Ever wonder why C. S. Lewis was so influential in his thinking and theological writing? It is because C. S. Lewis translated his theology into language that anybody could understand.
This was not accidental, but intentional. Here is what C. S. Lewis said on the matter:
You must translate every bit of your theology into the vernacular. This is very troublesome, and it means you can say very little in half an hour, but it is essential.
It is also the greatest service to your own thought. I have come to the conviction that if you cannot translate your thoughts into uneducated language, then your thoughts were confused. Power to translate is the test of having really understood one’s own meaning.
This came from Alister McGrath’s excellent biography of C.S. Lewis (p. 208). If you haven’t read it yet, click the link above to get a copy from Amazon. It is the best biography on Lewis I have ever read.
Couldn’t agree more. Lewis was able to relate complex concepts into very understandable words and phrases and spoke to people as a person who want above them. Mere Christianity is so powerful because of those reasons.
Right! He could present deep ideas with simple words. An amazing talent!
I was in a Bible study group when the leader asked for the definition of ‘faith’. One gentleman piped up with the standard Hebrews 11 answer, “…faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”. The leader said, “Great! Now tell me what that means in your own words.” The gentleman, to his credit, admitted that he did not know.
what comes to mind is: Faith is an action, that God’s Word isforever settled in heaven, based upon the belief that God is not a man that He should lie nor repent, what He says He has done ( His Word never comes back void, it accomplishes what it sets out to do ) sustained by confidence that He will hasten His Word to perform it and again it never comes back void it always accomphishes what He set out to do. You you hange your body from the promises that He has stated in His Word regardless of the situation and circumstances around it that you have made it through the trail.
The answer given at the Bible group was, “Faith is believing in something without having absolute proof.”
Faith is trusting God will do what he promises he will do.
Hebrews 11:1. “faith.” The Greek is pistis (#4102 πίστις), a noun. In both ancient secular Greek and in the Bible pistis means “confidence, trust, assurance.” When the Greek New Testament was translated into Latin, fides was the natural choice as a translation of pistis, because fides means “trust, confidence, reliance, belief.” As the English language developed, our English word “faith” came from the Latin word fides. There should be nothing mysterious about pistis, fides, or “faith.” We know what trust is. Merriam-Webster defines it as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”
It needs to be clearly understood that the ancient and biblical definition of pistis differs from the modern definition of “faith.” If both pistis and fides mean “trust,” how did “faith” come to be defined in our modern culture as “firm belief in something for which there is no proof” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition)? The actual historical process is long and tedious, but the concept is simple. The Church asked people to trust doctrines that were neither logical nor clearly backed up by Scripture. People were asked to accept “by faith” doctrines for which there was no biblical support. Over time, belief in something for which there is no proof became the most accepted definition of “faith.” This is harmful because people then import that made-up definition of “faith” back into the Bible, although that is not what “faith” means when used in the Bible.
If we put the biblical definition of faith into Hebrews 11:1, and say, “Trust is firm confidence in things hoped for,” the sentence makes perfect sense. Christians should have trust in God’s promises about salvation and everlasting life in new and wonderful bodies because we trust the God who made those promises. Furthermore, based on our trust of God, we should have a firm confidence in those things that we hope for daily
Commentary from Schoenheit
Ha ha! Great example. We love to quote Scripture, but when it comes to stating what Scripture means….
After reading the comments I was greatly distressed. First off if CS Lewis was a bible believing born again christian and lover of scriptures, he should of repented of interjecting magic, witchcraft and pagan images into his writings. Is Aslan really a type of Yeshua, that is Jesus. If don’t think so. Aslan knows the “deep magic” in the Lion the witch and the wardrobe. I call that a clue. Lewis weather by intent or design interjected magic and witchcraft into Christianity. You show me with scripture anywhere in the bible that this is an acceptable practice and I’ll believe you. Jesus called all of us to a sold out follow at all costs faith not a magical witchcraft belief system. 2 kings 21:6 – He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord provoking Him to anger. That was King Manasseh. If Aslan practiced the “Deep Magic” then he is no savior but a deceiver. CS Lewis should of repented of his writings along time ago. Each one of us can be deceived in one way or another, but if we stay with the scriptures the deception will eventually become apparent. Finding out your deceived is no fun, it wasn’t for me either. Here is a quote from CS Lewis himself.
“Some people seem to think that I began by asking myself how I could say something about Christianity to children; then fixed on the fairy tale as an instrument; then collected information about child-psychology and decided what age group I’d write for; then drew up a list of basic Christian truths and hammered out ‘allegories’ to embody them. This is all pure moonshine. I couldn’t write in that way at all. Everything began with images; a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge, a magnificent lion. At first there wasn’t even anything Christian about them; that element pushed itself in of its own accord” (Of Other Worlds, p. 36).
“Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honour) [supposedly the Narnian representation of Christ] will know that I have served Tash [supposedly the Narnian representation of Satan] all my days and not him [the Lion/Christ]. … But the Glorious One bent down his golden head … and said, Son, thou art welcome. But I said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash. He answered, Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me.
” … I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one? The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. .. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou shouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek.”
Lewis even went so far as to say in his books that serving Tash (Satan) was serving him Aslan. (The Last Battle) This is a great distortion and perversion of scripture by saying that serving Satan is serving God.
Lewis wrote many things, not nearly all of which might be called theology. His imagination literature, some of which was children’s literature, was not written as theology, although some think theology might be found therein. It was not intended to be “Christian” literature. Note from the quote from above “At first there wasn’t even anything Christian about them; that element pushed itself in of its own accord”.
Although this issue continues to be debated from time to time, most feel it was resolved long ago. Lewis was not “interjecting magic, witchcraft and pagan images” into Christian literature or theology, but rather the Christian element “pushed itself in of its own accord” into his fiction/imagination/children’s writings. In short, don’t attempt to construct a theological system from his fiction literature, for it contains many elements which were never intended to be Christian.
Oh my. Well, all I can is that you better not read those books. In fact, make sure you read only the Bible.
Oftentimes the simplest explanation is the most profound. Lewis understood that as well as anyone I have known. Anytime. Anywhere.
if have read Mere Christianity, chapter 3 “The Shocking Alternative” Lewis gives the best explaination of the Resurrection which should be spoken by every pastor when preaching on Easter Sunday, especially the last paragraph of chapter 3. Hits the nail right on the head.
Absolutely true, Tammy! Good to see you again!
Yup, I like his work
I just want to thank Sam for making a real effort on behalf of CS Lewis. I agree to some degree that Lewis didn’t start off with Christian elements as his intentions, but nothing just pushes itself in of its own accord. There were influences that contributed to that specific direction. Lewis towards the end of his first book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is definitely and purposely interjecting Christian based and pagan based themes. It is true as you have mention that that is not how it started out, but that is definitely how it ended up. If he wasn’t adding Christianity into his themes then why even justify himself by writing, “Mere Christianity”. He was purposely attempting to influence the christian community. I believed for a long time the same as you, believing this was somehow harmless, but I was wrong. I sent over 10 years developing visual effects for the children’s photography market. (Nothing was ever released.) My work was on par with Anne Geddes. I was one of the best children’s photographers specializing in visual effects in the country. Then one day the Lord just plan told me through His word that I was violating of His word and perverting His nature. During this time I was starting to work on a book called Papillon Angels. I had just spent three months working on the animated intro for the project. The book was a combination of little people who had butterfly wings and other elements. I would have insulted Jesus and perhaps caused a child to go to hell if I had finished the book. I was grieved and repented. I don’t see anywhere where CS Lewis repented of creating his work. And he has influenced millions of kids. God have mercy upon him.
Jeremy I know you disagree with me on CS Lewis, but thank you for allowing me the privilege of express my opinion.