Movie Review- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Narnia is in trouble, and the blame rests not upon the draconian King Miraz. In the sequel to the movie, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Narnia II: Prince Caspian is dragged down not by it’s reliance upon computer generated imagery (CGI- and it’s actually quite good), but rather with a suit of armor that poorly fits C.S. Lewis’ grand story of resurrection and redemption. Caspian is a live-action movie bursting with extended battle scenes, gory bloodshed, and even a romantic side plot. The problem with these artistic additions, of course, is that they do great violence to the integrity of Lewis’ original masterpiece. The movie’s main hang-up lies in Caspian’s failure to decide who its target audience will be. While Lewis’ books were certainly meant for children, only an irresponsible parent would take a child to see this movie due to its graphic depictions of violence. I certainly would not want any child of mine watching people’s throats being slit open on a 40 ft. screen. On the other hand, the writers and director tried to appeal to adults by giving the movie a Lord of the Rings feel. But Narnia is not Lord of the Rings and anyone who reads the two tomes side by side realizes this almost immediately.

There are, however, redeeming aspects of the movie. In one particular scene, which was an addition to Lewis’ original story, the Narnians, under the direction of the High King Peter, launch a surprise attack on King Miraz and the Telmarines. While debating the merits of such an operation, Lucy and Susan challenge their brother’s lack of reliance upon Aslan and question his eagerness to save Narnia with the sword. Susan wisely counsels, “You assume that there are only two choices, we can die here or there.” But Peter is not dissuaded and his ambition and arrogance ultimately costs the Narnians dearly as they lose several from their ranks. In another scene, both Caspian and Peter are offered the opportunity to deal with the Telmarines by bringing back the evil White Witch. All Caspian and Peter must do is offer one drop of blood to their former foe. However, before they can succumb to their lust for power, the gallant Edmond shatters the portal through which the White Witch would come. As the icy edifice crashes to the ground, a stone relief of Aslan takes center screen.

These two scenes, while artistic additions to Lewis’ work, actually enhance the message of what Lewis wanted to convey in his chronicles. When humans undertake trying to change the world through their own means, they only wind up paying a tremendous price in the form of human life. Indeed, the scene with the White Witch is provocative because it is the sacrifice of human blood that must be offered up in order to secure an ostensible victory of ones enemy. However, in the process of offering up one’s blood, that person ultimately forgets that it is Aslan’s (or Jesus’!) sacrifice that has won the victory. No more blood must be offered. Certainly the writers knew what they were doing with this scene as the entire episode took place in the same location where the White Witch in the first Narnia movie killed Aslan.

At the same time, Peter and Caspian’s over-eagerness to take up the sword is critiqued by the very outcome of their actions. Susan’s questioning of Peter’s grasp of the available options hits home to a country who seems to think that the only two choices when facing terrorists are to fight them at home or overseas. Furthermore, Peter’s insistence that these are the only two options, and his subsequent failure as a leader in this regard, might remind us of a certain current U.S. President. Either way, the point is well taken.

But do not be mistaken to believe that the movie is not that advocates pacifism, as Lewis himself was not an outspoken pacifist. However, Lewis’ books are clear on one thing, and that is the superiority and higher ways of Aslan that are beyond human understanding. If Aslan wants to do away with someone, that is his prerogative, and Lewis makes this abundantly clear in his work. However, while the glorification of violence was nothing that Lewis’ books ever conveyed, Caspian certainly comes close to doing so on its own accord. With battle scenes that take up nearly a third of the movie, Caspian misses the main thrust of Lewis’ message- it is not about us, it is about Aslan, because without the Lion, we cannot possibly know who we really are or whom we are to become.

The genius and tremendous value of Lewis’ Chronicles is that they introduce people of all ages, and especially children, to Jesus. Aslan is the Lion who creates the world but yet who takes joy in shepherding youngsters through their adolescence. Aslan confounds the wisdom of the wise and humbles those who deem faith as nothing more than child’s play. And this is why Caspian cannot ever do half of what Lewis did. Caspian, at the end of the day, is about making money and creating a franchise. Lewis and his character Aslan would never have anything to do with things of this sort. When reflecting on the role of Aslan in his writings, Lewis once wrote, “He (Aslan) is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, ‘What might Christ become like, if there really were a world like Narnia and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?’ This is not allegory at all.” This is the essence of Lewis’ Narnia. It is not concerned with actors who become teenage heartthrobs, amazing battle scenes, or Aslan lunch boxes, but rather with revealing in a very creative way the God who became flesh and walked among us.

“'Creatures, I give you yourselves,’ said the strong, happy voice of Aslan. ‘I give to you forever this land of Narnia. I give you the woods, the fruits, the rivers. I give you the stars and I give you myself.’” –Aslan in The Magician’s Nephew chap 10, p 118

ROTC @ IWU

My denomination (The Wesleyan Church) just announced on its news page that two IWU graduates received army commissions a few hours before they graduated. IWU's ROTC program, which was begun 3 years ago, currently has 32 students enrolled. To support this program, IWU boasts a department of Military Science with two-full time faculty members.

IWU's ROTC has sponsored several events in the past designed to promote their presence among the students. Just a couple of years ago, a black hawk helicopter made a visit to IWU's campus that attracted many onlookers from the student body as well as the community.

I do not support ROTC, but I am especially bothered by its presence on a Christian campus. Allowing ROTC to have a presence at IWU only underscores the conflicted and confused image that IWU's administration and board have when it comes to envisioning what it means to be a Christian university. If the purpose of a Christian university is to merely produce foot soldiers for the state, then Houston, we have a problem. Furthermore, I am deeply bothered by the fact that IWU is a denominationally owned school, which means that the Wesleyan Church has decided that the US Military is a perfectly suitable bedmate (The Wesleyan Church's General board elects IWU's trustees, who in turn hire the President). This should come as no surprise, however, because the Wesleyan Church, while not going as far as the Southern Baptist Convention in outright endorsing the Iraqi War, has made absolutely no attempt in the past to deliver a prophetic voice against American militaristic imperialism. Nope, we're too busy making sure that gay people can't marry than to worry about a military force that spends hundreds of billions of dollars annually on weapons of mass destruction while millions of people around the world can't afford a loaf of bread. The funny thing about guns is that they're not too handy when it comes to feeding people. We're all in need of repentance on that one.

So, what's the solution? I think that this moment presents IWU with an incredible opportunity to distinguish itself as a truly premier Christian institution of higher learning. First, scrap the ROTC program. Once you get the military in your house, it's hard to get them out. IWU might have already hung themselves on this one but only time will tell. Instead of ROTC, implement a program in which students are given financial aid (just like ROTC gives) if they will commit to serving for 2 years in a Christian service organization. World Hope International has a program like Hope Corp. that would be wonderful, or IWU could partner with other parachurch organizations like Word Made Flesh. Such a program would undoubtedly cost money, but no more than what IWU spends on plasma screen TV's or other accouterments that futher IWU's image as a College-Disneyland of sorts. Plus, if IWU started a program like this, I'd be more inclined to donate money to my alma-mater than I am right now.

I'd love to see this happen. We could consider it one small piece of the larger repentance that we as the American Church need to undertake.

NT Wright likes my dodgball team...

One of the high points of my time at Duke has been the opportunity to play intramural sports. My favorite sport, however, has been dodgeball. In fact, over the past two years, I have been the coach of the Divinity School dodgeball team and seen our team win back-to-back championships (we blew the Medical and Law schools away). Our team name was "Christus Victor" and our motto was "Accept no substitution." (theology nerds eat this stuff up). Anyway, one of my teammates made these really awesome dodgeball shirts that had our team name on the front as well as our slogan. He told me today that his girlfriend wore one at Georgetown (where she attends school) when she attended a lecture by NT Wright. Bishop Wright saw the shirt and commented, "Oh, I like Christus Victor," and then upon closer inspection laughed as he saw our slogan printed underneath. The good Bishop asked where the shirt came from and had a good time knowing that some students at Duke Divinity were living up to their team name when it came to dodgeball. I could not be prouder.

Where Kevin is headed to next...

Friends,

I'm sorry for the lack of blogging lately. I've been terribly busy finishing up final projects for school, attending end-of-year activities, and preparing for post-graduation life. I plan on continuing the conversation on homosexuals and the church in future posts but I wanted to put up a quick update on my plans after I leave Duke Divinity.

As some of you know, my heart beats for the local church. For the past seven years or so, I've hopscotched from ministry assignments fulfilling various requirements for my undergraduate and graduate programs. As you might imagine, such transience takes its toll after a while as you jump from one community to the next leaving relationships hanging in mid-air. I wanted to find a place where I could settle for a while and learn how to be a better pastor, for that is what I am called to be. Doctoral work is still a goal I hope to pursue but now is the time for me to pursue some other dreams that God has placed in my heart.

I began applying to churches in December by sending out an armada of resumes. After hearing nothing from any district or local congregation, I began to get a little nervous. However, as I am learning, God's timing is not necessarily my own. Roughly a month and a half ago I received an email from Dr. James Howell of Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Howell asked me if I would consider entering into a conversation with Myers Park regarding future employment. I hesitated for a bit because #1. I was not prepared to leave the Wesleyan Church and #2. I had never heard of Myers Park UMC before. Nevertheless, because nothing else was on the table, I sent a "yes" back to Dr. Howell, which opened up a month-long conversation, interview, and discernment process. I prayed over the decision along with a few trusted friends and my family and I am excited to say that as of last week, I officially accepted an offer from Myers Park UMC to become one of their associate ministers. My duties are yet to be defined but they will most likely center around the church's global missions program. I am tremendously overwhelmed and humbled by the opportunity to serve at such a wonderful church led by outstanding leaders.

As part of the agreement between myself, my D.S. and Myers Park, I will be allowed to continue pursuing ordination in the Wesleyan Church. Think of it as kind of a "on loan" program. Myers Park has graciously offered hospitality for me to serve with my Wesleyan licensing and my district has graciously offered to allow such an arrangement to happen. So, I'll be moving to Charlotte and begin working at Myers Park UMC on the 1st of June.

What's the church like? Well, you can check out their website at www.mpumc.org but in short it suffices to say that they are a tremendous healthy congregation dedicated to serving Christ and embodying God's love in all aspects of their life. I'll be the youngest clergy on staff so I'm trying to grow a beard really quick in order to appear older :) If you're ever in Charlotte, feel free to stop by and visit.

Thinking through Homosexuality and the Church pt. 1

Peter was my first openly gay friend. Throughout the course of three years, Peter and I developed a wonderful friendship forged in trust and mutual respect. Over splendid meals or simple tea, Peter and I talked about faith, discussed politics, and prattled on about what we hoped our life would look like in the future. In many ways, Peter's dreams were not too distant from my own- Children. An enjoyable job. A loving spouse. Things most people hope for.

But whereas I envisioned myself marrying a female, Peter saw himself walking down the aisle with another man.

I would talk to Peter about my aspirations for finding just the right woman and Peter would tell me what he was looking for in a man. On one hand, I felt conflicted knowing that I was a licensed minister in a denomination that believed homosexual relations to be "immoral and sinful." On the other hand, I could not help but sympathize with my friend as he wrestled with feelings of loneliness and longings for love.

One of the greatest deterrents to an honest and constructive discussion over homosexuals and the church is the fact that the majority of the people taking up this topic have no close relationships with people of a homosexual orientation. Concordantly, one of the greatest threats to an honest and constructive discussion over homosexuals and the church is the reality that people engaged in this conversation have very close relationships with people attracted to the same sex. The blade can cut both ways and the wounds it inflicts are crippling.

While theology cannot be controlled by context, it certainly cannot function without it. Feminist, Liberation, Black, and other theologies are problematic because they are so dominated by their immediate contexts that theology merely becomes an inflection of their own cultural consciousness. In other words, an outside principle or idea constructed from a cultural context forces Scripture to contort to its parameters, and then develops a culturally construed theology out of that process. At the same time, theology said to be devoid of any context is only done by people who are either naive or liars (after all, whether or not "unbiased" systematic theologians want to admit it, at the end of the day their project and methodology still looks very white and very German). Theology will always in some way reflect the unique characteristics of the people by whom it is contrived and practices. Humanity's interactions with God are always in some way marked by humanity's existence as created beings. To say that theology can be divorced from a human context is to render theology incoherent and unintelligible.

But to what extent does our context affect our theological reflection? How do we guard against letting our experience be the sole guiding hermeneutic in the way we do theology? If we are unsuccessful in avoiding this trap, we will come to every conclusion on the issue of homosexual and the church by way of saying "Well, I have a gay friend who..." At the same time, if the conversation of homosexuals and the church is conducted by people who do not even know the people they want to expel, the discussion is in danger of being tainted by inhospitality, prejudice, and ignorance. If one of the Gospel's central tenets is preferential treatment and care for the other, then we are commanded by that same Gospel to include knowledge, friendship, and intimate connection with that other help guide (but not control!) our theological reflection.

This is my starting point for beginning to think about homosexuals and the church. I recognize that my relationship with my friend Peter will play in important role in helping me guard against turning the discussion into one involving faceless people constructed as a pejorative abstract. At the same time, I recognize that my friendship with Peter must be kept in check as I seek to be attentive to Scripture's witnesses and the Holy Spirit's leading. My friendship must certainly inform but not conform these thoughts on homosexuals and the church. And most of all, I invite you, the reader's thoughts in this conversation. I'm in constant contact with people who think over issues such as these and I am ever grateful for such a tremendous community committed to thoughtful theological reflection. And so I invite you to enter into this discussion. I'll offer up little bits at a time, letting the discussion be as organic as possible while at the same time hopefully covering what I consider to be important points of discussion. So feel free to chime in when you want. What do you think of my starting point? Am I letting experience play too much of a role? What are the dangers of not letting experience into this discussion at all? Will experience only prejudice any future reflection?

Thoughts on Billy Graham Pt. 2

I've spent a good part of this semester studying the life and legacy of Rev. Billy Graham. Most of my research has been in conjunction with a class I am taking on Mr. Graham taught by Dr. Grant Wacker. However, as I wade through books searching for material related to my research topic, I occasionally come across a quote from him that causes me to pause and praise God for such a life lived in obedience to Jesus Christ. My role as a historian is no doubt compromised by these times, but I find it nearly impossible to conduct research on Graham's life without developing an affinity for the man and his ministry.

Few things about Graham's life and legacy are cut and dry. He was a private man who confided in few and was smarter than the simple farm boy image he put forth. One day Graham could preach to a bunch of farm folk in Georgia and the next day address a group of academics at Harvard University. It was classic Graham that could somehow manage to win the hearts of either crowd, disarming them with his humor and attracting them with his earnestness. Graham believed what he preached and lived a life that strove to honor Christ in all things. Even as so many televangelists and public preachers crashed and burned amidst manifold moral failings, Graham was always above reproach, making sure to never be alone in a room with a woman who was not his wife.

Today was an especially meaningful day for me because our class hosted Dr. Leighton and Jean Ford. Mr. Ford was an associate of Graham's organization into the 80's and Mrs. Ford is Graham's sister. To be sitting a few feet away from these living legends was truly and honor and a joy. Our class asked the two of them about Mr. Graham's career as well as the roles they played in the evangelistic ministry. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford gave answers marked with grace and dignity. I have never felt that I was in the presence of such great living saints.

Not too long ago Jean Ford asked Billy if he missed Ruth all of the time. Graham's response was beautifully honest, "Every moment," he replied, the heaviness of his heart marking his words.

One day Mr. Graham will see his beloved Ruth again. And on that day, all of Heaven will rejoice alongside of him.

Excellent Resource for Pastors-Theologians

The Duke Socratic club has hosted a splendid set of lectures intended to help Duke Divinity School students orient themselves amidst the often confusing sea of theology. If you are trying to understand a little more of 20th century theology, you will appreciate the information able to be gleaned from these lectures. They cover theologians such as Barth, Niebuhr, and individuals from what became known as the "Yale School," with many more to come. If you need something to listen to while you are in the car or are working out, and your NPR station isn't coming in too clearly, I'd highly suggest downloading a few of these lectures. And the best part is, they're absolutely free!

You can get the lectures by going to the Duke Socratic Club website
Once you are there, go to the post marked March 12, 2008

Also of note is an Mp3 file of a discussion on how Jesus saves us. The discussion took place between Dr. Randy Maddox of Duke Divinity and Dr. David Hogg of Southeastern Theological Seminary. It was moderated by Dr. Samuel Wells and is under the post of February 28. 2008.