The Gospel According to LOST
I have read a couple of the “Gospel According to _______ ” books that are out there… The Simpsons, and Tony Soprano… but no release has gotten me more excited than The Gospel According to Lost by Chris Seay. In the others, my first exposure to the television series was the book. In both cases, the books peaked my interest in the series, and made me want to watch them.
But, I am a LOST fanatic. I believe that LOST is, by far, the greatest series to ever be on television. In fact, the only thing I talk about more than LOST is the Gospel (and maybe Apple Products), which means that I was very excited to buy and read this book.
What I liked:
First… the book is just plain good. I know that, in a review, this is a cop out, but it’s true regardless. Seay wrote a very enjoyable book. He obviously had fun writing it, and the fun is contagious. He’s funny without being trite, and in the face of some of the world’s most gifted writers (the writers of LOST), he is not afraid to poke a little fun.
Second… The way the book is broken down is very interesting. I wouldn’t have thought to take this approach, but Seay’s tactic of a chapter for each main character fits well with this very character-driven series. We get to relive some of our favorite moments in the lives of some of our favorite characters… Jack, Kate, Locke, Sawyer, Mr. Eko, Sayid, and many others.
Third… Through out the book, Seay parallels “the lost stories of Jesus” (Luke 15) with key events in the series in a way that is typical of his powerful, yet conversational homiletical style. His parallel of Ben Linus and the older brother in Luke 15, as well as the corresponding application for us gave me goose bumps.
Some (minor) disappointments:
First… the series is still incomplete, and Seay was careful not to speculate as to the meaning of many of the show’s still unexplained mysteries. Not that I wanted him to speculate, but many aspects of this book are subject to change depending on what happens in the last 17 episodes. I think that this book would be even better if written a year from now.
Second… No chapter on Richard Alpert. I understand that it’s probably impossible to fill an entire chapter with what we know about him, but I still would love to examine him more closely, and I think this could have been a strong chapter.
Major Disappointment:
Charlie Pace. Seay all but writes Charlie off, and only in relation to Desmond’s story. To paraphrase: “Charlie came to a fatalistic acceptance of his death as foreseen by Desmond.” I strongly disagree. In my opinion, there is no greater story of redemption to be found on this island. Sure, we see the lame walk, and cancer cured, and marriages restored, and true sacrificial love, but none rival Charlie.
Charlie Pace came to the island a self-centered junkie. Soon, we realize that, even when stripped of his celebrity and status, he’s still a self-centered junkie. But, since there’s a shortage of good heroin on a deserted island (well, there’s actually plenty of heroin, and the island is far from deserted, but that’s neither here nor there…), Charlie soon faces a crisis. But, he does overcome his addiction, and finds a purpose for living that is, instead of self-centered, focused on Claire, and eventually, her son Aaron as well.
Enter Mr. Eko. Eko becomes Charlie’s pastor of sorts, and enlists Charlie’s help in building a church. Through this experience, we see Charlie go through a transformation, and even, when faced with the temptation to steal large quantities of his drug of choice, get on his knees and confesses Psalm 23 instead.
When Charlie does come to accept his impending death (after avoiding it for all of season 3), he does so knowing that his death will be the agent by which Claire and Aaron are rescued. And for the joy set before him, Charlie bravely, confidently, and happily goes to his death, thus securing “salvation” for those he loves.
Sound familiar?
I’m not embelishing this story in the slightest. Charlie is a great picture of what redemption, and living a life of sacrificial love looks like. He is far from perfect, but his love is unconditional, his devotion pure, and it led him to lay down his life.
Overall:
I recommend this book to all LOST fans. The chapter on Sawyer will cause you to fall in love with him. The chapters on the harsh realities (and odd similarities) of Sayid and Eko will move you. The Hurly chapter will make you believe in the curse again.
Also, the gospel is generously shared throughout the book. While one of the sentences will, no doubt, become fodder for the “anti-emergent” camp (Seay says something to the effect of “Christianity: the commitment to live according to the teachings of Jesus”), the orthodox, historic gospel is clearly and frequently explained.
LOST is a television show, and not a Gospel presentation. Seay knows this, and doesn’t pretend that the gospel is ever actually proclaimed on the show. Instead, the approach he takes is one, mainly, of comparison. This character teaches us about grace in this way… here, we see what the result of a life lived without real connection with others leads to… and the like, are the types of things you should expect to find here. But, LOST is a good story. A very good story. And those of us who love it, find ourselves wrapped up in this story… bound to the characters… feeling their pain… anticipating and hoping for their final redemption, and Chris Seay helps us remember that in our story, in which we find ourselves stranded far from home, Christ comes and offers us redemption and passage home.
***UPDATE*** Chris Seay sent me a message saying that he did write a chapter on Charlie and Claire, but that it was cut in editing… so, Tommy Nelson… I’m lookin’ at you!
