Tomie Knockers

C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity

I did not feel eager to read this book but after a few chapters it really began to put some things about my own life into perspective. It gave clarity and insight in the many complexities and hardships that crystallize from being a Christian. Lewis really gave transparency to the many arguments and confusions of Christianity and explains what it really means to be a Christian.

Mere Christianity paints broad strokes to help give a clear understanding of the author's ideas. Lewis covers many topics in his book Mere Christianity. He addresses such topics as theology, what it means to be the Son of God, the three personal God, the relationship of God and time, the cost of being a Christian, how God works to turn us into an image of Christ, why Christian growth is both hard and easy, and also what he thinks about our old personalities before becoming Christians. These are all relative topics that apply to us and our daily lives. Learning and understanding this book can help a Christian tremendously in forming a deeper relationship with God.

Chapter one is a discussion about life and how it relates to God. Theology is the science of God. Lewis compares theology to a map. A map is formed from accumulated experience, not just one view. Christian doctrines are based on the accumulated experience of hundreds of people who were in touch with God. He then discusses what it means that God has brought us into existence and loves us and in that way is like a father. Lewis then goes on to describe the difference between begetting and creation. Begetting is to be the father of and to create is to make. According to Lewis, "What God begets is God; just as what man begets is man. What God creates is not God; just as what man creates is not man."

In Chapter Two C.S. Lewis makes the point that Christians are the only ones to believe that God is something that is super-personal. Others believe in God, but not in a personal God. They think there is a mysterious something behind all things. They make this "something" impersonal or less than personal. Lewis points out that some people believe that when you die the soul is absorbed by God. They explain this using the analogy that the soul is like a drop of water dropped into the ocean. But this really means that by being absorbed you do not exist. Christians believe that they are taken into God and still remain unique. They become, in fact, more that they were before. Lewis compares the relationship with God to the three dimensions of space. The dimensions involve complexity and understanding. He explains the relationship with God this way; "as a being who is three persons while remaining one being." Christians believe in God, they also want to be close to God and they know that they can do this through Christ, the Son of God. When Christians pray they pray to God, but God is in them moving them to pray.

Time is the next topic covered. Time is an interesting and complex issue as it relates to God. Our human minds think of time in terms of past, present and future. We assume that this applies to the whole universe and to God. Lewis states; "Almost certainly God is not in Time. His life does not consist of moments following one another." C.S. Lewis believes that it is always the present for God. God can see everything past and future as the present. Also since God is not in time he is not constrained by time. He can hear all prayers and attend to them individually. He then moves on to discuss God as the Father and the Son. According to Lewis, "The Son exists because the Father exists: but there never was a time before the Father produced the Son." In Lewis' view, the statement, "God is love" is not true unless there are a Father and a Son because love is for another person. "Love is God" describes God's creation of us and all that we do. The Trinity is God both as Supreme Being, Christ the son, and the Holy Spirit. If we let God have his way in our lives we can become sons of God.

In Chapter Five Lewis uses an analogy of tin soldiers coming to life to describe how Christians are transformed into the likeness of Jesus. Our natural life if life self-centered in us. Chapter Six discusses individuals and a body of people. Lewis contends that Christianity considers individuals not by themselves but as organs in a body. Each individual is different but contributing to overall well being of the body of Christ. Lewis next discusses "dressing up as Christ", how pretending to be like Christ can bring you closer to Him. If you let God into your heart He will make you into a little Christ.

Chapter Eight asks: Is Christianity hard or easy? Lewis introduces the Law of Right and Wrong or the Laws of Nature. Out of this the question arises; what is the Law of Nature? The Law of Nature is the known difference between right and wrong. That is, mans distinction between what is right and what is wrong. "This law was called the Law of Nature because people thought that everyone knew it and did not need to be taught it". Lewis relates the law to how we treat others. We treat others the way we want to be treated and if they treat us poorly in return we become agitated and annoyed with them. He states that we become a society of excuses when something goes wrong. He goes on to say that we want to behave in a certain way when in reality we do the opposite of what is right or what is wrong. We are humans and humans have primal instincts. We are all capable of using our instincts to do right or wrong. Lewis believes that the more you listen to your conscience, the more your conscience will demand from you. This will only make you mad and you will either give up trying to be good or you will try to do everything for everybody. But you will be doing everything for the wrong reasons and will be mad because no one appreciates all that you do. It is hard to give yourself to Christ, but it is harder to try and be good and happy by yourself.

Lewis goes on to say that the law must be something above mans behavior. He begins to relate this to the creation of the world. He takes into count the materialistic theory of creation, that is, that matter has always existed and the creation of man happened out of nowhere. The other view is the religious view. This view states: "What is behind the universe is more like a mind then it is anything else we know". Man wants to know who or what created the universe and if there is a force directing it let alone them. Lewis wants humanity to reconsider because he feels that man is on the wrong road. He tries to prove this theory by looking at the present condition our world is in today. He feels that people believe in God but only as the Supreme Being behind the law. He believes

...