What is it about the view of atonement in the Chronicles of Narnia that I love so much? Well I’m glad you asked because that is the very thought that I was having. I’d like to lay out my thoughts on that very subject.

I) It was done for others.

I’m not sure that I dislike any theology more than one that says that Christ died solely for his own glory and for the glory of the father. Yes God was glorified through the resurrection, but man give me a break. “For God so loved the world …” and other various proof-texting verses can be spewed forth here, but instead I’m only going to say God died for me. And you, and everything other sinner a.k.a. human who needed to be redeemed from sin. If he wanted only to show his glory I’m sure he could have come up with something better.

II) It was fully redeeming

Edmond didn’t go “Oh thanks, but I’d really like to dabble in the White Witches stuff for a little longer.” No way man. He was redeemed, and because of that he was going to live as a king of Narnia, because that’s what he was. How exciting is that?? Man’s sin is not more powerful than the cross. The choices of man in The Garden of Eden could be undone by the decisions made in The Garden of Gethsemane. We don’t have to wallow around in the winter any longer (enter joke about cold weather being evil and Dante being correct that Hell is ice not fire) cause When Aslan comes upon the scene CHANGE IS MADE!!

III) It was out of love!!

There was no wrath of a higher power that needed to be satisfied, it was only the law of the deep magic. Aslan willingly gave his life because the deep magic said a traitor would be paid for with blood (one of my favorite lines in the movie and second only to “He’s not tame but he’s good” is “Don’t quote the deep magic to me, I was there when it was written”). The Wrath of God really starts showing up in Anselm’s writing, the early church had this great view of Jesus dying because Satan owned the rights to us, but in the end Satan was tricked. Jesus was the bait on the hook and Satan took it and lost. FANTASTIC. Is it an incomplete view … yeah a little … however it’s more orthodox than “God was ticked off at the world, and Jesus said ‘Father I’ll take your wrath for them.’” Saying that pits one person of the trinity against the other. I prefer the conversation to go something like this.

“Son, Our children down there are lost, and you and I both know the only way to save them is for US to become like them and to die.”

“Yeah Dad, I know, and I’m willing to make that sacrifice”

“It’s going to be hard Son … you will be separated from us to an extent you haven’t experienced before and you will have to empty yourself and assume all that they are, for that which is not assumed is not redeemed.”

“Yeah I know Dad … But I think it’s worth it, and with your help, and the Spirits help, I know we will turn this world around.”

That may have some flaws with it, and I’m sure you guys will point them out … but for the moment … it excites me.

Thanks be to God for pursuing me with love.