                                                                                              %20Moore.htm_cmp_axis000_vbtn.gif){kind=small}                                                                 |
Liberty Advocate http://www.libertyadvocate.com
C.S. Lewis Was Not a True Christian
by
Karen Pansler-Lam, J.D.
C.S. Lewis is idolized among Evangelicals. Should Evangelicals worship this man?
Lewis' own words prove he was a professing Christian, but he was not a true Christian. For example, Lewis prayed for the dead. And Lewis never wholly abandoned his fascination with the occult. Clearly, this is evidenced in his fantastical books of magic and spells. Irrefutably, Lewis neither believed nor practiced true Christianity. He practiced a corrupt Christianity based on man-made doctrine and his fanciful imagination, not the Bible.
Admittedly, Lewis quipped some interesting comments. But his speech is with enticing words of man's wisdom - it is foolishness. His words are not in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Thank God when true Christians preach and teach the Gospel, our words are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4,5
Rev. F.W. Farrar comments on these verses in The Pulpit Commentary:
He would not attempt to use the keen sword of philosophical dialectics or human eloquence, but would only use the weapon of the cross. Was not with enticing words of man's wisdom; rather, with persuasive words of wisdom (the word anthropines is a gloss). This simplicity was the more remarkable because "Corinthian words" was a proverb for choice, elaborate, and glittering phrases (Wetstein). It is not improbable that the almost total and deeply discouraging want of success in St. Paul in preaching at Athens had impressed him more strongly with the uselessness of attempting to fight Greek philosophers with their own blunt and imperfect weapons. In demonstration of the Spirit and of power. So he says to the Thessalonians, "Our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." The plain facts, so repellant to the natural intellect, were driven home with matchless force by spiritual conviction. The only heathen critic who has mentioned St. Paul's method is Longinus, the author of the treatise on 'The Sublime and Beautiful,' who calls him a "master of unproved dogma," meaning apparently that his force lay in the irresistible statement of the facts which he came to preach.
And Rev. David Thomas comments in the same commentary:
The grand subject of his ministry makes him INDIFFERENT TO ALL RHETORICAL CONSIDERATIONS. "I . . . came not with excellency of speech." In order to exhibit this theme to men, he never thought of brilliant sentences and polished periods and studied composition; not he. The theme was independent of it, infinitely too great for it. Does the splendid apple tree in full blossom require to be decorated with gaudy ribbons? Christ crucified is eloquence, mighty eloquence. Tell the story of his life in plain vernacular, with the notes of nature, however rough, and in vital sympathy with its spirit; and your discourse will be a thousand times mightier than the orations with which Demosthenes shook the proud democracy of Greece.
Men and women are saved and sanctified by the Word of God, not by pompous words of apologists and theologians. Granted, Lewis' comments may be witty - but they're not powerful. In fact, they detract from the mighty eloquence of Christ crucified. Lewis' glittering and pretentious words are like the apple tree in full blossom decorated with gaudy ribbons. Unquestionably, Lewis' elaborate prattling overpowers the mighty eloquence of Christ crucified.
Beware...don't be bewitched by Lewis' magical words of fantasy and pretentious words of pseudointellectualism (apologetics).
Thank God the power of persuasion is the Holy Spirit! Because there are days when we use incorrect punctuation, mispronounce words, use poor grammar and weak sentence structure, and other writing and speaking flaws. But the Holy Spirit still uses us to speak to the hearts of men and women!
When we preach and teach, let us speak in demonstration of the Spirit and power so that our faith may stand in the power of God, not the wisdom of men.
Don't be intimidated by pseudointellectuals into being timid about proclaiming the Truth with plain language. Our words are empowered by the Holy Spirit!
Speak up, Evangelicals!
Never be ashamed to be evangelical!
Be unashamedly evangelical!
August
2013
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