My favorite author of all time is CS Lewis. I love his way with words and ideas. He explains them in such a way that you just get it. Over vacation I read his Mere Christianity in preparation for the fall and also for the simple fact I wanted to. Lewis sought to explain the basics of Christianity; the common beliefs and truths that all Christians must proclaim to be “in Christ.” On one hand this pursuit seems reductionistic- reducing Christianity to the lowest common denominator of theological beliefs. But that was not Lewis’ intention, as he simply explained the faith to a largely unbelieving population of Great Britain. (During WW2 the UK understood itself to be post Christian, just where the US is today. During which time the BBC invited Lewis to do a series of radio broadcasts explaining the faith.) Context is key to understand this book.
It is actually a compilation of 4 books. The first is an argument for God that follows the classic moral argument. Lewis says that the law of human nature implies that there is something behind and above it. (Morality needs a moral giver.) It is interesting to see how this is employed, but many, like Christopher Hitchens, find it weak and failing. According to Hitchens morality is just one step further from the animal paternal instinct. (Lewis does address this). Next Lewis focuses on the basics of Christian theology. He says that this universe has a creator, but he did not create sin or evil. Good vs. evil is a stark, strong reality. Because of this reality and because of God’s love for his creation, God, the Son, comes on a rescue mission to set things right. Christians therefore need to look to, and live in light of, the new heavens and the new earth. Following this Lewis reviews how Christians are to live in this world where he addresses many valuable questions. How are we to love? How are we to seek justice? And how should we seek and pursue a Christian society, if at all? Finally Lewis returns to theology once again and explores the theological notion of the Trinity, the atonement, and our sanctification. Because we are united in Christ by faith, we are sanctified by faith. This idea is encouraging and worth exploring even more.
RC Sproul, in an interview with 9 Marks Ministries, noted that Lewis was not an apologist, even though many consider him so. Did he do the work of an Alvin Plantiga, Josh McDowell, or Ravi Zacharias- yes and no. Lewis sought to explain Christianity in an accessible, imaginative way to his context. In this light he was an apologist. If you look at his works you cannot dispute this. (My favorite class at Grove City was CS Lewis: Christian Apologist. His writings, Narnia, his signature series, and God in the Dock, all attest to this fact.) But at the same time he was not a professional apologist like Ravi and Josh. He was an ordinary layman who understood what it meant to be “always ready with a defense for the hope you have within you.” And by doing so he became one of the most influential Christians of the modern age. He might rank right up there with Dante, Milton, Bunyan, and Edwards.
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