Jack Bauer, Aslan, and Penal Substitutionary Atonement

From Mark Driscoll @ http://www.theresurgence.com

Curiously, some people on the more left-leaning side of our dysfunctional Christian family are backing away from the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement. Those in the more established liberal churches along with their emergent offspring are routinely decrying the concept that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin (death) in our place on the cross. They say it is too gory, too scary, too bloody, too masculine, and too violent. Furthermore, they say that in our tender little world of kindness such teachings won’t help further the kingdom of meek and mild Jesus.

However, the culture seems to have an insatiable appetite for the doctrine.

First there was the smash hit The Chronicles of Narnia. Since you probably saw the movie, you will remember that Aslan was a type of Jesus Christ who laid down his life for his friends only to resurrect as the king. Sitting in the theater, it was encouraging to hear people choke up when Aslan died and I wondered why they would not also find the death of Jesus for their sins at least as emotionally compelling.

Furthermore, the sixth season of the greatest television show in the history of the world (just ahead of Dog the Bounty Hunter and Ultimate Fighting) is back in January. That show? 24, of course. The trailer for the upcoming season has been released.

In it you will see that, like I described in an earlier blog, the show is a hit because Jack Bauer is a "type-ish" of Jesus. The trailer repeatedly says that Jack "must be sacrificed" to save the multitudes who will supposedly be given life through his substitionary death. Does this sound like anyone you know? A young, healthy, innocent guy dies for a whole bunch of people and willingly lays down his life as a sacrifice for them?

How in the world can we drop the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement when the big movies and the big television shows are under God’s sovereign hand serving as reformed theological illustrations? Next thing you know Bauer will start reading the Puritans to help solidify his courage to lay down his life for many and grow a little beard in tribute to Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

For both of you reading this from some backwoods fundamentalist church who have not watched 24, there is still time for you to repent. The first seasons are on DVD and you have time to catch up by the season premiere in January. But, be warned, you will be up all night like a crack addict wanting another fix and the odds are good that your entire Christmas break will be spent in your jammies staring at your television to finish up before season six commences.