A good question at this stage in our overview of C.S. Lewis' objections to faith and how he overcame them is, "Is what was true for C.S. Lewis necessarily true for me?" Post-modernism denies meta-narratives: any narrnaitve, story or account of the world that claims to be absolute or all encompassing. It sees no facts, … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #8: Postmodernism
C.S. Lewis – Objection #7: Wish Fulfillment
C.S. Lewis also struggled with the question of Wish Fulfilment: Isn't belief in God just a crutch for needy people? Some people believe that humanity invented God out of need - to cope with the uncertainties of a confusing and often dangerous world. The psychological explanation for God is one of the most common arguments … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #7: Wish Fulfillment
C.S. Lewis – Objection #6: Miracles
C.S. Lewis also struggled with miracles: do you believe in the miracles of the Bible? A miracle is something that comes to us from beyond the world. It is an event that can't happen, but it does. It can't be explained scientifically. Lewis gained attention beyond his academic circles through his unflinching affirmation of the … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #6: Miracles
C.S. Lewis – Objection #5: Imagination
C.S. Lewis struggled with Imagination: Isn't faith merely imaginary? Reason and imagination were important to Lewis because they had once been separated in his own life but were later brought together. For him, meaning often came through imagination. For some, imagination can seem like an escape from reality. In contrast, Lewis believed that stories can … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #5: Imagination
C.S. Lewis – Objection #4: Rationalism
C.S. Lewis struggled with Rationalism: Who needs faith? In Lewis' time, the dominant view of life was what we call Modernism, which placed great confidence in reason, the scientific method and rational arguments. We can also call this view Rationalism. There are four basic intellectual positions about the relationship between faith and reason( R stands … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #4: Rationalism
C.S. Lewis – Objection #3: Myth
C.S. Lewis also struggled with Myth: Isn't Christianity just one myth above many? Some people believe that Christianity is just a myth, a legend, a nice story made up by some well-meaning religious folks. This was one of the major objections that C.S. Lewis had when he was an atheist. He saw Christianity as “one … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #3: Myth
C.S. Lewis – Objection #2: The Problem of Evil
C.S. Lewis' second obstacle to faith was: The Problem of Evil: How can I believe in God when there is so much evil, pain and suffering in the world? Isn't that inconsistent with an all-good, all-powerful God? The problem of evil is perhaps the greatest of all obstacles for people considering faith in Christ. It was … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #2: The Problem of Evil
C.S. Lewis – Objection #1: Chronological Snobbery
C.S. Lewis' first objection to the Christian faith was what we could call Chronological Snobbery: What does a two-thousand-year-old religion have to do with me? Lewis wondered how an ancient religion could have anything to do with now. Wasn't Christianity old-fashioned, outmoded and a relic of the past? Hadn't it outlived its usefulness? From Owen … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Objection #1: Chronological Snobbery
C.S. Lewis’ Case for Christ
In his excellent new book, C.S.Lewis' Case for Christ, Art Lindsley (senior fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute in Springfield, Virginia) gleans insights from reason, imagination and faith from the life and teachings of C.S. Lewis. Clive Staples Lewis was a writer, teacher, thinker and a Christian. He was an Oxford professor who was born … Continue reading C.S. Lewis’ Case for Christ
Life – Comedy or Tragedy?
The ancient Greeks told a story of two philosophers. One used to come out of his front door in the morning and roar with laughter. The world was such a comical place that he couldn't help it. The other came out in the morning and burst into tears. The world was so full of sorrow … Continue reading Life – Comedy or Tragedy?
It Was on The Cross
Quite a number of years ago I read a letter from a person very involved in the publication of worship choruses. They noted that there seemed to be less and less songs about the cross and the blood of Jesus - those aspects that are central to our faith as Christians. I was a little … Continue reading It Was on The Cross
Apologetics
The apostle Peter wrote the following to some first century followers of Christ ... "... worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, … Continue reading Apologetics
The Gospel of John
Our church is currently reading through the Gospel of John together (click here for the reading plan as well as other related resources, including Bible devotional thoughts). John would be many people's favorite gospel, because of its uniqueness. Many of our most well-known Bible verses come from John such as "God so loved the world that … Continue reading The Gospel of John
Healing (Pt.3)
What About Those Who Aren't Healed? Every human being has been born in sin, and all of us are suffering the effects of the curse of sin. The ultimate effect of sin is death. This is the last enemy to be destroyed (1Cor.15:21-28). Jesus died to redeem us from sin, sickness and death (Gal.3:13). It … Continue reading Healing (Pt.3)
Healing (Pt.2)
Praying for Healing All believers are called to pray for the sick. Here are some principles (not formulas) for praying for the sick. 1. Ask questions about the person’s need. Ask, “Where does it hurt?” or “What do you want me to pray for?” This is not a medical interview in which we probe for … Continue reading Healing (Pt.2)