Over the past couple of days I’ve finished reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. What I was surprised to find out was that both books, though the authors have different view points, complemented each other well. They supported each other. They are both condemning religious Christianity.
Lewis speaks in a very philosophical manner and proves that we (mankind) have a sin nature and constantly desire to sin at all times. Miller does not speak philosophically, but in a narrative. He explains how he learned that man is depraved through practical experiences in his life. Both authors want the reader to understand that Christianity is not a religion that does not act, but they want to prove that Christians need to strive to love others.
Because of what Jesus has done for us, our hearts aim should be to become like Him. We cannot do this on our own, but it is God who works change, especially after we have decided to follow Him. Both authors speak of God being the one, not us, who alone can change our hearts. No matter how many good deeds we do, we will do them selfishly until God works in our heart.
Lewis puts it this way: “A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world--- and might even be more difficult to save” (216). The reason Lewis says that they may be more difficult to save is because “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you” (124).
Pride is what comes with religion. Pride turns Christianity into a never-ending mire of works salvation. Until we lose our pride, we will not allow a forgiving God to forgive us.
However, once we are forgiven, once we truly understand the love Jesus has for us, once we learn that good works are not the way to salvation, it is then that love, peace, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control flow through us.
Lewis speaks in a very philosophical manner and proves that we (mankind) have a sin nature and constantly desire to sin at all times. Miller does not speak philosophically, but in a narrative. He explains how he learned that man is depraved through practical experiences in his life. Both authors want the reader to understand that Christianity is not a religion that does not act, but they want to prove that Christians need to strive to love others.
Because of what Jesus has done for us, our hearts aim should be to become like Him. We cannot do this on our own, but it is God who works change, especially after we have decided to follow Him. Both authors speak of God being the one, not us, who alone can change our hearts. No matter how many good deeds we do, we will do them selfishly until God works in our heart.
Lewis puts it this way: “A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world--- and might even be more difficult to save” (216). The reason Lewis says that they may be more difficult to save is because “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you” (124).
Pride is what comes with religion. Pride turns Christianity into a never-ending mire of works salvation. Until we lose our pride, we will not allow a forgiving God to forgive us.
However, once we are forgiven, once we truly understand the love Jesus has for us, once we learn that good works are not the way to salvation, it is then that love, peace, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control flow through us.
“[Christians] will not be very like the idea of ‘religious people’ which you have formed from your general reading. They do not draw attention to themselves. You tend to think that you are being kind to them when they are really being kind to you. They love you more than other men do, but they need you less. (We must get over wanting to be needed: in some goodish people, specially women, that is the hardest of all temptations to resist.) They will usually seem to have a lot of time: you will wonder where it comes from. When you have recognized one of them, you will recognise the next one much more easily. And I strong suspect (but how should I know?) that they recognise one another immediately and infallibly, across ever barrier of colour, sex, class, age, and even of creeds. In that way, to become holy is rather like joining a secret society. To put it at the very lowest, it must be great fun.” (223)
Let’s live like Christians.
