An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Monday, December 20, 2010

An Interlude with C.S. Lewis

If you only want Bible study posts, skip this one.  This is a reflection on something C.S. Lewis wrote that has to do with my previous post.

This morning I was reading in Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.  I am in Book 4, Chapter 9, “Counting the Cost.”  I came across another one of God’s “coincidences.”  What I read went perfectly with my Bible encounter.  If you have a copy of Mere Christianity, read over this chapter.  Since this is in so many editions I won’t give you a page number.  If you don’t have one, buy it or borrow it.  You will not be sorry.

Lewis is writing on the topic of Christian Perfection.  He is an Anglican layman, not a holiness preacher.  He is still writing on Christian Perfection.  Why?  Because he sees it in the Bible.  If you are from a different theological persuasion I think you will find him neither offensive or abrasive. 

He is talking about the process that God begins at salvation and continues to work in His children.  I will let you read it if you are interested but a few quotes are in order.

He quotes George MacDonald as saying “God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.”  This means that God understands our failures but expects our attempts to grow.

Then he says:
“The command 'Be ye perfect' is not idealistic gas.  Nor is it a command to do the impossible.”
At the end he gives you some material to quote if you want to attack his positions.  If that is your thing, go for it.  He is a big boy, he can take it.

So?  Start with God’s word.  Read other trustworthy authors.  Compare what they say with the word.  Read, think, pray, grow.

2 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Amen! Anyone afraid to think about spiritual matters, rather than blindly accept dogma, is showing too little faith in God and too much in man.

Pumice said...

It sure is easy to get that backwards though. When the kids at school ask me who is my best student, I tell them, "I am." I hope I never know so much that I can't be open to a better understanding.

Grace and Peace