Thank you texascat! Now I can stop hiding under my sheets (the last forum I joined had me drawn and quartered before my third post for my ideas- maybe I should have named myself ‘martyr’ . . .)
Yes, I’m already back the promised expansion of my post (
much longer than I expected, so crying and yawns are allowed.)
Earlier I said that the majesty of Christian Kingship comes from humility and true authority, (though more from the former than the latter, since authority in most cases only follows humility,) and thought I would illustrate with an example.
To me, it seemed that the Aslan in the BBC Narnia series (a puppet) was more effective than the new movie CGI lion. Reasons: there were severe restrictions on the puppet, which could not stalk, pounce, etc. But story only needs simple tools, and despite a limited budget, they strove to be faithful to the character of Aslan. Thus, what the lion did not have in agility was made up for in dignity (with such a big lion, if you can pull off dignity, you have something impressive). In short, they turned weaknesses into strengths, which is all that is expected of anyone.
The new CGI lion, however, was the peak of technology in a large budge. To my mind, it is a given that the inner workings of Christ is something that cannot be counterfeit, though it is our goal to “copy” them in ourselves. Yet the producers of the new Aslan apparently not only assumed they could counterfeit, but also better Lewis’ portrayal by making more ‘realistic and cinematic,’ changing size as well as the nuances in Aslan’s dialogue and overall performance. In essence, they changed Him.
The majesty of both Christ and Aslan is in humility. There is something so plain, open, and unpretentious in the character of righteousness that defies the petty. Humility lacks the walls of pretense because it goes beyond mere honesty by banishing those selfish things that would color truth: such as pride, greed, and narrow-mindedness. Once these things are got rid of, only then can true glory and greatness shine through. C.S. Lewis displayed his understanding of this when he named “Mere Christianity.”
To wind down on my explanation of preference for one lion over the other, I have always found it easier to forgive and overlook faults when they are presented in an attitude of humility, and not of pride (Prov. 15:1). To recognized and be apologetic about those things we cannot change in our nature, while constantly trying to improve ourselves is the proper approach, though the world favors presenting what we flatter ourselves to believe are our better qualities, which leads to the overshadowing and eventual ignoring of faults.
The first example seems represented in the puppet Aslan, the second the CGI lion. I suppose I could say that the spirit of the first felt correct, and the other did not (though I would not be so hard were they not portraying a manifestation of Christ.)
As you can see by now, I’ve read and thought a lot (maybe too much), with few opportunities to express my understandings. But now that I’ve joined you guys, I have a captive (or none existent) audience, whose only means of communication is by writing! I’m in heaven.
hamlet
(or maybe I should have called myself 'the lecturer' . . .)