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More Matters of Faith

C.S. Lewis was one of the most challenging and profound Christian theologians and authors of the 20th century.   Of his many literary works, Mere Christianity, is my favorite. Published in 1952, Mere Christianity, is considered Lewis' most influential work. Clerics, students, businessmen, and politicians have been picking it up and allowing it to influence their lives. After reading it, praying over it, and discussing it with others, former Nixon lawyer Charles W. Colson underwent a dramatic conversion to Christ in 1973--a conversion as profound as Lewis' own.

The following excerpt is illustrative of the profound truths set forth in Mere Christianity. The flow chart is presented to illustrate the statement in a visual form. I trust that it will be as meaningful to you as it has been for me. The excerpt is taken from Lewis' discussion of the shocking claim by Jesus that He is God.

          "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that
          people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral
          teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing
          we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of
          things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either
          be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or
          else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either
          this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something
          worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill
          Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.
          But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a
          great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

               Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, Macmillan Publishing Co, 1952, pp.55,56

               Mere Christianity Study Guide is available on the Web at:
                        http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~mcsg/

The Jesus that I have read about in the Bible and have come to know through a personal relationship, is definitely not a demon, a fool, or a lunatic. He is a kind, loving, sensitive person who speaks words of unmatched clarity and wisdom. He is unlike any person I have ever met. I accept his claims to be God as true. Jesus walked the earth in human form two thousand years ago. He came to show us the way to live, went to the cross to die for our sins, resurrected, and is now with His Father God in heaven. I believe that because he was sacrificed for my sins, I am redeemed and will live forever in God's presence upon my departure from this earthly existence.

Jesus Christ died for you too. The Bible says in Romans 10:9 - "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." To confess Jesus as Lord involves acknowledging your sin, repenting (turning away) from your sin, and trusting Him as Lord of your life.

The Christian life is best lived within a body of believers (church) of like faith. Seek out a place near you so that you can fellowship and grow in Christ together.

If you would like to have salvation in Jesus Christ, sincerely pray a prayer like this one:
"Dear God, I acknowledge my sin and need of salvation. I turn from my sin to Jesus, believing in my heart that He died for me and rose from the dead to be my Savior and Lord. Amen."

May God bless you.

Charles

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