As Christians and other movie viewers across the country flock to the big-screen production of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Calvin Kelly is capitalizing on the movie’s attention. He is offering a sermon series explaining the spiritual elements and symbolism in the book by C.S. Lewis on which the movie is based.
“Christians have been known far too much for what we are against,” said Kelly, pastor of Valleydale Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association. But “there are times when something good comes along that we need to promote. ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ is a prime example. … Since much of our culture will be exposed to the movie, I wanted to help Christians build bridges to non-Christians through a deeper understanding of the movie.”
On a stage set to resemble Lewis’ magical land of Narnia, Kelly covers topics such as the spiritual realm beyond this world (represented by the wardrobe), the presence of evil in a fallen world (the witch), the symbol of God in Christ (the lion) and the church’s command to be light in a dark world (the lamppost). The church also rented a theater for an advance showing of the movie.
“A Baptist pastor named Dan Yeary said pastors ought to preach with a Bible in one hand and today’s newspaper in the other, and I think that’s good advice,” Kelly said. “The 21st-century American mind has to understand how truths relate to their daily lives.”
Calvin Miller, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, believes there will be a movement across America among pastors addressing the movie due to the popularity of the Narnia book series.
Citing Neil Postman’s book, “Amusing Ourselves to Death,” Miller said society has moved from a print culture to a video culture, and many pastors are trying to echo that way of life to some degree.
“The Bible should be at the center of the pastor’s preaching, but the Bible is not so central in the lives of people in the congregation,” he said. “Therefore, if the pastor is going to relate to the congregation, he needs to know something of the world, which is at the center of their lives and experiences — arts, literature, novels and movies, particularly video.”
Clay Jacobsen, television director and author of the newly released book, “The Ultimate Reality Show,” compares pastors addressing TV shows and movies to Jesus’ use of parables to address issues common to people of His day.
“The thing we most have as a common thread is the entertainment culture,” he said. “I can’t think of a better way to be relevant to those we are called to reach with the gospel than to be able to relate the kingdom of God to movies, TV shows or music.”
Many Alabama Baptist pastors highlight current issues in their sermons. As Alabamians prepared to vote on gambling, Jay Wolf, pastor of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association, addressed it from the pulpit.
“Any pastor that is an effective biblical expositor will seek to tie God’s timeless message to their times,” he said. “You do that by being aware of current events. I’m constantly seeking to tie the truth of the Scripture to how a Christian should live their daily life.”
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