"My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this
idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.
What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? If the whole show was bad and
senseless from A to Z, so to speak, why did I, who was supposed to be part of the show, find myself in
such violent reaction against it? A man feels wet when he falls into water, because man is not a water
animal: a fish would not feel wet." -C.S. Lewis
Back when I was not a Christian, I often used the Bible to argue against God. How can you challenge the internal consistency of justice in the Bible, if you yourself have no grounds to claim that justice is an objective value at all?
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
Simplifying the Mere Christianity of C.S. Lewis (Part 5)
We Have Cause To Be Uneasy
"That is the terrible fix we are in. If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all our efforts are in the long run hopeless. But if it is, then we are making ourselves enemies to that goodness every day, and are not in the least likely to do any better tomorrow, and so our case is hopeless again. We cannot do without it. and we cannot do with it. God is the only comfort, He is also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to hide from. He is our only possible-ally, and we have made ourselves His enemies. Some people talk as if meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to think again.
It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power—it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk. When you know you are sick, you will listen, to. the doctor. " -C.S. Lewis
If God is perfectly good and He has placed a Law inside of us, then who can say they are good? Have we not all broken it a thousand times?! This is truly the beginning of an understanding of real Christianity.
"That is the terrible fix we are in. If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all our efforts are in the long run hopeless. But if it is, then we are making ourselves enemies to that goodness every day, and are not in the least likely to do any better tomorrow, and so our case is hopeless again. We cannot do without it. and we cannot do with it. God is the only comfort, He is also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to hide from. He is our only possible-ally, and we have made ourselves His enemies. Some people talk as if meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to think again.
It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power—it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk. When you know you are sick, you will listen, to. the doctor. " -C.S. Lewis
If God is perfectly good and He has placed a Law inside of us, then who can say they are good? Have we not all broken it a thousand times?! This is truly the beginning of an understanding of real Christianity.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Simplifying the Mere Christianity of C.S. Lewis (Part 4)
"The only packet I am allowed to open is Man. When I do, especially when I open
that particular man called Myself, I find that I do not exist on my own, that I am under a law; that
somebody or something wants me to behave in a certain way. I do not, of course, think that if I could
get inside a stone or a tree I should find exactly the same thing." -C.S. Lewis
Even the most atheistic scientists admit things "appear to be designed, but aren't." I'm okay with that being as far as they are willing to go on the subject. Science can never prove God nor was it meant to be a proof in the logical or mathematical sense. Rather, the universe gives the appearance of design and my conscience is the guide that speaks to me and tells me of a Law that must be given by a Lawgiver.
Even the most atheistic scientists admit things "appear to be designed, but aren't." I'm okay with that being as far as they are willing to go on the subject. Science can never prove God nor was it meant to be a proof in the logical or mathematical sense. Rather, the universe gives the appearance of design and my conscience is the guide that speaks to me and tells me of a Law that must be given by a Lawgiver.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Simplifying the Mere Christianity of C.S. Lewis (Part 3)
The Reality of the Law of Morality
"We ask: "Why ought I to be unselfish?" and you reply "Because it is good for society," we may then ask, "Why should I care what's good for society except when it happens to pay me personally?" and then you will have to say, "Because you ought to be unselfish"—which simply brings us back to where we started." -C.S. Lewis
Why is it that those who claim that there is no objective morality are oftentimes so angry at injustice in the world? Why do they still claim that men ought to treat others with fairness and kindness? I agree with Lewis' conclusion (which has much more to it in the book) that it is because there is a real Law placed inside of them that tells the mind what is good and what is evil.
"We ask: "Why ought I to be unselfish?" and you reply "Because it is good for society," we may then ask, "Why should I care what's good for society except when it happens to pay me personally?" and then you will have to say, "Because you ought to be unselfish"—which simply brings us back to where we started." -C.S. Lewis
Why is it that those who claim that there is no objective morality are oftentimes so angry at injustice in the world? Why do they still claim that men ought to treat others with fairness and kindness? I agree with Lewis' conclusion (which has much more to it in the book) that it is because there is a real Law placed inside of them that tells the mind what is good and what is evil.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Simplifying the Mere Christianity of C.S. Lewis (Part 2)
Objections
"Isn't what you call the Moral Law simply our herd instinct and hasn't it been developed just like all our other instincts? Of course, we sometimes do feel just that sort of desire to help another person: and no doubt that desire is due to the herd instinct. But feeling a desire to help is quite different from feeling that you ought to help whether you want to or not. Supposing you hear a cry for help from a man in danger.
You will probably feel two desires—one a desire to give help (due to your herd instinct), the other a desire to keep out of danger (due to the instinct for self-preservation). But you will find inside you, in addition to these two impulses, a third thing which tells you that you ought to follow the impulse to help, and suppress the impulse to run away. Now this thing that judges between two instincts, that decides which should be encouraged, cannot itself be either of them." -C.S. Lewis
This thing that judges between the two instincts is our conscience. Our conscience appeals to a a higher standard; a moral law. Where did that come from?
"Isn't what you call the Moral Law simply our herd instinct and hasn't it been developed just like all our other instincts? Of course, we sometimes do feel just that sort of desire to help another person: and no doubt that desire is due to the herd instinct. But feeling a desire to help is quite different from feeling that you ought to help whether you want to or not. Supposing you hear a cry for help from a man in danger.
You will probably feel two desires—one a desire to give help (due to your herd instinct), the other a desire to keep out of danger (due to the instinct for self-preservation). But you will find inside you, in addition to these two impulses, a third thing which tells you that you ought to follow the impulse to help, and suppress the impulse to run away. Now this thing that judges between two instincts, that decides which should be encouraged, cannot itself be either of them." -C.S. Lewis
This thing that judges between the two instincts is our conscience. Our conscience appeals to a a higher standard; a moral law. Where did that come from?
Simplifying the Mere Christianity of C.S. Lewis (Part 1)
The Law of Nature
"These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in." -C.S. Lewis
Naturally, humans have a code of conduct that seems to be similar throughout various cultures and religions. We ought to recognize this fact. You find some version of the golden rule in most religions and even most atheistic systems of morality. There is a way we ought to behave. Next, we find that everyone falls short of their own standards. I can at least admit that I certainly have in many ways. How about yourself?
"These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in." -C.S. Lewis
Naturally, humans have a code of conduct that seems to be similar throughout various cultures and religions. We ought to recognize this fact. You find some version of the golden rule in most religions and even most atheistic systems of morality. There is a way we ought to behave. Next, we find that everyone falls short of their own standards. I can at least admit that I certainly have in many ways. How about yourself?
Saturday, September 3, 2016
The Troubled Soul of Jesus
John 12:27 - “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour."
Audio Only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/20740033
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)