Post by Josh on Feb 15, 2007 16:58:45 GMT -8
12/21/06:
Common, Decent Beavers
Another theme I love in many of Lewis' works is how we upholds common, decent, country folk as generally morally superior to the modern, 'enlightened' intelligentsia that he himself spent a lot of time among. Though Lewis, like some of us, may have found it hard to relate to the child-like, rock-solid faith and morality of Mr. and Mrs. Beavers, he definitely held it in high esteem.
Prophecy
The beavers have held onto hope for 100 years, hope rooted in prophecy, not out of thin air. Just like our faith. As Christians, we have this vast assurance of the truth of our faith, an assurance known as prophecy- a great sweeping wave of foresight beginning more than a thousand years before the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, crescendoing in an amazing twist of fate in the tumultuous world of first century Palestine. When all seems lost in a blizzard in your life, crack open the prophets, my friend.
Father Christmas, Mythology, and Gifts
J.R.R. Tolkien hated Lewis' inclusion of Father Christmas in the LWW. He couldn't stand out Lewis shamelessly mixed his mythologies. But I love it. You see, Lewis' own road to Christianity from atheism lay through his love of pagan mythology. He saw it as pointing toward something greater than itself-- creating longings in him that this world could not fulfill. Part of the brilliance of Narnia is that it is populated by all the best of the ancient mythologies, baptised in the light of Christ... uh, Aslan.
Father Christmas is no exception. Part pagan mythology and saint-ology, he shows up in Narnia not as a fat old man in a red suit, but as a gift-giving Norse warrior. And what gifts he gives! One who has read the New Testament couldn't help but think of Paul's discussion of 'spiritual gifts' (1 Cor. 12) and 'weapons of the spirit' (Eph 5). Just like Lucy, Susan, and Peter, many of us have been bestowed with gifts of healing, prayer, faith, and intimacy with the Holy Spirit, gifts enabling us to fight a battle not of the flesh, but even more real still...
Aslan's Camp
At the scene where the kids finally arrive in Aslan's camp I challenged you all to look at Aslan's army as a dramatic picture of the Church. Centaurs, dryads, bears, cheetahs, giants, mice, you name it. It's a rag-tag, diverse, inclusive, multi-talented, wonderfully beauty assembly. Every part is needed. And all are sharing in a prophetic calling brought into effect by the Great Lion himself. Which creature are you?
Feel free and comment on any of themes or add your own.
Common, Decent Beavers
Another theme I love in many of Lewis' works is how we upholds common, decent, country folk as generally morally superior to the modern, 'enlightened' intelligentsia that he himself spent a lot of time among. Though Lewis, like some of us, may have found it hard to relate to the child-like, rock-solid faith and morality of Mr. and Mrs. Beavers, he definitely held it in high esteem.
Prophecy
The beavers have held onto hope for 100 years, hope rooted in prophecy, not out of thin air. Just like our faith. As Christians, we have this vast assurance of the truth of our faith, an assurance known as prophecy- a great sweeping wave of foresight beginning more than a thousand years before the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, crescendoing in an amazing twist of fate in the tumultuous world of first century Palestine. When all seems lost in a blizzard in your life, crack open the prophets, my friend.
Father Christmas, Mythology, and Gifts
J.R.R. Tolkien hated Lewis' inclusion of Father Christmas in the LWW. He couldn't stand out Lewis shamelessly mixed his mythologies. But I love it. You see, Lewis' own road to Christianity from atheism lay through his love of pagan mythology. He saw it as pointing toward something greater than itself-- creating longings in him that this world could not fulfill. Part of the brilliance of Narnia is that it is populated by all the best of the ancient mythologies, baptised in the light of Christ... uh, Aslan.
Father Christmas is no exception. Part pagan mythology and saint-ology, he shows up in Narnia not as a fat old man in a red suit, but as a gift-giving Norse warrior. And what gifts he gives! One who has read the New Testament couldn't help but think of Paul's discussion of 'spiritual gifts' (1 Cor. 12) and 'weapons of the spirit' (Eph 5). Just like Lucy, Susan, and Peter, many of us have been bestowed with gifts of healing, prayer, faith, and intimacy with the Holy Spirit, gifts enabling us to fight a battle not of the flesh, but even more real still...
Aslan's Camp
At the scene where the kids finally arrive in Aslan's camp I challenged you all to look at Aslan's army as a dramatic picture of the Church. Centaurs, dryads, bears, cheetahs, giants, mice, you name it. It's a rag-tag, diverse, inclusive, multi-talented, wonderfully beauty assembly. Every part is needed. And all are sharing in a prophetic calling brought into effect by the Great Lion himself. Which creature are you?
Feel free and comment on any of themes or add your own.