Mere Christianity / Preface and Forward Part 1

Firemen battle the flames of a German bombing attack on London, 1941.

Origins of the Book:

"THE CONTENTS of this book were first given on the air, and then published in three separate parts as Broadcast Talks (1942), Christian Behaviour (1943), and Beyond Personality (1944). In the printed versions I made a few additions to what I had said at the microphone, but otherwise left the text much as it had been. A 'talk' on the radio should, I think, be as like real talk as possible, and should not sound like an essay being read aloud. In my talks I had therefore used all the contractions and colloquialisms I ordinarily use in conversation."
C.S Lewis: 'Mere Christianity' Page VII of the Preface

These talks were made during the hardship of World War II.

One author reflects:

" The original setting of Mere Christianity was some of the darkest days of World War II. London was bombed every night from September 7, 1940 to November 2, 1940. On the night of November 14th, 30,000 incendiaries and 500 tons of bombs and landmines dropped on Coventry. It was a time of blackouts, bomb shelters, shortages, and rationing—and a time of personal searching, wondering, and questioning." [1]

It was a time of struggle and confusion.

The British Broadcast Corporation asked C.S. Lewis to give a series of radio talks to discuss Christianity.

"Mere Christianity was originally four series of radio broadcasts on the BBC between 1941 and 1944. Rev. James Welch, Director of Religion for the BBC, had read C. S. Lewis's book The Problem of Pain (1940) and, without ever hearing Lewis's voice, approached him about doing a radio series."

"During the war, programs had to be cleared by a censor before airing. In addition, the timing had to be exact, as the BBC feared that a German transmission could break in if there were an extended pause or silence. This forced Lewis to write scripts for each talk that filled a precise amount of time (usually 10 or 15 minutes), no more, no less. Moreover, a radio listener cannot flip back a page to re-read a point missed the first time, the way readers of a book can. This meant Lewis's message had to be simple and clear so the audience would grasp it in a single passing." [2]

Lewis discussed the thought behind his selection as an emissary of Christianity:

"It’s not because I’m anybody in particular that I’ve been asked to tell
you what Christians believe. In fact it’s just the opposite. [The British
Broadcasting Corporation] have asked me, first of all because I’m a layman
and not a parson, and consequently they thought I might understand the
ordinary person’s point of view a bit better. Secondly, I think they asked me
because it was known that I’d been an atheist for many years and only became
a Christian fairly recently. They thought that would mean I’d be able to see
the difficulties – able to remember what Christianity looks like from the
outside. So you see the long and the short of it is that I’ve been selected for
this job just because I’m an amateur and not a professional, and a beginner
not an old hand. Of course this means that you may well ask what right I have
to talk on the subject at all.

Well, when I’d finished my scripts I sent them round to various
people who were professionals: to one Church of England theologian, one
Roman Catholic, one Presbyterian, and one Methodist. The Church of England
man and the Presbyterian agreed with the whole thing. The Roman Catholic
and the Methodist agreed in the main, but would have liked one or two places
altered. So there you’ve got all the cards on the table.

What I’m going to say isn’t exactly what all these people would say;
but the greater part of it is what all Christians agree on… One thing I can
promise you. In spite of all the unfortunate differences between Christians, what
they agree on is still something pretty big and pretty solid: big enough to blow
any of us sky-high if it happens to be true..." [3]

This book is literally a series of radio talks converted to text form. These talks were given by a layman. He was selected precisely because he was a layman It would do our study harm to focus too much on the theological defects of the work. It is my desire to accentuate the positives. I will discuss the negatives as they arise, but to a lesser degree. I pray that each of us will find this study to be fruitful.

RC

Pagan Christianity

As some of you guys know, I work at a christian bookstore. There is a book that tells of the paganism that is pervasive in the Modern Christian Church. I cannot go into too much detail right now because I am using a school computer. But the book tells of pagan traditions that have been integrated into some churches. Some of these traditions are: drum circles, labyrinths, yoga, etc. There is even a book that I've seen called "Christian Yoga." As a future seminarian, I am quite appalled at the debasing of Christianity. There are even CLASSES in seminaries around the world about these types of things! People had better be careful what they allow in their households, or their spiritual welfare could be diluted or, at worst, in serious danger.

ErikC

What American Christianity Needs

"American Christianity needs leaders. American Christianity needs Christian leaders. Christian leaders explain the Scriptures, bringing them to bear upon life's urgent questions. Christian leaders exemplify the life of faith, finding their ultimate satisfaction in God alone. They unite intellectual discipline with ordinate affection, turning their entire being toward the love of God."

Kevin T. Bauder

You can get his articles entitled "In the Nick of Time" e-mailed to you.

RC

Not For Sale - Free Audio Book

Each month Christian Audio offers one free downloadable audio book. This month's book is aptly entitled 'Not for Sale.'

"Award-winning journalist David Batstone reveals the story of a new generation of 21st century abolitionists and their heroic campaign to put an end to human bondage. In his accessible and inspiring book, Batstone carefully weaves the narratives of activists and those in bondage in a way that not only raises awareness of the modern-day slave trade, but also serves as a call to action."

I hope you will avail yourself of their free offers.

RC

Christian Community Revisited

"As Christians, we are often filled (and thus blinded) with a sense of our own goodness, such that, genuine community remains elusive. Self-righteousness and self-sufficiency disables our love to others and painfully robs us of any sense of community. Christian brothers fight and are envious (James 4:1-10) because we easily forget that it is the grace and mercy of God in Christ alone that we are what we are. Oh, if those of us who confessed Christ were humbled under the corruption of our own hearts, how merciful, how tender and how charitable we would be to others. We would forbear and forgive, not censuring or striving but would be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. If we would simply gain a better understanding of the sinfulness of our own hearts and it’s bent on evil in light of God’s majesty, we would trust less in our own judgments. If we spent more time digesting the truth that God, not because of some potential He saw in us, but in spite of ourselves, chose us for no other reason than His love alone, it would begin to enlarge our hearts and lead to compassion toward others because we would see them, not from above, but as broken, sinful people, just as we are. Although modern psychology seems to be obsessed with our self-esteem, the fact is that when we think we are good compared to others we become self-centered and grow increasingly difficult to live with. Too much self-love is actually community-destroying behavior. The better we think we are, the smaller our heart becomes. But Christ would have us “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than [our]selves; … not merely look[ing] out for [our] own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”(Phil 2) If we would but continually place before ourselves our own desperate spiritual need who owes a debt that only Jesus can repay, we would start to be more willing to move out toward others with encouragement, patience and a helping hand."

J.W. Hendryx

You can read more of his thoughts in his article
The Predestinating Love of Christ: A Foundation of Christian Community

at Monergism.

Hopefully you will enjoy it.

RC

Mere Christianity Resources

A Study Guide to C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity

Stanford Small Group Study Guide to Mere Christianity

CSL Book Club Study Guide

Cokesbury Discussion Guide

CSLewis.org Study Guide

Resources from Gordy-Stith.com

MC Study Guide

Grace of God Lutheran Church Study Guide

OpenDiscipleship.org Leaders' Notes

Mere Christianity Notes

The Writings of Michael L. McCoy
There is a link on this page to a PDF file.

Tim Challies Group Discussion

Mere Christianity Audio Book

Mere Christianity Concordance

There are numerous text versions of the book on-line. While this is a copyright infringement they are available.

I have not read all of the content of each resource. I will read it as we go along. Subsequently I may not agree with everything discussed in each resource. The resources should be valuable to your/our study, but must be read carefully using discernment.

I hope you find them useful. I will add resources as I find them.

RC

C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity Book One, Chapters 1-3

Unfortunately, as we humans muddle through life and think we have a good plan worked out, God has a way of changing things mid-stream. Such a situation has obviously arisen for RC and myself too, to a smaller degree. Even so, this book deserves to be looked at and discussed in order that we may all get a better grasp of what Mr. Lewis describes as 'Mere Christianity'. RC, you will be in my prayers as you face whatever trials may be befalling you.

For those of you that would prefer, a downloadable audio version of this book, including the preface, is available at: http://www.apollos.ws/blog/mere-christianity-audio-book.html

Before I begin in earnest, I think it would be worth mentioning that Lewis doesn't use the word 'mere' as we usually intend it in modern language, meaning 'nothing more than' or 'only', but as the exact opposite, meaning 'nothing less than' or 'absolute'. So, in essence, Lewis is trying to describe for us what he sees as his absolute meaning of what it means to be a Christian. He is trying to describe what he calls 'the great hall' that all Christians start in before they find the rooms of their own faith and denominations. I found it very eloquent the way he describes us moving from room to room and waiting to find the right room for ourselves and his beseeching that we be charitable to those who have chosen another room than our own. So to those who have chosen a different room than my own, I thank you for coming to visit and to share what you have learned where you reside. And to those still searching, please come in and warm yourself and enjoy some conversation.

In Chapter One, Lewis lays the groundwork for his entire argument by introducing the law of Human Nature. He describes this 'law' as a standard of behavior that we all understand. He says this isn't a natural Law such as gravity because we can either choose to follow the rules of behavior or not. Natural Laws like gravity work on us even if we choose not to accept them. He goes on to say that this law is present in all of us regardless of our predisposition to follow them. He explains that even the person who does not act 'fairly' will try to justify why the law does not apply to his specific situation and he is, therefore, not required act accordingly - thus proving the standard exists. I thoroughly enjoyed how Lewis explained that even the man who says he does not believe in absolute right and wrong will change his tune when he feels he is the one being treated 'unfairly'.

Chapter Two covers some of the objections people might have to accepting this law of Human Nature. Lewis starts by making the distinction between instinct and Moral Law by making the argument that often Moral Law contradicts instinct or governs over two contradicting instincts - as when we place ourselves in danger to help someone else. He also shows the difference between social convention and Moral Law by making the argument that conventions may differ and change, but the Moral Law crosses social lines. He concludes by making the case for our evolving Code of Decency - saying that, yes, it has evolved, which goes to show our growth in knowledge as well as finding better ways to interact with one another.

Chapter Three opens with a profound statement: That we all know there is this Moral Law and that we all know we should be following it, but nevertheless we do not. Lewis makes the point that, though we know it is better for society as a whole to act in a just way with one another, none of us do so all the time. Some do so more than others, but we all fail to meet the standard we set for ourselves and our neighbors.

Since this blog was envisioned as a forum to study together and have discourse, please share your thoughts!