Evangelicals & Representation

The impending director for a Netflix adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s novel The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is said to be seriously considering famed and venerated actress Meryl Streep to voice the role of Aslan.

Now, Meryl Streep is a three-time Oscar-winning actress, and she has been nominated for a record nineteen Oscars for Best Actress and four for Best Supporting Actress. Streep is, in my unlearned opinion, easily on the Mount Rushmore of thespians, so my opposition to her as the voice for Aslan has nothing whatsoever with her acting bonafides.

My opposition has everything to do with Lewis’ Aslan character clearing representing Jesus Christ, which would ergo necessitate a male and only a male being considered to voice the role.

I fully understand that, technically, a director has what is understood as a creative license to go in any direction they like. Still, the matter under consideration has profound theological implications that need to be respected and contemplated deeply.

Thus, my argument is not what can’t be done; it is only what should never done. It should never be done because even if those within the decision-making process, if nothing else but out of a sheer abundance of caution, must realize that casting Streep as the voice of Aslan signals the wrong message and would egregiously offend a whole segment of the very population they would hope would consume and commercially support their finished production.

While I am not necessarily surmising the director of harboring malicious intent, she is nonetheless still no doubt being played by Satan for even merely considering a female to be associated with a character who represents the Second Person of the Trinity.

As the Scriptures portray Satan as the Father of Lies and lying to be an essential part of his nature, the Holy Scriptures also reveal Satan as one who seeks to create false narratives to keep his adherents trapped in darkness. Many theologians considered the I will passages of Isaiah 14 to refer to the Devil.

Consequently, Lucifer’s entire existence has been vainly attempting to steal glory rightfully due to the Triune God. While it is always proper, fitting, and duly expectant for one to worship Jesus Christ, doing so enrages the envious Adversary to no end.

Casting Streep as Aslan is not one of those people of goodwill who can agree to disagree with a proposition. The thrice-holy God of the Bible takes very seriously how His creation approaches Him and how it represents Him. Many faith communities frown upon acts such as wearing crosses, especially ones that depict Jesus Christ still upon a cross.

Some even go so far as not to allow portraits of God to be placed on public display. Now it is here I readily grant that Christ-followers through the ages have given one another great liberty as to the best way to display fidelity to the biblical prohibitions found in Commandments II & IV:

You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Exodus 20:4

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭7‬

I submit that Meryl Streep's voicing of Aslan irreplaceably blurs and does grave harm to the spirit and intent behind Commandments II & IV.

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As God’s Word reveals, there is nothing new under the Sun. Satan has repackaged this lame attack with those who have sought numerous times to replace references to God with feminine names and depictions.

Just this week, I have watched no less than four videos of self-professing ministers referring to Jesus Christ in the most blasphemous fashion. One female pastor instructed those in attendance at the church she spoke that because some might have experienced a negative encounter with the Earthly father, it was wholly appropriate to address God as Mother in addition to other options, all wholly egregious and blasphemous.

Now, God is a Spirit and thus a non-corporeal being, but despite those two truths, God has chosen to always and, with few exceptions, present Himself in masculine terms. I have no rhyme or reason as to why this is how God has chosen to represent Himself. Consequently, it is wholly dangerous to take liberties and speak of God in feminine terms without warrant.

This in no way negates the worth of the female gender, and I have no issues with Ms. Meryl Streep even playing male roles in other settings if that is what the powers to be in Hollywood want to do. Actors like Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, the late Robin Williams, and Tyler Perry have made millions off of that art form, and in some instances, I have even enjoyed their portrayal.

But here we are talking about Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I still believe some things are taboo, and there are still lines that should never be crossed.

Well, I am completing this blog from the streets of Waikiki in Hawaii, where I have just recently completed State #24 in my quest to run a half marathon in all fifty states. Lord willing, I will complete the London Marathon for my second star in eleven more days.

For those who might be familiar, there are seven World Marathons that many runners seek to complete to earn the coveted World Majors Marathon medal. Just recently, Sydney, Australia, was added as the Seventh World Major.

The other six World Majors are the BMW Berlin, the BOA Boston, the BOA Chicago, the TCS London, the TCS New York City (NYC), and the TCS Tokyo. I plan to run the BMW Berlin Marathon this year on September 27th and the TCS NYC Marathon on November 2nd.

I have already run the Chicago Marathon three times, but Chicago, where I spent many years and will always consider home, will always be near and dear to my heart, so I will continue to run that marathon for many years to come.

I do all of this while dealing with a torn meniscus in my left knee. My orthopedic surgeon gave me a steroid shot to negate the pain so I could run in Hawaii and London. I will have surgery on May 7, which will provide me with almost five months to rehabilitate so I can run Berlin, all Lord willing, of course.

That is one way you can pray for me. I also ask that you pray that God may grant me favor as I seek to end my fourth quarter strong for Him. I hope to lead short-term mission trips and serve as a mentor for aspiring pastors working for Kairos University.

As usual, let me know what you think. Until then, keep your hands to the plow and seek to serve for an Audience of One.

With fear & trembling,

Ricky V Kyles Sr. DEd.Min