05.16.2008

Searching for truth where fantasy and reality blend can present a formidable challenge for any children’s pastor.  We live in a world infiltrated by the forces of fantasy, and with a media-driven society bent on reinforcing these ideas, as children’s leaders, where are we left standing?

In the recent years, media and technology has made major strides, particularly in the motion picture industry.  In 1995, with the creation of Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” audiences were left in amazement as they witnessed a motion picture miracle and animation took on an entirely different look… and Hollywood hasn’t looked back.

The production of hand-drawn motion pictures has all but been replaced by this new genre of CG animated films, a genre that isn’t really so new anymore.  Today there is a generation of kids, the ones in your churches on Sunday morning, who have grown up with Buzz and Woody and who don’t know life without computer animation. 

It is everywhere, from Saturday morning cartoons to the movies we watch in the theatres; from the commercials to music to our Kids Church services!  As we’ve seen the influence of CG animation grow, it has become the prevalent part of our lives and has allowed artists, filmmakers and directors to engage audiences at a previously inaccessible levels.

I seem to be getting ahead of myself.  Let me just say that I love CG!  I am a huge fan of the tools that it provides us in the church, but like any tool, it must be handled in the right way.  A screwdriver doesn’t do anyone any good if they’re holding a handful of nails.

With the theatrical release of Disney and Walden Media’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” May 16, 2008, once again we get to enter into a land of make believe, a land of familiarity.  The movie, the next installment based on C.S. Lewis’ novel of the same name, takes us back to Narnia, one thousand years later. 

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, the Pevensie children who jumped into this mysterious world of Narnia through a Wardrobe in the first book (or movie for you non-readers) and became the Kings and Queens of Narnia after several adventures where each of them were challenged and faced trials in walking in the light of who they were created to be.

Allegorical commentary is peppered throughout the story (with blatantly obvious parallels to spiritual world which we live and still cannot see – with or without a wardrobe) and can help our kids understand these greater spiritual truths in comprehendible, digestible “chunks”.
We’re all story tellers, each in our ways we tell the stories of our lives to those around us; something we did, a day out at the beach or what happened while we were heading home from work.  We tell stories because we LIVE in a story, a story that is greater than us.  We’re not THE story, but a PART of it.  We play a smaller role in a larger narrative; we’re included but not exclusive.  When our time on the stage is over, the story continues.

Jesus loved to tell stories, but in church we’ve decided to call them “parables”.  He also loved to go to the beach.  In fact, in Matthew 13 in verse 1 we see Jesus headed down to the beach.  He was an awesome story teller that the people came from all over town just to listen to the stories he had to tell.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised that if Jesus produced a movie it’d have a huge opening weekend in the box office!

His disciples approach Him when he’s finished one story and they want to know why He is speaking in parables and Jesus so He explains the reason in verses 11-17, but I think the vital point comes in vs. 18, “Listen to what the parable… means.”

Jesus explained the story!  I think it is central to the culture we live in that we really begin to understand this point, I mean REALLY understand it.  Here is Jesus, telling all of the stories (vs. 34) and using culturally relevant illustrations so the people listening can understand the greater truth to which He’s speaking and He still makes the effort to make sure that His disciples get it (vs. 51). 

Now, I fully realize you might not feel like Jesus, so it’s a good thing we don’t base our salvation on how we’re “feeling” on a particular day!  With His life inside you and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we have the opportunity to “be Jesus” to our kids!

So what does all of this have Narnia stuff and computer animation have to with the kids in your church on Sunday morning?  It doesn’t mean you have to have a “Narnia Party” on the opening weekend (though that has the potential as a community outreach event) but it does mean you have to explain the story.

Now, maybe your church isn’t like everyone else’s and maybe your kids don’t watch TV, movies or go to school.  The only way to combat lies are to use Truth; the way to reinforce Truth is by using Truth.  Truth is like gravity, it doesn’t matter whether you believe it or agree with it or not – if you jump up into the air you will come back down – it always is what it always is.

With the influx of recent movies into the mainstream culture in which we live we’ve been given a choice.  We can ignore the ones speaking lies and hope and pretend our kids will somehow miss the subtle lures they offer to entice or we can combat the lies with Truth.  We can also choose to take a stand and reinforce Truth with Truth when a situation presents itself, explaining and emphasizing the greater concepts present in the parables.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is a parable that has withstood the test of time and gives each of us as children’s pastors the opportunity to raise up “Kids Church Kings and Queens” if only we take the time to explain the story. 

Like Levar Burton used to say on reading Rainbow (one of my favorite shows as a kid) “But you don’t have to take my word for it”… I would encourage you to read the book, Google it, and find out as much info about the parable as you can.  Remember, nobody knows your flock like you do, that’s why God has called you to it.