What I Learned in Narnia: Authority

Carrie's notes taken while listening to the audio lecture series What I Learned in Narnia by Doug Wilson which is available through Canon Press. (You can enter to win the book by the same title by leaving a comment on last week's post.)

Today's post, as well as tomorrow's, is a bit different than what you'll normally see around here. Basically I'm sharing the notes I made while listening to Wilson's lectures and you can tell. The format is different but I still find the notes worth posting. Glean what you will.

It should be noted that these are topical talks, so there is no specific order in which you would need to read the Narnia books in order to follow along. Wilson suggests reading the books in chronological order to help you understand the history and progression of Narnia as he says it will help you put a lot of things together.

Wilson is very clear to point out that Lewis was adamant that these books were not an allegory. Rather, they were "a great supposal." “Suppose that….” Aslan occupies the Christ position in these books and it is important for us to see the heart of true authority in these books.

Wilson's agenda, if you will, in giving this series of lectures is to give “a small taste of things that you can be learning from [The Chronicles of Narnia].”

In his first lecture on the topic of authority Wilson talks about using authority the wrong way, using it the right way and submitting to authority in the right way.

He starts by talking about using authority the wrong way, giving examples of characters and situations in the book to illustrate his points.

• Miraz (Prince Caspian) is a usurper. He kills to take the throne and exercise false authority. The book reads, “When he first began to rule, he did not even pretend to be king. He called himself the Lord Protector.”
• The Scrubbs also present a picture of denial of true authority. (Voyage of the Dawn Treader) Eustace calls his father and mother by their first names, refusing to acknowledge parental authority. This is a picture of egalitarianism, saying that everyone should be the same. It is a rejection of authority.
• The false of authority of the magician (Jadis & Uncle Andrew in The Magician's Nephew) They both believe that they are “above the rules.” Rules are for commoners and they feel as if they are more important than others and they do not want anyone telling them what to do.
• Ahoshta Tarkaan (The Horse and His Boy) - wields authority from groveling and manipulating – playing the system. His is authority gained though flattery which is a false authority.
• Shift (The Last Battle) – Manipulates to get his way through lies. He plays on the emotions of others to get his way (i.e., moping, acting deeply offended, etc.) Shift turns the golden rule around. He says, “Why don’t you treat me as I treat you?” What he really means is, “Why don’t you treat me the way the way that I say I treat you, but I don’t really.”
• The Dwarfs (The Last Battle) – “The dwarfs are for the dwarfs!” What they are saying is that they do not acknowledge any authority over themselves at all.

“You should never trust people who have strong views of authority when they are talking about people under them, but have very weak views of authority when they are talking about people over them. Whenever you encounter someone like that, you need to run.” – Wilson

All of the characters listed above are about grabbing, getting and taking. No one has to teach these behaviors to us. Sinful humanity latches on to these attitudes. They are part of the sin nature which we are born with. (Ps. 51:5) Jesus came to deal with these things.

Of course, Aslan sets the example or pattern for true authority in these stories. The heart of all true authority is through sacrificing and giving. The Bible teaches that if you grab for authority, you lose. If you give yourself, you gain authority. The person who sacrifices gains respect and admiration and positions of authority. When people demand authority, it will run away from them. Miraz? He grabs, he loses. Jadis? Finally defeated.

An example that Wilson gives from scripture is of Abraham and Lot. (Genesis Chapters 13 & 14) Abraham gives Lot a choice in the land. Lot chooses greedily and it turns out that his choice is eventually destroyed because of the sin of the people. Lot got his choice in the short term but it was not a wise choice and his family was eventually destroyed.

Is Aslan, the true and right authority a safe character? No. As Mr. Beaver says, “Of course he isn’t safe! But he is good.” He loves. He sacrifices. Aslan’s goodness is unsettling and scary which cause people to react negatively to his authority. They do not understand his ways. His servants, however, following in his footsteps, are humble. When Aslan asks Caspian if he is ready to rule, Caspian says he is not. Which is exactly how Caspian should feel. "When you know you are not ready, you are ready." Frank the Cabbie (The Magician’s Nephew) is also asked if he is willing to serve in Narnia. Frank doesn’t feel confident. Aslan breathes the confidence and assurance in him, building humility.

An excellent point on being in authority:

When you are in authority – you are the first in every attack and the last in every retreat. A king puts himself out front to “take the fall” or lead the army in battle. This is what it means to be a pastor, a father, an elder, a husband. It means stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility and overseeing the people and situations that God has given to you to govern. It is a great responsibility and requires sacrifice and humility.

Wilson concludes his lecture by talking about how we are to rightly submit to authority. For the sake of length I'll only discuss his discussion of Trumpkin the Dwarf (in Prince Caspian).

Wilson points out that Trumpkin doesn’t believe in Aslan but he believes in and will fight for the Narnia. Dr. Cornelius brings the Narnians Susan’s old horn to summon help. Trumpkin doesn’t believe the horn is of any value or will bring the Narnian army any help. He gives his input and then submits to the authority of Caspian.

“I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders. You’ve had my advice and now is the time for taking orders.” ~ Trumpkin

Humility. Honor. Submission.

Definitely a thought-provoking lecture and an eye-opening one as well.