I was particularly curious as I flipped through the preface while standing in the religious section at Barnes & Noble debating if this was the next book for me to read. I’d never read anything by C.S. Lewis before. I’ve heard it referenced occasionally in sermons at church and for that reason “Mere Christianity” just seemed like one of those “If You are a Christian You Have to Read It” books. I was also interested in the C.S. Lewis section because I’m always drawn to authors and books that have been made into a movie and therefore was also considering “The Chronicles of Narnia.” If someone wants to make a movie out of a book, then the book must be good. I decided on “Mere Christianity,” and then begged Mel, Debbie, & Aimee to read it with me. Luckily it didn’t take much convincing, they are awesome like that! We finished it last Thursday. It was quite a read, different from any book I have ever read.
I was captivated after reading the foreword. The book is broken out into sections that were originally a series of radio talks by C.S. Lewis. Not just any radio talks, these were broadcasted from 1942-1944 to men at war, men that knew their chance of survival was slim. They knew they were about to lose their lives. Just what does someone say to another in that situation? Thank God it wasn’t me, because “Baaaaaa…” is all that comes to mind. I was also intrigued by the fact that C.S. Lewis himself at one time was an atheist, and I find it interesting to read through another’s conclusions as to why God is real.
I have to say honestly that this book is above my intelligence. Thank goodness for my study group, talking through it with them was so helpful. Many times I had to read and reread to understand what he was saying. It’s not just the comprehension either; Lewis writes about things that I have never have thought about; never even felt a need to think about. The thought of proving this is this because it was based on that and if this is true then that ….no, these things never ever cross my puny little mind. It’s just not me! Although it took awhile to get through it, and I’m not sure how much of it I will retain, I did enjoy reading it. There are a few points that really stuck with me that I would like to highlight.
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Book 2 : What Christians Believe - Chapter 4: The Perfect Penitent
“I have heard some people complain that if Jesus was God as well as man, then His sufferings and death lose all value in their eyes, ‘because it must have been so easy for Him’. Others may (very rightly) rebuke the ingratitude and ungraciousness of this objection; what staggers me is the misunderstanding it betrays. In one sense, of course, those who make it are right. They have even understated their own case. The perfect submission, the perfect suffering, the perfect death were not only easier to Jesus because He was God, but were possible only because He was God. But surely that is a very odd reason for not accepting them? … If I am drowning in a rapid river, a man who still has one foot on the bank may give me a hand which saves my life. Ought I shout back (between my gasps) ‘No, it’s not fair! You have an advantage! You’re keeping one foot on the bank’? That advantage – call it ‘unfair’ if you like – is the only reason why he can be of any use to me. To what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself?"
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Book 3: Christian Behaviour – Chapter 6: Christian Marriage
“This is, I think, one little part of what Christ meant by saying that a thing will not really live unless it first dies. It is simply no good trying to keep any thrill: that is the very worst thing you can do. Let the thrill go – let it die away – go on through that period of death into the quieter interest and happiness that follow – and you will find that you are living in a world of new thrills all the time. But if you decide to make thrills your regular diet and try to prolong them artificially, they will all get weaker and weaker, and fewer and fewer, and you will be a bored, disillusioned old man for the rest of your life. It is because so few people understand this that you find many youth, at the very age when new horizons ought to be appearing and new doors opening all round them. It is much better fun to learn to swim than to go on endlessly (and hopelessly) trying to get back to the feeling you had when you first went paddling as a small boy.”
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Book 4: Beyond Personality Or First Steps In The Doctrine Of The Trinity - Chapter 10: Nice People or New Men
“Do you not see why? Christ said ‘Blessed are the poor’ and ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom,’ and no doubt He primarily meant the economically rich and economically poor. But do not His words also apply to another kind of riches and poverty? One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness money can give and so fail to realise your need for God. If everything seems to come simply by signing cheques, you may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.”
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The consensus is that you should read it if you haven’t. I know I am thinking more seriously now about reading “The Chronicles of Narnia” with Hannah when she is a little older. But as for our book study, I think we’ll mix it up because we deserve a lighter read. Next up… “All I Need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans” by Susanna Foth Aughtmon.
