Mere Christianity By C. S. Lewis: Summary

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a book of thirty –one letters in which a retired, senior demon named Screwtape coaches his newly educated nephew, Wormwood. Wormwood is quite troubled when it comes to tempting his “patient.” Nevertheless, he need not fear because faithful uncle Screwtape has offered his services. A unique character featured in the letters is, “The Enemy.” This character refers to God, the natural enemy of Satan. Of course Satan is referred to as “Our Lord.” In the letters, and Wormwood and Screwtape try their very best to please Satan and bring him glory. Although the book is written from the demons’ perspective, Lewis naturally uses it to highlight important truths of the Christian faith.

Christianity is a Theism worldview that focuses on the belief in one personal and relational God that created all that exists (Hiles, & Smith, 2015). God created man in his likeness to care for all that has been created, to know and worship God, and to love and obey God (Diffey, 2015). Man is to rule and have dominion over the earth, be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth (Genesis 1:28). Christians rely on the support of the Holy Bible to guide them in the word of God. The Bible consist of four basic acts, the Creation, the Fall of Humanity, Redemption, and Restoration (Diffey, 2015). Christians believe that God sent his only Son to die on the cross for their salvation. In this paper will be a focus on the Christian worldview discussing God, humanity, Jesus,

Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis, is written as set of guidelines of Christian belief. Lewis does not say there is any particular way to believe but he does make a point that the topic of religion itself is serious. As you consider whether you want to believe or not, you have to recognize how much thought it requires, and how thought provoking a process this decision is. Lewis covers Christianity in four different books within his book. In book one, Lewis discusses the Law of Nature and makes note of a tendency in humans of appealing to a standard of absolute truth in quarrels and arguments. He calls this standard the Law of Nature or the Moral Law. The Law isn't the same as the law of gravity

Book 3 of Mere Christianity contains 12 separate chapters, which has far too great a scope to address properly here, so a glimpse will have to suffice. In the first, Lewis examines three components of morality; the relations between men, the interior moral mechanics of a man, and the relationship between a man and the God who made him. Lewis makes the case that, since we are destined to live forever in one state or another, it is desperately important that we pay attention to the sort of Being we are becoming. Lewis points out that most of humanity can agree that keeping relations between men running smoothly are important, but varying world views and religions-or lack of religion, have produced some disagreements on the necessity of keeping one’s own ship in order, as it were, and it completely breaks down when the relationship between a man and his Maker are addressed, as there is virtually no agreement there.

One night at eight o’clock, Charles Colson visited a friend named Tom Phillipse. Before his acceptance of Christ, Tom lived much as Colson did; he was a ruthless businessman who ventured any measure upon which to win his way. Amidst witnessing Tom’s change briefly himself, Colson decided to make this additional visit. During this visit, Tom explained further to Colson his transformation and offered him a book called “Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis.

He wanted to build creatures that are capable of recognizing him, serving and loving him and this is when the world was created. And he created this to show the unity of his essence through his unity in his works. God “wanted to choose a subject to be a work of his own, which was unique, singular and unlike any other; rare and surpassing all the other works of his hands.” (pg 111). This subject would have a perfect relationship with God and a perfect relationship with his own unity. This is all known as the mystery of the Incarnation. Out of all the different natures God choose human nature to receive his greatness. He chose only one and that is the “Son of God”. Jesus is stated as a world. We adore in Jesus the “unity of a divine person” who exists in two natures and who serves the supreme unity of the divine

In the novel title “The Lost History of Christianity”, author Philip Jenkins attempts to convey the message that there are many aspects of Christianity that are unknown to Christian followers today. Jenkins start by implying that Christianity essentially starts in Northern Mesopotamia. Jenkins then traces the history of Christianity from Africa to the Arab world to the heart of Asia, in what he consider to be the “golden age” of Christianity. He informs the readers of the stories of churches and movements that thrived over a millennium and then largely died out, though there are remnants of these churches here and there, spread across different parts of the world. Jenkins is a firm believer that Westerners are blinded by the impression the Christianity began in Europe and Northern America, and believe that in some ways they are superior among other religions. Jenkins suggest, “When they think about Christian history, most modern Westerners follow the book of Acts in concentrating on the church 's expansion west, through Greece and the Mediterranean world, and on to Rome. But while some early Christians were indeed moving west, many other believers-probably in greater numbers-journeyed east along the land routes, through what we today call Iraq and Iran, where they built great and enduring churches. Because of its location-close to Roman frontier, but just far enough beyond it to avoid heavy-handed interference-Mesopotamia or Iraq retained a powerful terms of the number and

C.S. Lewis covers many topics in his fourth book contained in Mere Christianity titled BEYOND PERSONALITY: OR FIRST STEPS IN THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. He addresses such topics as theology, what it means to be the Son of God, the three personal God, the relationship of God and time, the cost of being a Christian, how God works to turn us into image of Christ, why Christian growth is both hard and easy, and also what he thinks about our old personalities before becoming Christians. These are all relative topics that apply to us and our daily lives. Learning and understanding this book can help a Christian tremendously in forming a deeper relationship with God.

At this moment, the human civilization is falling apart. The shield that guards the safety of men is broken by wars and conflicts. The hearts of people are injured severely by hatred, inequality, and discrimination. Countries lump into anarchy as laws and orders fall apart. And day by day, promises have been broken so frequently that it becomes a norm, and the meanings of words fall into ashes as people progress on deception. The world is gradually transforming itself into a pure arena, where people disguise as hounds and serpents simultaneously. However, amidst this chaos, there stands supreme thing keeping the pieces of mankind’s civilization together—the Law of Nature.

Lewis discusses the difficult topics of atonement and the Christian life within chapters four and five of Mere Christianity. Lewis maintains his “mere” Christianity explanation of the topics by not focusing on the multiple theories, by not diving deeper into explanations that will never be fully adequate for Earthly beings, and by focusing on what is true across all denominations of Christianity; he focuses on what is true for “mere” Christianity. I find his approach to the doctrines of atonement and the Christian life to be strong. He does not give those who doubt an escape from accepting the truth. Lewis does not focus on the multiple theories and warns the reader against focusing on the theories and not on what all Christians agree upon.

In Mere Christianity Book Two, chapter one, C.S Lewis states that Christians do not have to believe that all the other religions are wrong; we are free to think and see a different view that contains some truth. Every religion includes at least right and wrong, but based on how people view them, some people think that it was a right thing to do, but some other people might think that it was wrong and terrible.(Lewis 2001, pg.35). God is beyond good and evil - our universe does not exist if God does not exist because everything found in the world a piece of God. However, that is not true, because God created our universe and us. Our universe contains good and evil - which God does not create evil- and that is why we do not say everything in the world is a piece of God because the world is full of goodness and badness.

We have now come to the fourth and final book of Mere Christianity. In this book, the author takes us to the place in our Christian growth where we begin to rely more heavily on the power of God and less on ourselves to become the being that God originally intended for us to be — a son of God. He begins with an explanation of the difference between “making” and “begetting”.

Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis excellently challenges both Christian and non-Christian to think clear about the natural of law and morality. He started out Mere Christianity by taking a step back and lays out some structure for his audience to enhance their understanding, by simplifying concepts. In the first half, Lewis covers on the natural of law which is applicable for both Christian and non-Christian. He insists that one can get to know about God by internally examining one’s heart. Furthermore, he affirms that morality cannot be depending on culture.

C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, an influential composition of Biblical opinion, promotes the Gospel first through live broadcasts during World War II and now as a major premise in theological discussions. It was Friday, September 1st, 1939 when the course of the war changed drastically for Great Britain. James Welch, the Director of Religious Broadcasting at the British Broadcasting Company was interrupted during The Daily Service with a note that pensively stated, “Germany invaded Poland early this morning” (Phillips 1). As the months dragged eternally on, the radio waves carried with them increasingly tragic news, degrading what was left of Britain's morale. Welch stated, “In a time of uncertainty and questioning it is the responsibility

Jesus came so that each of us could know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus alone can bring meaning and purpose to life.