This year, we’ve been reading the Chronicles of Narnia to Eliana, a chapter a night before bed. It’s interesting enough to keep her attention, but not crazy-making like Nailed It. We are wrapping up the seventh book, The Last Battle.

In the story, a devious ape dresses a donkey in a lion’s skin and passes him off as Aslan, the leader of their magical kingdom. The Ape uses his tragic puppet to trick the others into giving him free food and eventually even sells off his fellow Narnians into slavery to sate his belly. Whenever someone questions whether Aslan would really do these things, he says, “Aslan is not a tame lion.” Finally, the donkey scheme is exposed, and the people freed, but their view of Aslan is tarnished. They no longer see themselves as even Narnians, but bitter creatures who only look out for themselves.

Honestly, it reminds me of people today. There are those use the name of Christ to promote themselves politically and fill their pockets financially. When people question if Jesus would really do such things, they say, “God moves in mysterious ways.” Later, when their scams and falsehoods are revealed, it’s Christianity that will inevitably carry the stain.