Is the bible the ultimate horror novel?
Today’s post comes from the “You have got to be kidding me”
files of the Gospel-driven Disciples. The Rev Zahl, a retired Episcopal priest
who was formerly the rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD,
and who is the dean and president of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry,
Ambridge, PA speaking of Stephen King, made this statement, “There’s a lot
faith behind his fright.” Zahl believes that some of the most stirring
affirmations of our Christian faith can be found in the chilling stories of
author Stephen King.
Zahl cites several examples from various books by King to substantiate
his claims that King is not an anti-religious horror story writer but a
preacher of “grace in action.”
In a CNN article, The Gospel According to Stephen King, John Blake also quotes from the writings of both C. S. Lewis and
J. R. R. Tolkien. Blake writes, “In one interview, King said he was shaped by
C. S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of
Narnia, and J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The
Lord of the Rings. Both Lewis and Tolkien were devout Christians who
layered their fiction with Christian themes.”
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I feel no need to cite each example of this seemingly
ludicrous idea, but his first example cited in a CNN story by John Blake is of
the character John Coffey in the Green
Mile.
First, Lewis was more than likely a believer although at
times it is hard to understand his faith. However, Tolkien was a devout
Catholic. Quoting Blake, I cite from his article, “Want to
read a powerful mediation on Jesus sacrificial love? Check out how King links
the death of the mammoth death row inmate John Coffey (note the initials, J.
C.) to Jesus’ crucifixion in the “Green
Mile.”
Why are we looking for “Christianity” in the writings of
Stephen King or any other author for that matter? We find the definition and demonstration of
Christianity not in horror novels but in the Bible. We see the definition and
demonstration of sacrificial love in Jesus the Christ not in John Coffey,
regardless of his initials.
What one misses when one attempts to read “the tenets of
Biblical Christianity” into secular works of fiction is the meaning or the
reason behind the events or the actions of the biblical text? It isn’t enough
to see John Coffey’s death as sacrificial and then attempt to link it Christ’s
death. Although Coffey was unjustly accused, wrongly convicted and executed as
the Christ was there is no similarity. Coffey was a man, Christ was the God-man
in the flesh, Coffey was a sinner in need of a savior, Christ was the Savior,
Coffey’s death atoned for nothing, Christ’s death atoned for the sins of His
people. The sacrificial death of Christ had eternal meaning and purpose. John
Coffey’s death was a tragic miscarriage of justice.
When we try to “read into” the writings of various authors
Christianity we are really legitimizing subjectivity. Each one who attempts to
do this becomes the judge and jury of what represents what or who represents
who.
Blake concludes his CNN article with this summary, “The
Bible is filled with terror: demons, ghosts, floods wiping out making and the rising
of the dead. Good horror examines the struggle between god and evil. The bible
is the history of that struggle. The bible is in many ways the ultimate horror
novel.”
No, Mr. Blake, the bible is not the ultimate horror novel
telling an entertaining story of good versus evil. The bible is God’s history,
or “His Story” revealing both His majestic and marvelous character and His
eternal decrees and purposes as He reconciles mankind to himself.
