Well, I thought I'd open another can of worms. Have you all heard of that saying? I tend to use a lot of American idioms without even knowing it sometimes.
Anyway, I'd be curious to know what your take is on this. I've read a lot of books by C.S. Lewis and have really appreciated his way with words. But, his view on the Bible could be viewed as highly controversial.
http://submerging.reclaimingthemind.org/blogs/2007/12/19/c-s-lewis-his-most-controversial-statement/
2 comments:
I remember being puzzled, even as a young child, by the account in 'The Last Battle' (the seventh book in the Narnia series) of what happens when people die, and the Final Judgment. CS Lewis' interpretation of Emeth's salvation (the Calormene who, though he had been worshiping Tash, was saved because his life was good) was logical, but unlike all I had learnt about Jesus being the only way of salvation.
Recently, I was interested to read John Piper's sermon on what he has learnt from CS Lewis' life, at a recent Desiring God conference. He writes about how Lewis, though wrong in so many ways, has been such a blessing to him and so many others.
You can find the sermon at
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/46/4503_Lessons_from_an_Inconsolable_Soul/
thanks, pradeep! This was truly a thoughtful and well, written sermon. I appreciated how he worked out the things he didn't agree with and still felt a fondness for C.S. Lewis.
I'm doing a book study with a friend on the book, "Living with Contradiction." It's beautifully written, contemplative and prayerful. And very active. Our relationship with God is a truly active one! The one thing that intrigued me was the author writes "contradictions and complexities have not - as I expected when I was younger - decreased as time goes on."
Anyway, it seems John Piper has overcome one of those contradictions for him.
I think the one part of his sermon that I struggle with is his comment about how emergent voices will fade away fairly quickly.
That statement felt very dismissive. Almost as though he's wanting to sweep what to me feels like a glaring epidemic in the Church under the carpet. I'm always intrigued by how little people know of and about the Emergent movement, myself included. And, how quickly people pounce on statements or writings without really attempting to understand.
What I do know and have experienced first-hand by some in the 'Emergent movement' is a genuine desire to reach out to those who have nearly or have lost their faith completely.
A statement like this seems so unfortunate and disappointing. But, I guess time will really tell. As, if it is from God, it will last! And, if it is not from God it will fade away.
But, if something is from God and we say it isn't from God, (as people did and do with Jesus) that's when we get in to trouble! And, I think the great Christian thinkers in our day should bear that in mind.
Love,
juliana
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