C.S. Lewis and The Last Battle—My Battle with Lewis’ Theology

Okay all you theologians, literature enthusiasts and C.S. Lewis scholars….I need your help reconciling a theological allegory in Lewis’ book The Last Battle in the Chronicles of Narnia series.

Even if you’re not a theologian, literature enthusiast or C.S. Lewis scholar, that’s okay! If you have a perspective to help me understand what I’m about to ask, then by all means, contribute!

(Spoiler alert! If you haven’t read the books and don’t want the ending spoiled for you, then you might not want to read on. )

I need to presume some allegorical connections that I infer C.S. Lewis meant before I ask my question:

     Aslan resembles Jesus. The idea of Tash takes after Satan.     
     Aslan’s country is heaven. Yes? This is what I’ve concluded.

Disclaimer/Qualifer/Addendum: Keep in mind that the thoughts that follow below are not intended to imply that we can earn our way to heaven by doing good deeds. I understand that we don’t earn heaven, but that it’s by God grace through Jesus Christ that we can confidently come into His presence. This is important to remember when reading what I have to say.

Towards the end of Lewis’ book The Last Battle in the chapter Further Up and Further In, the world of Narnia has just ended. It was destroyed by Aslan himself. After Aslan separated the creatures (to the right and left) and the world is ended. Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Digory, Polly, Eustace and Jill , who travelled to Narnia in previous Narnia books,  are in Aslan’s country with other Narnian creatures Aslan allowed in.

Another creature, a man, made it into Aslan’s world also. He’s from Calormen, a place neighboring Narnia and follows the god, Tash. Everything he ever did was for Tash. He came with his fellow countrymen to conquer Narnia. And somehow he made it into Aslan’s world.

C.S. Lewis’ theology disguised in the conversation below is what I’m struggling with. It goes something like this:  

“…I have served Tash all my days and not him [Aslan],”  Emeth, the Calormen, says to Peter, Lucy and everyone else there, recounting his encounter with Aslan when Emeth entered through the small door to Aslan’s country as Narnia was ending.

“Son, thou art welcome [into Aslan’s country],” says Aslan.

“Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash.”

“Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me.”

“Is it true then that thou and Tash are one?” The Lion growled so that the earth shook…and said, “It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites—I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore, if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash by whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted.”

To be objective first, what is your perspective of this conversation?

What is Lewis trying to communicate to the reader here? Really, think about this before you read on. I don’t want your perspective to be tainted by mine.

My struggle is this: It seems that Lewis is saying that one can serve Satan (Tash) by doing good deeds and it be credited to God/Jesus (Aslan).

I know that God can credit anything he wants. And I know that it’s not by our good deeds that we earn heaven. 

I get that.

Emeth then says, “Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days.” [He still acknowledges serving another god.]

“Beloved, unless thy desire has been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek,” replied Aslan.

So if this foreigner was following Tash all his life and didn’t even acknowledge the existence of Aslan, how does he get into Aslan’s world? Emeth admitted twice to only serving Tash! 

The Bible says:

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

~Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

How then can one do good deeds, not know Jesus and go to heaven? This seems to be what Lewis implies in the above conversation. I know a lot of good people who do a lot of good that don’t know Jesus, but from my understanding of the Bible, being “good” and doing good doesn’t qualify you to get you into heaven. Jesus does. And having a relationship with Him is key.

I can’t think of a scripture to reference that indicates that those serving Satan and doing “good” will get into heaven. I believe that Satan is capable of doing good deeds. He masquerades as an angel of light. Does that mean he’ll get to go to heaven? I believe that he twists the truth just enough that it’s believable enough for people to follow, but they’re not following God.

Eve ate the fruit in the garden. Like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. They thought that what they were doing was God’s will. And yet they committed murder in the name of God. They lied. Some probably put power as their “god”. The Spanish Inquisition was done in the name of God. The Crusades were done in the name of God. Killing in the name of God. All because they said their purpose was to serve God when in reality I think it was to quench their own desires for greed and power. They can say and even believe their purpose is right, but if it goes against God’s Word, then they’re the ones in error. Not God. God knows our hearts, what’s truly in them.

But I digress.

It seems to me that Lewis is implying that one can serve another “god”, or Satan as the allegory implies, and still go to heaven.  Is this a reasonable conclusion for the allegory? And I don’t mean that one can serve another “god”, then later serve God and go to heaven—because that is not the impression Lewis seems to be giving here. There is no indication that Emeth ever chose to seek and serve Aslan.

If this is not the correct interpretation, then please help me to understand the theology Lewis is trying to convey in this conversation between Aslan and Emeth. Really. Because I like C.S. Lewis. I’ve loved the theology he’s included in the whole Narnia series. And I don’t want to not like him based on this one part of his book if this is the theology he’s trying to convey to the reader. I just don’t agree with that theology.

Again, I ramble.

I don’t understand how if I choose to serve Satan (or other “gods”, or myself as my own “god”, money as my “god”, etc.) how those good deeds in that service equate service to God. I know there is only one God, Jehovah. And I know that many people follow Satan in different forms and most don’t even know it or believe that they are. So if I don’t believe or know that there’s One True God and I do good works and I never seek Him, how then does that “allow” me into heaven? (Again, our works don’t get us into heaven.)

Even if I was seeking “a higher power” or a “spiritual being”, but have no relationship with God, how does that get me into heaven?

And yes, I know God can do anything. But I also believe that He has “conditions”. Our God loves unconditionally. Yes. No matter what bad things we’ve done, He loves us and wants us in a relationship with Him. But there are “conditions” for a relationship with Him. Sure.

We must meet Him. Get to know Him. Obey Him. Have faith in Him. Keep trying to follow Him. Believe in Jesus. Praise Him. Honor people—especially fellow believers. But it is still by His grace that He lets us into His presence and into heaven. It’s not a game or a race. It’s not about “Who knows God best”. God wants us all there. He wants us to choose Him and to serve Him. It’s not about our perfection, rather about His. Jesus makes us perfect because we can never be perfect. And God demands perfection. That’s why He sent Jesus to satisfy His wrath through perfect obedience to the Law and to sacrifice His life to pay the price, which is death.

Steve says it’s just a fictional story. Yes, I agree. But I think we must also agree that Lewis wrote this story with metaphorical references to Jesus, heaven and the Bible~that there is a message Lewis wanted to share with his readers. 

Yes?

Well, I think so. If you don’t, then we can sit down together and discuss it.

So, what do you think? Am I correct in what Lewis seems to be implying? Do you have some other insight that may help with my perspective of this conversation and theology Lewis seems to be implying? I am having a difficult time reconciling this section of his book with what the Bible teaches.

I welcome your thoughts. Don’t hold back. But be gentle. J

Tis' the Season

Thanksgiving is over. Leftovers still abound. Well, at least in our apartment! While doing dishes at Steve's brother's house, Lorien, our sister-in-law mentioned that she only likes turkey sandwiches as leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner. I started rambling other possibilities to use leftover turkey for:

• Turkey soup (it's so delicious!)
• Turkey pot pie
• Turkey casserole
• Turkey omlettes
• Turkey sandwiches
• Just eating the turkey as it is

Her response? "Ok, Forrest Gump!" (Well, what she really meant was "Bubba", but we both didn't catch that!) I thought the response was both appropriate and funny. 

Now it's time for Christmas. Christmas songs are playing. Christmas movies are showing. Lights are going up. Trees are ready for cutting. Santa is checking his list. Snow is falling~ somewhere, just not here. 

Sales are happening (it's Cyber Monday as I type this). And money is being both spent and saved. 

I have a difficult time with Christmas. I understand and appreciate what the meaning is supposed  to be about. But I feel like the whole holiday spirit is lacking~ a lot. 

People line up to get the best gifts for the least amount. Hey, I'm all about saving, just not at the expense of the loss of life or limb! Or an eye. Maybe a tooth. I could spare a tooth.... or a nail. They grow back, right?

We don't have much money for gift giving this year. So, we're having to be creative and thrifty. And I'm okay with that, because we're blessed regardless of how much money we have. 

And Steve keeps asking me what I want for Christmas. And my response is, "I don't know." 

World peace? That'd be nice, but won't happen. (I'm just being realistic... it's a blessing and a curse, I know.) 

A million dollars. That'd be great, but it won't bring world peace. 

We have good friends. We have good families. We have a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear. 

And I still have my two front teeth. 

What more could I want? I have a relationship with God. I am saved from my sins through Jesus. I have hope to go to heaven one day. I have an inner peace that surpasses all understanding because of Jesus. I have confidence to come before God and ask Him whatever I want (doesn't mean it's what's best for me, but I can still ask!). Jesus is the best gift I could have ever received. And I got it from my Heavenly Father. (My dad gives pretty good gifts, too!)

I'd rather just spend time with mine and Steve's families, enjoying a good meal, having a good time, making memories with one another. 

That's what I want for Christmas. 

And some wool socks. Maybe a bacon press. (What? I had time to think about it while I was typing!)

 But my life won't be anymore blessed because of those things. My life is blessed because of relationships. 

And I thank God for them~ for you. Because you are the people that make our lives blessed. You may have never given us a gift in your life... at least not one that costs money. But you've given us the gift of your time, your advice, your friendship. And that's what we love about you. 

You are a gift to us. And we hope we've been a gift to you. 

May this Christmas "season" be about being the gift of a friend to someone else. May it be about sharing the love of Jesus to those around you, because He came to serve, not to be served. 

He came as a baby to experience humanity so that He can relate to us. He understands the temptation of sin. He wouldn't have wanted to sin if it wasn't a temptation. He understands the desire to serve self. He understands the struggle of emotional and physical pain. He understands you. 

He came to love those who need it~ which is everybody. 

24 Days of Thanksgiving

Steve preached his lesson today on being thankful. I won’t tell you what it was about (in case he wants to preach it somewhere else one day! You’ll just have to catch the lesson then!)

But being that it’s the holidays and all, I suppose I might as well participate in the Thanksgiving sharing spirit of how we’re blessed. No, it’s not a burden to express thanks. I just forget to do so! A lot!

They’re not in any particular order of importance or preference--just things I’m grateful for. Since Thanksgiving Day is on November 24^th this year, I've written 24 things for which I’m thankful:

1. Food- God declared all animals clean. I am thankful that we have the privilege to eat just about anything—especially bacon. Mmmmmmmm, bacon!
2. Warmth- I’m not a fan of winter. I do appreciate it’s need for plants and watering the lands. But I prefer warmth. It makes me feel, well, warm inside.
3. Freedom—Not just the “American” freedoms, but the spiritual freedoms we have in Christ. The truth has set me free and I am free indeed. And Satan and death no longer have power over me!
4. Friends—We are created for relationships. Friends give hugs when needed, whether asked or not sometimes! They fill a need for belonging, conversation, silence…to pick you up when you’re down instead of kicking you and leaving you there.
5. Enemies—Well, without them how much less would we appreciate our friends? And they keep us on our toes…keep us accountable in a way with the way we live our lives! They’re a reminder to me that they need Jesus, too. Jesus came for them as much as He came for me.
6. Family—It’s true that we don’t get to choose the family we’re born in to, but I’m grateful that we were both born into families that love us and want what’s best for us! And are there for us!
7. Electricity—It’s one of my favorite inventions of all time! Without it, I’d probably go to bed earlier and there’d be no internet, television, radio, computers (eek!), internet (double eek!). But with it, we have the potential to do so much more! (Could imagine a church service without power point?! Ok, maybe you can. But let’s face it, sometimes it helps!)
8. Letters—The correspondence kind, not the alphabet. While it is important to know the alphabet in order to write letters, I appreciate written correspondence. It communicates thoughtfulness to take the time to hand write something. You can’t hit the delete key and start over. If you want to start over you have to well, start over. Or cross out what you don’t want, but the reader can still read it anyways. It takes thought to write without error. And time to put a stamp on it, go to the post office and mail it. I still have letters from friends tucked away safely.
9. Facebook—It allows me to keep up with people that I probably wouldn’t call or write. At least I know something that’s going on in their lives.
10. Reconciliation—Being friends with God. There’s no greater relationship to have that one with God through Jesus.
11. Steve—My husband. A good preacher and teacher. A student of God’s word.  One who is often forgiving, giving and kind.
12. The Printing Press—I love books. I have a lot of books that I want to read, but haven’t yet. School kind of  ruined reading for me. I do like to read, I’m just not as in to it as I used to be when it was for recreation rather than as an assignment. BUT with the printed word we can duplicate so much to share with others!
13. Creamer with Coffee—The person who discovered that you can roast a coffee bean, grind it, then process it with water is a GENIUS! And the same goes for whoever invented creamer. A little coffee with my creamer, please.
14. Grace—Getting something good that I don’t deserve or earned. Getting a present just because someone loves me. That’s what God does. He gave us Jesus just because He loves us and wants us to be with Him!
15. Mercy—Not getting the just punishment for something bad I did. Whew! No eternal separation from God for those who are in Christ. No weeping, no pain. Just joy and service to my Lord in Heaven.
16. Shoes—I love shoes. Boots. Slippers. Sandals. They’re just cool.
17. Fun times with People—Memories are made with people. I rarely have a good memory of something I did by myself. But I remember lots of good things that I did with good people. That’s what life is made of. Memories.
18. The Difficult Times—These are what challenge us to grow in our character. They give us a chance to shine our light of Jesus to the dark world. They can make us or break us. We can let them define us in a negative way, or we can choose to find the good in the difficult circumstance and make the best of it.
19. Plants—They give oxygen for us to breathe. Not just for humans, but for animals, too. We disperse carbon dioxide which plants take in to produce oxygen, which we take in so we can survive. God is a genius.
20. Scars—They’re the memories we have that remind us of how good God is and that he’s not through with us yet. (And it could have been worse!)
21. The Church—The people, not to be confused with the building where the church meets.  They pray for you. Help provide for you. Help you move. Then help you move again. Bring you food when you’re sick or injured. Replace your water heater when it’s broken and profusely flooding your garage. Pay for your plane ticket for your honeymoon. Set up your wedding reception for you. Laugh with you. Cry with you. Share words of advice and wisdom with you. And then prays for you again after they’ve helped you move your stuff one more time that you’ll finally stop moving! (What? Our God is the God of the impossible!)
22. The Combustion Engine—Not to be confused with the Combustible Engine, which apparently I do so often! While I do appreciate the horse and it’s strength and endurance, I appreciate the engine for it’s adaptability. I can go 60 miles, well, in an hour or so. I can fly quickly to see my family by plane in the case of an emergency. Now… if they’d just get that tele-transport machine working! Beam me up!
23. The Power of Touch—Touch has the power to make you feel good or make you feel awful. The right kind of hug can make you feel loved. The wrong kind of hug can creep you out—even just thinking about it. A high 5 can empower you more than a slap on the face. Jesus touched people when they needed it most—as a means of meeting a need—the need to be loved through touch.
24. The Sacrifice of Jesus, the Christ—What more needs to be said about this? Well, ok, fine…I’ll tell you! I am thankful for the selflessness Jesus had to die, to defeat death so that I don’t have to suffer sins consequences to be eternally separated from God. Because of His death and resurrection, I can now have the confidence to come directly before God in confidence and that he will give me grace and mercy in my time of need. And He does.

The Harvest is Plentiful...But There's Planting To Be Done!

Being the "Holiday Season" and all, I've been thinking about the fall harvest. Back in the "day", people used to have harvest gathering and feasts to celebrate the abundance of crops.

Harvesting is fun! (Well, I think so, anyways.) You get to see the fruits of all your hard work. And enjoy it. And share it with others so as to bless them.

I didn't used to like to garden as a kid when I'd have to go help mom harvest the garden in the summer. Planting was even harder work. We had to prepare the soil, get rid of weeds and rocks, give the soil nutrients. Plan the planting of the seeds. Make the rows. Plant the seeds. Cover them. Water them. And then work regularly to keep the weeds out so as to not steal the nutrients from the crops. And keep watering. And weeding. And more weeding. We had a lot of weeds.

I hated weeding. It was a lot of work.

But I loved eating the fruit! Especially strawberries!

It's crazy to think that one planted seed that is nourished with sun, air and water grows a fruit--or many fruit in most cases. And that one seed that grew that one fruit has many more seeds inside to grow more fruit the next year. One apple seed grows into a tree, which can sometimes produce hundreds of apples in one year... and each apple on that one tree from that one seed has the potential to produce hundreds more apples if planted.

I think God knew what He was doing when He created plants and their survival. They can survive without man's help.

They do it all the time.

Each type of seed has it's harvest time. A tomato may come to fruition earlier than say, a pumpkin. It depends on weather and soil nutrients among other factors. But nevertheless, those seeds grow fruit at different times of the year.

If you left a pumpkin to decompose (or rot) over the fall through spring, the seeds can get planted and grow more pumpkins where the rotting pumpkin was the year before. It may seem like the rotting pumpkin was wasted, but it wasn't. It was doing what God designed it to do~ it survives. If not eaten, it reproduces through decomposition when it gets planted in the soil. When the rain waters come it grows into the plant God designed it to be~ pumpkin.

The "right" conditions may make the plant grow faster and maybe even yield better fruit. But we can't make the plant grow. We can help it along by watering it, putting it in the right setting for sun or shade, giving it food. But I can't make it grow.

The same goes for those with whom we are sharing the gospel. I can tell them about Jesus. I can live my life for Jesus and show them Jesus in that way. I can pray for them. But I can't make them accept the seed~ that is, the word of God. I can't make them choose God. But I can be involved with nourishing the seed in their heart to grow to love Him and choose Him. I can be involved in the process.

I can plant seeds. And most times it's hard work. And not often fun. You're involved in the weeding and watering process. And it seems unproductive at times because you don't see the fruit fast enough, if at all.

And when that seed is ready for growth, it has the potential to plant many more seeds which has the potential to grow more fruit for the Kingdom.

So this "holiday season", when we're out buying gifts for others, eating our meals together and enjoying each other's company, plant seeds in the hearts of those whom you meet. It may be the cashier at the department store, the clerk at the coffee shop, the server at the restaurant... it may be your friend for the last 10 years who doesn't know Jesus... or maybe even your family.

Because there are people out there who want to know Jesus, who want to belong to His family. The harvest is plentiful. And the planting still needs to be done. So while some are harvesting the fruits of other's labor for the Kingdom, we can be planting seeds as best we know how.

And God will make it grow.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body...So it is with Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ~1 Corinthians 12:12, 27 NIV

It is for Freedom...

America. Home of the Free.

Today is November 11. Veteran's Day. The day we honor those who have served in the military protecting values such as freedom.

Freedom is something I probably take for granted. A lot. I don't utlize my American freedoms in some ways. I can. But I don't. And I don't abuse them either. At least I hope not.

Soldiers have a different kind of sacrifice to give. Some give up being with their families for long periods of time. Or altogether.

Some ultimately give up their freedoms, including their lives, so that our American freedoms are preserved:

• Freedom to speak, well, freely. Like on this blog. I can say what I want whenever I want about whomever I want.


• Religious freedom. I am not forced to be a Christian. I choose to be one.


• Free to bear arms. While I don't own a weapon, I can if I want to...after a waiting period, of course.


• Freedom to assemble. I can be with a group of people in public or private.


• Freedom to petition~I can ask the government to do something or to stop doing something that I don't like or agree with.

We have the freedom to...

• go anywhere in our country


• work anywhere, with any company we qualify for


• have a family~ more than one child


• join any political party one chooses


• own private property

Is it worth any soldier's life so that you and I can have these freedoms? I believe that only the individual soldier can answer that question. Even though I don't fully know or understand what our soldiers so for us, I DO appreciate the sacrifices they give so that others may live--with freedom.

And so today is the day we set aside in our nation to honor such men and women who have given their time, energy and yes, even their lives in so many ways, so that you and I and our friends and families can speak our minds, worship God and live wherever we want to.

Soldiers strive to protect our physical and abstract freedoms. And for them, I am so grateful. So I thank you, American soldier, for the freedoms you give up so that Americans can keep theirs.

On a spiritual note...

Jesus' believed we were (are) worth giving up His life to set us free.

Sin separates us from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2) And so we needed someone to bring us back into that relationship with God. And Jesus did by dying on the cross to defeat death and so was brought back to life. This is the gospel, the Good News. And since all have sinned, no one is immune to sin's consquence, that is, death.

Unless you're in a relationship with God through Jesus.

But being in Jesus Christ says that we belong to God and have the hope (dare I say, guarantee) of being resurrected so that we can be in heaven with Him.

And so it is for freedom that Jesus set us free. Not to indulge in sinful behaviors, rather so that we'd serve one another in love. (Galatians 5)

He set us free from the fear of death. So if we are in Christ, we don't have to be afraid to die, because when we die (because we all will) we don't have to be afraid to be eternally separated from God. (Hebrews 2)

And so through this freedom we can approach God's throne with confidence. I have freedom to talk to him. (Ephesians 3)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor. 3)

And so I am free. Free from the wages of sin, which is death. Free from the fear of death. Free to talk with God with confidence without being afraid of His wrath.

Jesus gives us spiritual freedoms. And because of His sacrifice, I am eternal saved and freed from anything can have a hold of fear over me because my God is a powerful God and through Him and because of Him nothing is impossible. Nothing.

It is for freedom that Jesus set us free..

Update on Steve's Bell's Palsy

Steve's regained full use of his facial muscles! He still has some weakness, but he can close his eye all the way, smile, make faces at people~ you know, the important things!

We just want to thank you all for your prayers! It's a blessing and encouragement knowing that there are people out there like you who are dedicated warriors for God. It means a lot to us!

You mean a lot to us!

So thank you. And we thank God for you.