Monthly Archives: June 2017
Lewis and the Bible: New and Old Testaments
We know C.S. Lewis has a high opinion of the Bible. What is less cited are specific references that Lewis calls out in poetic and theological language, through his stories, his essays, and most certainly his letters. In a series of entries simply titled “Lewis and the Bible”, I hope …
April 16, 2018 11:58 am Leave your thoughts
Resurrection and Reversal
Resurrection is a subject that is central to the Christian narrative. Lewis addresses the idea of resurrection in his stories (Aslan and Eustace come to mind, for example), in his theological works, and in his letters. Here, I want to point out several occasions where Lewis discusses resurrection with hopes …
March 30, 2018 2:40 pm Leave your thoughts
All Shall Be Well
In a letter to his good friend Owen Barfield, dated June 2, 1940, Lewis invokes Julian of Norwich (1342-1416). Julian is a Christian mystic known for her 16 visions that she recorded in Revelations of Divine Love. From Norfolk, England, she is credited with the first book written by a woman in …
March 16, 2018 12:08 pm Leave your thoughts
The Difference Between Two Kinds of Nearness
In the beginning paragraphs of The Four Loves, Lewis provides a good distinction between nearness by likeness and nearness by approach when it comes to our relationship with God. On the one hand, we are near to God because we are all made in his image. He gives us life and our …
February 26, 2018 3:22 am Leave your thoughts
Point of View for Lent
As many of you certainly know, Lent is the 40-day pilgrimage that Christians take every year as they look to Easter. Last week it was introduced by the solemn reminder that we are dust (and to dust we will return) on Ash Wednesday. Our breath and being are animated by …
February 19, 2018 5:51 pm Leave your thoughts
Moving Into Lent
Lent begins on Feb. 14, the 40 days that take us to Easter. It seems to always sneak up and want more of us than we ever gave during Advent. I suppose that makes sense. We are, as you know, walking with Jesus to Jerusalem to see him suffer and …
January 31, 2018 10:32 am
Language and the Meaning of Words
In several places, Lewis talks about language and our intentions with the words we use. I hope to cite a few of these occasions in the coming months. Let’s start with two ways words die.
January 26, 2018 12:45 pm Leave your thoughts
Iron Nerves
In a letter on Feb 23, 1947, Lewis makes some observations about Jesus that are worth mentioning, especially during this season of Christmas as we reflect on the Incarnation. Here’s what he says:
December 31, 2017 6:18 pm
The Grand Miracle
“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation,” Lewis says in Miracles (Chapter 14) that at the center of Christianity is the Incarnation of Jesus, God becoming flesh and dwelling among humanity (John 1). Lewis says that the Incarnation, “digs beneath the surface, works through the rest of our knowledge by unexpected channels, …
December 22, 2017 8:19 pm Leave your thoughts
Lessons on Prayer
In a brief letter in August 1949, Lewis says, “I don’t feel I could write a book on Prayer: I think it would be rather ‘cheek’ of my part.” Nevertheless, he did end up writing Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer in which he writes to a fictitious friend about what …
November 30, 2017 11:55 am Leave your thoughts