Integrative Essay

Over the past month or so our class has sought to “Develop a Christian Mind” while studying C.S. Lewis and his writings, one of the greatest Christian thinkers in the past century. And why must we put such effort into developing a Christian mind at all? Well, as In “Engaging God’s World”, Plantinga writes it is so that we may learn to live our lives “in continuity with Christ, taking on his mind and affections, acting as his body in the world, sharing his sufferings and his victories in the project of overcoming human misery and rebuilding God’s good creation.” (178) In short, it is so that we may better work for the kingdom of God. I can think of few better examples of someone who has devoted his entire life to God than C.S. Lewis.

When C.S. Lewis became a Christian he devoted everything to his belief. His life, his work, everything revolved around God. However, the thing that most impresses be about Lewis is not only his ardent defense of his faith but the sheer scope and number of books and essays he wrote. His mind was so finely tuned and sharp that he could write on nearly any topic, and write very well. The dedication it must have taken to accomplish everything he did is incredible to me. He wrote about philosophical topics, theology, ethics, science fiction, fantasy, morality, and numerous other topics. I can only hope that one day I will be able to have the kind of dedication Lewis had in my career.

One quote I particularly like from Lewis, that to me really shows his perspective on writing is this: “No man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring two pence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it." (Mere Christianity). To Lewis, innovation didn’t matter, originality didn’t matter, but rather it is the truth that reigns supreme. In my group’s presentation about Lewis’ approach to truth we were reminded of Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 which reads: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new’? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” Originality is not something to seek, and Ecclesiastes says it is impossible to attain. Indeed, while reading Lewis I was not so much struck by how different or original his arguments were, they simply made a lot of sense.

While I did learn much from Lewis, it wasn’t always that what I learned was something new, but rather that Lewis wrote his essays so beautifully and simply that he brings to light matters that never occurred to me as important. One such topic I learned about is learning itself. Lewis’ idea of a college is a place where everyone is a student. The people we call “teachers” or “professors” are really just there to guide the process and help the students reach their full potential. A university student is there “not precisely to be taught, but to pick up what he can.” (Our English Syllabus) The example Professor Ribeiro used in class was striking to me. He told us of a story about a student who was angry that he did almost no lecturing. Rather, it was the students that were lecturing each other, having to learn about the topics themselves and then present their newfound knowledge to the class. The student said that he was paying the school a lot of money to be taught, but as Professor Ribeiro wisely pointed out, we are at college to learn, not to be taught. The job of a teacher isn’t to lecture, but to facilitate learning, however that is best achieved. The student’s job is to be obedient and humble (sometimes a hard thing for me to be) and be prepared to work hard and learn for the sake of learning, not for a grade.

In that process of learning, I have also realized this Interim that it is important to go about it the right way. In conversations and arguments especially, things like Bulverism must be avoided. Bulverism itself, as Lewis names it, is the idea that in order to win an argument one must simply assume the opponent is wrong and then “distract his attention from this (the only real issue) by busily explaining how he became so silly.” This really struck me perhaps because I am so often guilty of it. I am reminded of my childhood arguments with my brother. When we had a disagreement what we would end up arguing about was who was the most qualified to be right, who knew more about what we were arguing about rather than what the truth was. Of course, we see Bulverism in politics, but also in the academic world. The most qualified scientist, professor, or economist is assumed to be right by virtue of his or her qualifications rather than looking at the facts. Seeking truth is a wonderful thing, but because of Lewis I realize that how it is sought is in some ways just as important. If we do not enter an argument in humility, if we are not prepared to admit our faults and see where we are wrong, how can we learn?

Another theme both Lewis and Plantinga write about is self-evident truth, the first of which being our sensus divinitatus, our innate awareness of God that is in all people. I think both writers would agree that truth must start somewhere. There has to be some knowledge we simply know to be true, and that knowledge is the foundation for all the other knowledge of the world. Even atheists would agree that things like math must be true, and there is no evidence needed for it. Two plus two always equals four, no matter how you look at it. However, Lewis and Plantinga would also suggest that morality is also a self-evident truth. I found this very interesting, as I had never thought of it this way. In his essay “Poison of Subjectivism” Lewis speaks of morality by saying that “unless the measuring rod is independent of the things measured, we can do no measuring.” There must be a moral standard; otherwise the word morality becomes meaningless. How can we improve ourselves and become more moral people if there is no standard of morality to work for? Indeed, everyone seems to obey a code of morality, whether they admit it or not and as Plantinga suggests, it is for our own good. Rules like the Ten Commandments “are guides for a free and flourishing life.” The moral laws in this world are for our own benefit, and rather than limiting us can give us freedom.

While there are a few points about theology and life in general that Lewis and Plantinga would probably disagree on, Plantinga without doubt has a great admiration for C.S. Lewis, as I do. I also don’t agree with everything Lewis says, but he puts such thought and focus into everything he writes that he is so rarely wrong. He thinks everything out to the “absolute ruddy end” (Before We Can Communicate).

This class has truly been a blessing to me. Before this year I had read the “Chronicles of Narnia” but almost nothing else from Lewis. I loved reading his essays, perhaps even more than Narnia, because they really get at the essence of what he has to say; he says everything so simply and yet gracefully that everything he writes becomes interesting. However, I have been blessed not only by the lessons from Lewis, but also the lessons from my fellow students and the “older students”, my professors.

What strikes me most from my professors’ example is the passion Paulo and Adriana have for C.S. Lewis, but also for life. I remember Adriana talking about how much she wanted to go to Haiti when she heard of the disaster there. I remember Paulo speaking about the ethics of engineering. They both have integrated their beliefs into every part of their life and are truly prime citizens of the kingdom, passionately yearning for shalom here on earth. In the end, that is what I have most taken away from this interim. The examples I have seen of the passion and dedication to live life for God, no matter what one’s calling may be have impacted me greatly, and while I have yet to find out what I will be called to do, I know that I will go after it with a passion.

Works Cited

Lewis, C.S. “Before We Can Communicate.” God in the Dock. 26 January 2010

Lewis, C.S. “Bulverism.” God in the Dock. 26 January 2010.

Lewis, C.S. “Our English Syllabus.” Essay.

Lewis, C.S. “The Poison of Subjectivism.” Essay.

Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. 1952. Print.

NIV Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002. Print.

Plantinga, Cornelius Jr. Engaging God’s World: A Reformed Vision of Faith, Learning,
and Living. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.

"The Problem of Pain" Chapter 6

"At first I am overwhelmed, and all my little happinesses look like broken toys. Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in all times. I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ"

Upon reading these lines I realized I have thought these thoughts before, and been in this situation. There are times, probably in everyone's life when things are going great. You are on a vacation, you have a new book to read, movie to watch, or game to play when you get sick, and are reminded that these pleasures are fleeting, doomed to fade if not soon, eventually. I remember one instance when I was on vacation as a kid, flying over the majestic Grand Canyon in Arizona in a five passenger plane when I got airsick. There was nowhere to go, nothing to do but let it out. Wow, did I feel horrible. Not only was there a big mess, but I was incredibly embarrassed, or perhaps ashamed is the better word. Whereas a few moments before I was so exited and elated to see such a cool place, my enjoyment turned to pain. While I don't think I learned the lesson C.S. Lewis suggests, that material pleasures are fleeting, I do believe it humbled me a bit.

It wasn't until later, upon contemplation on whether I truly believe in God (and decided I do), that I learned this lesson. There have been countless instances since that flight where I was so happy one moment, just to have pain take that happiness away a moment later. It has made me realize that happiness, specifically in material things, isn't everything. God is the only constant in this world, the only goal a person can stride for that will always be there. Aiming for anything else than to know and love God is like shooting an arrow at a target that might disappear a moment later, in the end it is just a waste of time.

"Man or Rabbit?"

The question asked of Lewis was "Can't you lead a good life without believing in Christianity?" His reply was most excellent, and scathing. Lewis only answers the question indirectly, but instead states that the question itself is foolish.

The question asked of C.S. Lewis implies that whether you can live a better life or not with or without Christianity is an important issue, as if faith in Christ should be taken up if one could live a better life that way. C.S. Lewis correctly points out that Christianity must either be true, or it must be false. A dedicated person would choose Christianity or not choose it after contemplation of whether or not they believe it to be true, not whether Christianity can benefit them somehow. That is like choosing a denomination based on which one has the better sanctuary, when you should choose a denomination based on whether you believe their central teachings.

I think that this kind of thinking is very common in American society. People will join a church because they like it more than another one. People will choose a job because it gives them more money, not because they are better at it or enjoy it more. This kind of thinking has been around for a long time, making choices based on perceived gains instead of more important reasons. This ideas ties in very well with "The Inner Ring", which said that if you choose friendships or seek to enter a "ring" because of something you think you will gain you are ultimately a "scoundrel". It is not only the destination that matters, but also the journey. Intentions are important, and it pays to make decisions for the right reasons.

Back to the original question, Lewis states that certainly there have been people who are not Christians but have lived very well. His hope, as well as mine, is that those people who have lived well, doing good deeds, will be forgiven at the gates of heaven and allowed to be admitted. However, being good without at least attempting to think of why he should be good is a hollow thing. It is like sleeping when you are not tired, the sleep just won't be as good as when you've had a full day. Either Christianity is true, and it is the reason for doing good deeds, or it isn't.

"The Inner Ring"

I have several different groups of friends, or "inner rings". Inevitably, these groups do become necessarily exclusive. There is simply a limit to the number of people that can fit into a single room, play cards, or sit on a couch. There is nothing wrong with having good groups of friends, or even being a little exclusive. Having a group of people that you care about, and who care about you is a great thing, and trying to have too many close friends is inevitably going to fail.

The thing to be careful is how we form these groups, and the reason for making friends. If we enter friendships with the motive of just being part of the group or because you think you can gain something from friendships they will invariably disappoint. Sure, you might gain whatever you think you might have, but in the end unless you change your attitude you probably won't have gained a real, meaningful friendship, just a shallow one that will die out or never become deep.

In the church, inner rings are also necessary, I believe. Churches should be very careful as to who they select to be their pastors, elders, and deacons. They should be people who stand by the central teachings of the church and truly care about the church they are a part of. Also, while I do not think anyone should be barred entrance into the church, as everyone needs God, I think churches should have a standard for membership. In order to gain membership, a person should also not only believe the central teachings of the church but be acting on those beliefs. This means that those who do not have their life in order or are still living sinfully should be asked to wait for membership until their life is in order. Membership in the church is not something that should be taken lightly. It is a commitment, one that should affect your life very much. If being a part of the Christian community of the church is not enough to make you want to get your life in order, perhaps you need to reevaluate you priorities and ask yourself if God is really the most important person in your life.

"Engaging God's World" Chapter 5

Desiring the kingdom

In our society we do in fact have a great deal of freedom to religion. Sure, there are many cases of persecution, but for the most part in America Christians are accepted. Now, while this freedom and acceptance is generally good, it can cause our desire for the kingdom to be lessened. Plantinga points out that the Israelites in the slavery wanted Christ's kingdom to come with all of their heart. In the time of slavery in America, the people who most longed for the kingdom of God were those who were enslaved.

We have easy lives; I have an easy life. I am a college student who often worries about what the future holds, but I never need to worry about whether I will be able to eat. I am not enslaved, I am not persecuted, I have faced no great challenges to my faith. I have a place to live, and there are people who love me. While I am thankful for all these things, sometimes I wonder if my faith would be stronger if my life were not so easy. In difficult times, we desire the kingdom even more. When we have nothing else, we value our faith and desire God's coming more than anything. In the difficult times we can truly see the need for God's salvation, in ways we cannot when times are good.

What we can do, then, is to work towards God's kingdom and think of it often. When we are not satisfied with the way things are, when we think of what life could be we want to work towards God's kingdom even more. In working for the kingdom, no matter what occupation we hold, we can get glimpses of the kind of life God intended for us, and we move toward it.

Like we discussed in class, it is not so much what we do but how we do it. Nearly any profession can be done to the glory of God, if done in the right spirit. I know for myself I find myself thinking so much more of what I will do, rather than how I will do it. At the end of the day, trusting that God will bring me where I need to go is what I strive for in my thoughts of the future.

"Eros"

There were a few points of Lewis' section on "Eros", the love between a man and a woman that I found very interesting. The first is that happiness is not necessarily a result of love, or even a goal. Lewis argues that people in love often would rather suffer together than be happy apart. Logic does not matter, trying to argue to the couple that they would be better off apart would be useless. Here, sometimes fortunately, sometimes unfortunately, I think Lewis is right. I know several couples who do not seem to bring each other any kind of happiness and yet, there they are, staying together. In fact, with one or two couples I've seen they seem far more unhappy when they are together; but I would never suggest they split up, because even if it were in their best interests, I know that I would not be listened to. Love can be blind, as the saying goes. However, this dedication is not all bad. It also means that the couple will not easily be split up, they will perhaps be more willing to stick together in hard times.

A second point Lewis makes that I found intriguing is that love itself can become an idol. It is not that we put the object of our love, our significant other, on a pedestal but rather that the love it self becomes a god to us. Love can become an excuse, a reason for doing things, whispering little things in our ear telling us to do things. I am reminded of a story I was once told, though I'm not sure if it was true or not. A man was very in love with a girl and they had decided to get married. Unfortunately the man didn't have enough money for a ring, but he desperately wanted to give one to his future wife. So, he broke into a diamond store and attempted to steal one, getting caught and thrown in jail in the process, believing he was doing it because of love, and his love made the theft o.k.. In the end, he could not give his girlfriend the ring, and more importantly, he could not be with her for years. Love had become his idol, and ruined him and his relationship.

Love between a man and a woman can be one of the most beautiful things in this world. However, if not entered into in the right spirit, it can be a bad thing. Lewis also used the beautiful analogy of a person diving into a pool. Falling in love is like diving: effortless and easy. It is swimming once you are in the pool that is the hard part, that is being In love. I know that I have certainly felt like I have fallen in love before, but I also know that I have never been in love. Being in love moves beyond the momentary joy of first finding a relationship, or looking at a pretty girl, it is a real desire for the person themselves, with them desiring you also. It is being willing to sacrifice and do nearly anything for the person you love (though this can get you into trouble). Eros is also, as we discussed in class, the closest thing we can get to the eternal love God has for us, and, like God's love, is incredibly valuable.

"Learning in Wartime"

"We are mistaken when we compare war with "normal life". Life has never been normal."

I believe C.S. Lewis' point here is that war, hard circumstances, pain, none of these things are excuses for failing to seek knowledge as a person should. There has been no time of complete peace in all of human history. There are always social problems if there are not wars. There are always some feelings of discontent if there are no social problems. To put it simply: life will never be perfect. It is an easy thing to make excuses as to why we should put our lives on hold and focus entirely on the war, or whatever problem we are facing. To do this, though, is to lessen oneself. It is reducing yourself to one dimension when before you were so full.

In applying this to religion, Lewis points out that when we become Christians, for most people their lives do not dramatically change. Thinking about God is a beautiful thing, but even religion cannot hold our attention all the time, Lewis says. What being a Christian should change is the attitude and spirit in which you do those things. We do not all have to quit our jobs and become missionaries to other countries, we simply have to make our faith evident in our daily life. I know for me when I decided on my own right to be a Christian rather than simply accepting my parents' faith I at first though "well, I should probably go to seminary, then". While I think my heart was in the right place in that my life should be devoted to God, not everyone can be a minister. I realized that it wasn't my calling, and I simply needed to bring God into my life, no matter what I do.

In the essay, Lewis also mentions some the things that can get in the way of us doing our work, our enemies. He mentions excitement, frustration, and fear. Excitement is an interesting one, because it is normally considered a positive emotion rather than a negative one, but it at times is our enemy. In class we also mentioned that things like tradition, religion, even love can sometimes be our enemy if we let it get in the way of living the kind of life we are meant to live.