Sunday, August 18, 2013

Shepherd Notes On C.S. Lewis' 'Mere Christianity'



HUMANS JUDGE ONE ANOTHER BY THEIR EXTERNAL ACTIONS. God judges us by our moral choices (God judges our hearts, in other words.). Humans see the results of choices. God judges not on the raw material of our lives but on what we do with it.

Lewis pointed out that Christian morality is making the right choices with the result being a change of character.  In our choices we are slowly turning our inner self into either a 'heavenly' or 'hellish' creature.

Finally, Lewis asked us to remember that the right direction leads not only to peace but also to knowledge.  As we get better, we understand more and more clearly the evil still in us.  Conversely, as a man gets worse, he understands his badness less and less. When  we are moderately bad, we know we have problems,  a thoroughly bad individual thinks he is fine. Actually, common sense tells us: We understand sleep when we're awake, not when asleep.  We know the nature of drunkeness when sober, not when we're drunk. Good people know both good and evil;  bad ones know about neither.

---Shepherd Notes, C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity

Photo credit,  Gary Bailey on Roan Mountain (Tennessee)

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