Pharisees vs. Magi

Hey everyone! I hope you all are enjoying this post-Christmas/pre-NewYear's time. I've found it to be rather relaxing and have been enjoying spending time with friends. I wrote this post a while ago and even though I'm not a huge fan of it, I wanted to share it because what I was writing about was important to me at the time. Maybe it will get your wheels spinning also. Let me know what you think! ~Paula (Reposted 12-27-2012)


If you read the "About" section, you know that I listen to lectures on C.S. Lewis and his works on the way to school. I did so today, and came across an interesting idea that has been on my mind since the lecturer first mentioned it. He just hit the major points and I want to try to flesh them out with my thoughts.
He was talking about "The Chronicles of Narnia," particularly the last book, titled, "The Last Battle." Forgive me for this, but I actually haven't read all of the chronicles and hadn't even heard of this one until I listened to the lecture. It was described as a sort of "Revelations" of Narnia and had some complex ideas, some that I didn't fully understand. The one I want to think through is one I call "Pharisee vs. Magi." (FYI I stole that reference from the lecturer. It was too good to not include here.)
It goes something like this.

In "The Last Battle," there is a character who is from a different religion (not a believer in Aslan).  Similar to a Buddhist or Muslim who doesn't believe in Christ. He is a faithful seeker of truth and his heart searched for a god to believe in. When he came across this other religion he latched on without even hearing of Aslan (by no fault of his own). He goes into a barn to meet the god he believes in and instead of finding him, he finds Aslan. The ultimate message is something like: if you search for truth - Aslan (or Christ) - and believe, he will be revealed to you and you can choose to accept or reject him when he does.

In the book, the character sees the reality of Aslan and accepts him. The flip side to this story is a group of characters that have known of Aslan the whole time, raised with the stories etc. and claimed to believe, but their hearts weren't right. I believe the lecturer said they were actually atheists in their hearts and their belief in Aslan was just a means to an end, whether they admitted it or not. When Aslan starts to separate 'the sheep from the goats' (a judgement day) the character to whom Aslan appeared was sent to paradise and the animals who supposedly "believed" in Aslan were turned away. 

It's like the difference between the Pharisees and the Magi. The Pharisees knew the scriptures through and through but didn't take it seriously. Perhaps they took it for granted, as I often feel I do. The Magi used their wisdom and knowledge to actively seek the truth and it led them like a map to the place of Christ's birth. That's pretty amazing.

And still my heart sympathizes with the animals sent away.

It doesn't seem fair that they've spend their lives trying to please Aslan only to get turned away in the end, when this other creature served a fake deity his whole life and is accepted into heaven with no questions asked!

Now, don't get me wrong. I agree with Lewis here. I believe that this happens - both sides of it. I believe God judges us based on what is in our hearts and from the surface, it's obvious that those animals hearts aren't right and they should be condemned. (Strong, very general language, I know, but bear with me.) I also believe that people can be converted in the last moment. The problem I am finding is that I automatically try to justify the animals sent away because I see myself in them. I was raised a Christian. I know the gist of the Scriptures and go to church as often as my work schedule will allow. And somehow, just like those animals or the pharisees, I lack something. I try to justify them, but I have to come back to the realization that there is no justification- only a call to live more fiercely for Christ.
Drat.

Doesn't it seem like it would be a lot easier to not know Christ your whole life and then accept him in the end when more pressing matters are at hand (for instance-- where you're going to spend eternity)? To me it does, but I guess the lesson here is that people who are in that situation miss out on a lot and I'll bet anything that they wish they had known him sooner so that they could have lived for him. Plus, the matter of where we're spending eternity is a pressing matter now. We just don't always see it that way. 

And here I am. With a chance to live my entire life for Christ and I find myself almost wishing it away because...well...because it's hard. It is so easy to get overwhelmed even though I know we aren't given anything we can't handle in this life. God promises us that, with Him, we can do all things. It still doesn't seem easier.

Here's my last thought on this. Maybe getting things to be easier isn't the point. The point is to struggle. To endure. To draw on His strength. To fight and push and trust. To not give up or wish life away. To come out changed. To come out of the fray having accomplished great things in Christ's name. 

Time for a paradigm shift, Paula. 

~~Paula~~

What are your thoughts on this? Leave a comment for me!