Lesson One: Preface

Yes, we’re going to start with the Preface—I know it’s easy to skip these little introductions, but in fairness to Dr. Lewis, it is as long as many of the other chapters, and it also contains a good bit of exactly what he means by the title “Mere Christianity.”

We tend to think of the word mere as meaning “insignificant.” Lewis uses it in this case in its more traditional definition as “pure” or “absolute.” This is significant for the fact that one of his first qualifications in the Preface is to point out to the reader that he is not distinguishing between different Christian denominations, but rather explaining and defending the basic beliefs that are common to most Christians.

This is an important point to remember, mainly because Lewis points out that any discussion of the doctrinal or theological differences between various denominations does nothing whatsoever to convince the nonbeliever of the truth of Christ. We, as Christians, often get wrapped up in defending what it means to be Baptist, or Methodist, or Pentecostal, or Catholic, that we forget that we should do as Paul did, and preach the truth of Christ crucified and resurrected. It is that truth that Lewis seeks in the book.

Part of what makes C.S. Lewis so appealing to me is his honesty about what he knows and what he doesn’t know. He freely admits that there are many questions about God that he cannot answer, but he also speculates that even if he could address God directly about these questions, the answer might be, “What is that to you? You follow me.” I think about how many times in my own life that I have wanted answers from God, completely oblivious to the fact that what I needed to do was follow him, and from that, the answers would come.

Lewis also points out that the second part of the book, “What Christians Believe,” was vetted by clergy from four different denominations, once again reinforcing his desire to discuss what we have in common as Christians rather than what separates us. I often wonder what we as Christians could accomplish if we could get past our differences and focus instead on the one who should unite us.

It is this sense of unity in diversity that he closes his preface with in terms of an analogy of a hall that contains many doors that open into different rooms. His book of “mere Christianity” is meant to be the hall; each various denomination is a room off the hall. What is important about the analogy is his warning not to choose a “room” based on the attractiveness of the décor or the quality of the service, but rather upon how much of the truth and holiness of God can be found there. Sound advice, indeed.

His final reminder, and our starting point that will launch us into the first chapter, is this: We are to pray for those who we think have chosen the wrong rooms, and we are specifically ordered to pray for those who are our enemies. “That is one of the rules common to the whole house.” Strict homework, is it not? To pray for our enemies and for those who we think believe wrongly? But it is not Professor Lewis who has given us that assignment, but the Lord Jesus himself.

Thank you for joining me for this first lesson. I am interested in any comments you have about this first lesson, the site so far, or what you would like to see take place here. If you don’t have anything specific to say, at least sign in and say hello so I know you’ve made the first visit. Simply click on the word “Comments” directly below this lesson and follow the instructions on the screen.

Also, if this is your first time here, be sure and review the previous entries, which give a biography of C.S. Lewis and a short background of the book. You may comment on these entries as well under each posting.

For next week: Book One, Chapter One: “The Law of Human Nature.” The next lesson will be posted Sunday, June 12.