Do you believe in God? Now that can scare off any potential discussion you may have with a person, besides this technique is less than subtle. This general way to start a conversation about faith to a nonbeliever could be potentially disastrous. Starting this way is a little strong for some people and the idea of God holds a lot of meaning behind it. C.S Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity persuades the reader that first that there is a moral law. “Each man is at every moment subjected to several different seats of laws but there is only one of these which he is free to disobey.” This is the moral law that Lewis introduces. He gives an example of a guy being robbed and that one instinct tells you to help him and one tells you to protect yourself but the third is the nudge toward that of helping the man. This is how Lewis proceeds to explain that indeed there is a moral law and it cannot be self-imposed (and to fully appreciate Lewis’s arguments and counterpoints read his book)
The most amazing part of this whole argument that Lewis lays out in his book is where it leads. He eventually comes to the point where there must be something/someone that created this code and that it is greater than man himself. This is how Lewis begins his persuasion toward Christianity. He does not use a method that scares people into believing what he is saying. He does not force it down people’s throats. Lewis starts with the very foundation that makes us human and works from there, because most can agree that we are all human.
The second point that struck me was the idea of Mere Christianity. The idea of the basic concept of being a Christian and what that means. Lewis uses the analogy of a hall being that state of mere Christianity and that the rooms are different branches. The way he breaks down the idea of Christianity is amazing. This seems to be a wise choice when talking to those who know little or nothing about Christ. Our goal is not to convert people to be a certain denomination Christian, but simply to find Christ and learn in his way. Yes the “rooms” can do the nurturing but first you must convince them to come into the house at all.
It really is a gift that Lewis has to be able to approach topics in a way that makes the reader feel comfortable no matter what background they are from. It's so smart to begin with something that we all can understand and wonder about rather than either a bribe of heaven or the threat of hell.
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice you point out that Lewis doesn't use scare tactics when explaining Christianity."Do you believe in God?" Is indeed an intimidating question. It's nice that Lewis doesn't start with that, but, like you say, starts with the basics.
ReplyDelete"He does not force it down people’s throats. Lewis starts with the very foundation that makes us human and works from there, because most can agree that we are all human."
ReplyDeleteThis is key. If we can find some kind of common ground, we might have something to stand on and then continue the conversation from there.