By Mark Eddy Smith

Once upon a time there was a Lion. You know the story. He was strong and kind and fierce and gentle. His name evoked a mysterious joy in those whose hearts were soft and a mysterious horror in those whose hearts were cold. He came at unexpected times, but always when the need was great. He was slow to anger but quick to save, and when the need was greatest, he did not hesitate to offer his own life in return for those he loved, even if their hearts had grown cold and they had done terrible things. His is the story, the only story, really, and He is the one who is telling it, throughout all the world. It's a story that never grows old, although some have grown tired of listening.

The brilliance of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is that it takes the story of the gospel and re-imagines it, setting it in a different world and fleshing out the characters so that those who have grown tired of hearing about Jesus or are too young to fully grasp the implications of what He did can experience His story with fresh vision. Lewis once said: "I am aiming at a sort of pre-baptism of the child's imagination." Lewis wanted to create a world that would resonate with children such that, when they encountered Christianity later in life, they would recognize the story.

It worked on me. I read the Chronicles over and over as a child, without ever catching on to the parallels to Sunday school stories. It was not until high school that my friend Tim told me, somewhat dismissively, that The Chronicles of Narnia were all just Christian allegory. I had to think for a moment before replying, "No, they're not." I considered further and conceded, "Well, maybe The Last Battle, but . . ."

Tim was my best friend, and Tim was an atheist. I had not been trying to evangelize him by bringing up the subject of the Chronicles; rather I was hoping to share my enthusiasm for the stories. Although I had accepted Jesus into my heart when I was eight, I honestly had no inkling that there was anything specifically "Christian" about the series. After college (which included a semester or two of my own atheism), I revisited Narnia and discovered there the source of a great deal of my theology, including some compelling answers to the tougher questions of the Christian faith.

Now the celebrated children's classic is coming to a theater near you. "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," produced by Disney Pictures and Walden Media, will be released on December 9. What better time of year to communicate the gospel in a form palatable even for elementary-age children. However, with this opportunity comes great responsibility. There is a danger of belittling the art of C.S. Lewis and the message of the gospel if we cavalierly present cotton-candy connections between Aslan and Christ. Either the message will disintegrate as soon as it hits the tongue, or, as was the case with my friend Tim, the over-bearing "sweetness" will trigger an aversion. However, the film does present us with a tool for discussing spiritual truths found in the movie. Here are some ideas for you and your church as you seek to open doors to the gospel:

Read the book. It might take at most a weekend to read, and you'll be glad you did. You'll be able to follow the movie better, and it'll show an appreciation of good art. You might also skim some books about Narnia and C.S. Lewis. There are a number of books already out and quite a few recently released that'll give you some good discussion points.

Invite non-Christian neighbors or co-workers to attend the movie with your family. Go to a matinee or early showing so you have time for discussion over dinner or dessert afterward. This is the perfect time to begin a dialogue about the movie.

Talk about your personal response to the film. Focus on the story and the art of the movie. Perhaps you could bring up a bit about Lewis's life and his spiritual journey. Tell them what the story means to your own life. Be sure to involve your friend in the conversation by asking thought-provoking questions. Ask questions like: What did you think about the movie? Did you notice any particular message or theme? What effect did it have on you? Have you read the series or any other books by C.S. Lewis? Were you able to identify with any of the characters? What did you think of Aslan and his choice to give his life for Edmund?

Create opportunities for follow-up. Let those who haven't read the book borrow your copy, and meet them for coffee or lunch when they want to return it. You might also offer an on-going study including other books by C.S. Lewis.

Host an evening at the movies. Have your church check into the possibility of renting a theater for a special showing of the film. Or buy a block of tickets to a particular show. Encourage church members to invite unchurched friends and families to view the movie. Host a Q&A session afterward addressing questions asked by non-Christians.

Create small groups or Sunday school classes that will study the themes relating to Narnia or C.S. Lewis. Place signs or flyers at the movie theater inviting movie goers to attend. Make it a family affair by providing Narnia-related activities for the kids.

The children and adults in your community will see this movie-why not use it as an opportunity to explore the spiritual truths with them. Christians will have a unique opportunity to share their faith. I recently sent an email to my friend Tim. I'm hoping to begin a dialogue with him about the new Narnia movie. And maybe, just maybe, it will open the door to a whole new world for him.

Copyright 2005 Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Walden Media, LLC. All rights reserved.