witch. They are using traditional weapons such as swords, arrows, and spears to engage the battle. But it is vital to understand that as believers in Jesus Christ, our weapons are spiritual. That is to say, we wear the armor of God and wield the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:14-20). Thus, the parallel of the battle for Narnia occurs whenever a Christian shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with an unbeliever. We are waging the war when we tell others the truth about Him. Imagine yourself a soldier when you witness. Imagine overcome the barriers (like shyness) as a way of fighting for the honor of King Jesus. Whenever you speak accurately about the person and work of Christ, it is akin to a victory over the evil one and his minions.

* Finally, a note to parents: kids below the age of 6 or so might be scared by the White Witch’s minions and the mean, scary dogs.

I do encourage you to go see the movie. It does what an allegory (if that is the right word for it) is suppose to do, show the truth in a fresh way. It is highly entertaining, but those who know Christ as Savior will find it difficult to walk away without a sense of awe about our Aslan (this name is the Persian word for lion), the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.