01.25.09
A “?” on a page by C.S. Lewis
What seemed to be an easy goal of completing the C.S. Lewis compilation at the end of the month is suddenly turning out to be very unlikely with jack-in-the-box itineraries popping up unpredictably here and there.
My Stabilo and I have only gotten as far (or as nigh) as Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters, but before anything else, let me affirm for myself what the rest of you C.S. Lewis admirers already know – he is wonderful! To use one’s unique sagacity for God’s glory is rare in this world, and we are indeed blessed to be able to learn from this man through his illuminated writings, and since most of you have one-thing-I’ve-learned’s when speaking of C.S. Lewis, mine is the modeled potentiality of knowing how to answer or approach different arguments about Christianity.
However, this entry might turn out to be one of the most difficult blogs I shall write for two reasons: One is because I’m supposed to be doing something else right now, and the other is because I am about to disagree with a certain view that C.S. Lewis has in Mere Christianity. By doing so, I am subjecting myself to ridicule, scoffing, or criticism, but I find that this particular view has perturbed me even though I have shifted to another portion of the book already and I do not think it will leave me unless I write it down.
Now who am I to question C.S. Lewis? Nobody. In fact, I am bound to believe that the reason I am troubling myself over this portion that might seem insignificant to others is because I am not an intellectual as most C.S. Lewis readers are.
As for you, dear reader, I am not asking you to agree with me but to enlighten me if you deem me to be in the shadows of this matter.
C.S. Lewis writes, “It is, therefore, in my opinion, perfectly right for a…Christian soldier to kill an enemy.”
I am certainly not claiming that soldiers are not Christians, but may I ask where in all this does “love your enemy” come in? Alright, they might be merely following orders and are thereby killing only and not murdering if we technically trace it back to the Hellenic language. But is this not the part where one soldier is asked to choose between God’s commandment and man’s orders? Forgive me, but I simply cannot reconcile this with “love your enemies” no matter how C.S. Lewis puts it. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” [Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)]
And suppose we come to the argument of self-defense; is not God more than enough as our defender and protector?
What is this topic to me? I wish to equip myself and be ready to answer him who asks of this matter in the future the same way C.S. Lewis’ other words will continue to help me confidently answer other questions about Christianity.
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jonathan said,
January 25, 2009 at 10:35 pm
You soberly ask the same questions many ask about their faith how their moral compass is at the cross hairs with religious direction. In my opinion, we should dare to ask these questions because we are choosing to believe in the pillars that make up Christianity. But you are also right in not hiding your knowledge that many have fallen by the sword held at the hand of the Christian leadership. How can we ignore that? How do we ignore the abuses and weakness of man hidden within “…but this is what the Word says we should do”, as children are abused and women made to be second class citizens?
If you were of Native American decent, you would see how you were classified as Pagans and deemed less than human and therefore worthy of near genocide. How can that be a Christian stance? How does aggression meet with our Father “who is divine”? Where exactly does the will of man end and the true will of the Divine light our lives?
I find comfort in the knowledge that man is fallible and left to interpret words that become deeds and that in that very translation, even the mightiest with the pen, or with the sword can misunderstand the truth that is written in the precious Word.
And in that translation, comes the differences between that which define us, versus the purity of the Divine.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
January 25, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Thank you for contributing your views to this post, Jonathan. Again, may I remind you of how much I value them. Even though it’s quite a comfort that the first comment on this post isn’t a “violent reaction”, I was also ready for one. But what you’ve just said is true.
This station of C.S. Lewis might have been a result of him being a soldier during WWI, and this I can understand. But I do prefer it if he did not have to preach such a thing considering how a multitude hold his views in high esteem.
mika said,
January 26, 2009 at 10:52 am
that’s a good question! it’s always good to struggle with ideas, it helps strengthen one’s beliefs. i think it would be helpful to read “why i am not a pacifist” from “the weight of glory”, where lewis explains his views on war. it may not be convincing, but at least we’ll see where he’s coming from. personally, i think his argument makes sense, but i wish it didn’t. i suppose that i’m a pacifist at heart, and that i’m all for non-violence and peaceful settlements of disputes. but maybe war is really an extreme scenario… keep asking questions, Miracle! :) i enjoy them!
Miracle ♪♫ said,
January 26, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Mika! I was really intending to ask you about your opinions on this matter.
I’d like read The Weight of Glory soon so I may also consider why this brilliant man would hold such a perspective. Thank you for acknowledging my query with a kind reception, Mika. =)
Here’s one of my favorite passages from Mere Christianity, by the way:
If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth - only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair.
mika said,
January 28, 2009 at 9:34 pm
what wisdom! we need to remember that comfort and beauty do not always equate to truth. i fear many people search for truth with their sense of comfort - as if the search for truth were an aesthetic search.