This afternoon, our church Young People Fellowship had a movie screening on The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It was a heart warming afternoon to see some old faces and welcome new ones, all tucked away in the cosy second storey room of our church office at 65 Tessensohn.
Personally I've watched the movie before, with my wife's cousins at the Toa Payoh cinema. But then I was too busy, half comparing the cinematic with the book, half attempting (in vain) to explain the symbolism behind the movie to her young cousins.
This time, I could sit back, relax and watch the show through, enjoying the cinematic and pondering on the themes.
It is still undeniably a children's movie, and a brilliant one at that. But the Christian allegory and the parallels still provoked me to think hard about my Christian faith.
In my opinion, I believe C S Lewis (the author of the book, not the director) is portraying for us his Christian worldview in a vividly fantastical manner. It is Christian, not just because C S Lewis was a well-known Christian theologian and apologist, but because the descriptions and details surrounding the world of Narnia are so reminiscent of the Biblical worldview, as I know it.
I have yet to read the other books in the Chronicles as yet. But here I shall make a brief and humble attempt to review the themes in the movie. [Beware: spoilers ahead!]
Firstly, the world of Narnia is created by Aslan, the Lion. This is reminiscent of Christ, the Son of God, through Whom our own world is created. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Col 1:15-16)
Secondly, the rulership of this world is usurped by the White Witch (Satan), who controlled Narnia with an unending winter. The imagery of winter—cold, bitter, devoid of green life and energy, describes the torturous reign of the White Witch and, in turn, represents the lifelessness and slavish existence of our present world, for as men we are imprisoned by Satan through our sinful disobedience towards God. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Eph 2:1-2)
Thirdly, the world of Narnia longs to be delivered from the clutches of the White Witch, by the might of Aslan the rightful king. Similarly, the Lord Jesus Christ shall one day destroy the dominion of Satan once and for all, and restore the world to its original state and purpose. The four children, referred to in the prophecy as the Sons of Adam, were instrumental in the restoration of Narnia. Likewise—and this is an often overlooked doctrine—the elect of Christ shall be revealed to judge the world with Him. “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21)
Finally, King Aslan delivered Narnia from the dominion of the White Witch through his death and resurrection. More specifically, he delivered Edmund, the boy who betrayed the other 3 siblings out of his lust for the Turkish Delight (symbolic of sinful pleasures?), from his punishment by taking his place. This, more than any other, speaks of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, in which He died in our place and took the punishment for our sins.
C S Lewis puts it this way,
“When a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.” (The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harper Collins, 2005, p. 176)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)
This is, in short, my interpretation of this particular episode in The Chronicles of Narnia as a Christian allegory. Which leads me to another question: how do we view our Christianity? Some might find it rather amusing to think this way. After all, The Chronicles of Narnia as a story is still very much fantastical and “unreal”, quite like the Lord of the Rings and other fantasy genre stories. And I do admit that a person is rather questionable up there if he think of himself as some prince-to-be fighting sinister minotaurs and white witches with the aid of half-man-half-horses and talking beavers.
What I mean is this: are we as acutely aware of the spiritual realities around us, as the Bible puts it, or do we only see the material world, and—worse, interpret it as nothing more than matter and objects, devoid of the spiritual realms of God with His angels warring against Satan and his minions?
The fact, I think, is this: spiritual realities are more real than what we can tangibly see, and we are in fact in a cosmic-scaled spiritual warfare between God and evil. C S Lewis merely attempt to portray that reality in a fantastical world of imaginary images; the spiritual world is far, far more dramatic, vivid and serious than that.
My proof? Go back to the Bible. Read it as it is. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12) Rediscover your place in this world and the position you are in. Christian, you are called by God, redeemed from sin and justified by grace. You are not your own, so live not for yourself, but for the Lord Jesus Christ who loved you and gave His life for you; and you are equipped in the Spirit to snatch unwary souls from the evil one “with every grace endued”. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph 6:13)
The horn had sounded. The war is on. But which side are you on?
(All pictures by courtesy of image gallery, CanMag.com and the official Movie website.)
