Making and Begetting - Mere Christianity Book 4 Chapter 1 - Episode 26

Today we are beginning the fourth and final part of CS Lewis' Mere Christianity - we're digging into theology - one easy bite-sized chunk at a time.

...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...

1 Peter 3:15

www.seektruthhere.com

https://www.facebook.com/SeekTruthHere

https://www.instagram.com/seektruthhere/

http://www.youtube.com/@seektruthhere

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

We're not fools. We're not children who can only handle the simplest of ideas and thoughts. We were made to wonder. Ask difficult questions, even. And if you've been with me through this series, then I think that's exactly what you're after. You don't just want to know what Christians believe, you want to know why. So today it's time to chew on something a little meatier. Hello and welcome to The Reason Why. I'm Dana, your host. Today we are beginning the fourth and final portion of C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity in our pursuit to better understand what Christians believe, why they believe it, and how to know whether it's true or not. First, let's do a quick recap since we haven't seen each other in a few weeks of everything that we've covered thus far. Part one was all about discovering whether there is something behind the moral law, thus examining the existence of a creator. We didn't crack open a Bible, we simply used reason and logic to examine some of the evidence of the moral law that Lewis says is inside all of us. In part two, we continued our reasoning to the man of Jesus and arrived at the conclusion that he is either liar, lunatic, or lord. Part three had us moving forward with the claim that if Christianity is true, what sort of behaviors should arise and why? So we looked at what are known as the virtues. Now, in part four, we are diving deeper into what is known as theology. But here's something I want you to be listening for over these next several episodes. Up until now, we have spent a lot of time asking whether Christianity is true, and if it is, how should we live? Now, Lewis begins asking a different question. What is God actually trying to accomplish? What is his end goal? And the answer turns out to be far bigger than simply getting us forgiven or getting us into heaven someday. God's plan is to actually transform us, to make us into people who increasingly reflect the character of his son. That idea is going to be the thread that runs through the rest of this book. So just keep that in mind as we continue. I started out this series assuring you that we are not pursuing theological degrees here, so don't worry. We are still keeping it simple. We're just kicking it up a notch. Because as Lewis warns in the best way possible, we can't expect a higher being outside of not only our universe, but our realm of reality to be simple and easy to understand in a few short sentences. Now, don't get me wrong, God is simple enough that children can understand on a basic level, but he is also so much more complex. There is always more to know, ponder, and be revealed. And at a certain point in our relationship with him, there is a pull to want to go deeper. Some more than others, which is okay, but also to be capable of explaining at least a bit about this God we believe in. So, in Walk's theology, Lewis defines theology as the science of God, which is what the term literally means when broken down. But it's not in the sense of God being able to be put under a microscope and examined that way. Theology is the careful, organized study of everything God has revealed about Himself. It goes beyond, or maybe a better way to say it is parallel with our personal experiences with God. It's practical. Lewis gives a really great example of someone saying they have no need for theology because they've had some beautiful personal experiences with God. Maybe you've had them too, looking up into the vast, clear night sky filled to the brim with stars and the Spirit of God speaking to you. Or maybe you've been caught in a disaster, not knowing if you'll survive, and a calm has come over you that you know was not from yourself, and you made it through, knowing God protected you miraculously. Or you've seen with your own eyes the amazing complexity of life, whether through a microscope or the birth of your child, or something else in this wonder-filled world, and you've felt the presence of God with you, assuring you of his greatness. These are all powerful and truly meaningful experiences that should not be discounted or discouraged. However, they in no way mean that this is all we should be going on for our faith and knowledge of God. Typically, those moments are for us alone, an intimate time with our Heavenly Father. They do not generally solidify or build the faith of others, in a sense. In the same way that my experiences with my son may help or inspire someone else's relationship with their child, but it won't build their relationship. Someone else cannot grow from the relational work that I'm having with my son. Does that make sense? Lewis explains that theology is like a map. A person can and will use a map to travel and explore and get somewhere, but no one will be able to look at that map and get the sense of the hugeness of the ocean. Hear its waves crashing, smell the salt and the air, feel the water wash over their feet, be inspired by its overwhelming beauty and force. We need both the sensations and the map. A good map is valuable because it wasn't drawn by one single traveler, but by thousands. So the theology we have to learn from is actually an accumulation of many, many people's experiences that have occurred and been thought over, discussed, and studied over centuries and even millennia. Kind of like how not just my singular parenting experience will help build yours, but psychology experts who have studied parenting relationships and child development for decades, they could write a book or a seminar that would actually be extremely helpful to you and your parenting experience. Also, here's a really big reason to dig into theology, at least some. It's a really helpful way to keep us from following after some really bad and dangerous teachings. The saying is true, there is nothing new under the sun. There have always been bad teachers, bad ideas, some intentional and therefore evil, others just misguided and confused. It's so important to be able to discern the truth for yourself. Every generation, there seems to pop up some new thought, new teaching, new religion, even new way of understanding and enlightenment. But if you look back over history, you'll see that it's just old teachings and thoughts rebranded and repackaged. This is where knowing some theology is really helpful. So let's start our trek into the science of God. I don't know if you've noticed, maybe not if you've grown up Christian or in the South, but there are a lot of phrases and sayings that Christians use. I've heard it called Christianese before. But seriously, if you're unfamiliar with it all, then it really can and does sound like a foreign language, and it can be very off-putting, a lot of times actually driving others away out of confusion or noyance. Now, a lot of those words and phrases are really just theological concepts. But it's very important to remember and be considerate of who you're talking with, because the goal is to be understood as well as understanding, so that an actual and respectful conversation can happen. So the first of these Christianese phrases that Lewis introduces us to is one of the big ones, obviously. We say that believing in God, submitting to Jesus as our Lord and Savior makes us children of God. But what in the world does that even mean? Do we become gods? Do we become babies? Do we become God's son the same way Jesus is? Do you see why this is an important thing to be able to grasp? It's one of the biggest things God teaches us in the Bible and does for us, but for some, maybe even for most, it's not a concept that automatically clicks in our brains. Now remember, you don't have to understand something for it to be true or to love it. I don't have to understand my husband in order for me to love him, but oh boy, does it help. So Lewis says that in order for us to understand this child of God thing, we should first look at making versus begetting. Probably the only place people are familiar with the word beget is John 3.16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. It's just not a word that's used a lot these days. But it is fairly straightforward. When you beget, you bring forth something of the same nature as yourself. It is to become the father of. Humans beget humans, chickens beget chickens, lions beget lions, not house cats or donkeys. In contrast, when we make, we make something of a different kind than ourselves. We make cars, houses, music, art. Sometimes we can make things that are very like ourselves, as in the case of art and technology. Statues, holograms, artificial intelligence all can get very close. Actually, they are getting closer every day to being like us, but they are still not human. So when Scripture calls Jesus the only begotten Son, it is telling us something about who he is. He shares the very nature of God Himself. And when He says that we are His creation, he means we are not what He is. God actually says He made humans in His image, so we are like Him in a lot of ways, but we are not God. We are not His children in the same way, the same sense that Jesus is. Lewis gives us a few examples here so that we begin to understand that our physical world and nature and natural realm of existence is a shadow of the spiritual one, that in our natural state we cannot access. His point is that though man, humans are the highest form that biological life can reach, that we know of, because of our lives and our capacity to love and reason. Don't get me wrong, we humans can really stink, but our capacity and potential to do good is the greatest among creatures. But there's nothing we can do in our own natural condition to be where God is. Here, Lewis borrows two Greek words that help us understand this concept better. BIOS is the life, natural life we all possess simply by being born. Plants have it, dogs have it, you and I have it, it grows, it ages, it decays, and dies. He shares his own life with us, brings us into Zoe life with God. We were made by God in his image, but our physical bodies in this world cannot live forever. We all will decay and die as all things in this BIOS world does. Christianity isn't simply about getting us into heaven someday. It's about God beginning, even now, to transform us into people who share in the very life of his son. Lewis will spend the rest of this section unfolding exactly what that means. Now, when most of us think about Christianity, we tend to think of forgiveness, which is correct. We think about Jesus dying for our sins so that we can go to heaven when we die. Again, all true things. But what Lewis is getting at here is that this isn't the whole story. Forgiveness isn't the destination, it's the doorway. God isn't simply rescuing us from something, and that's it. He's rescuing us for something. He doesn't just want pardoned sinners. He wants sons and daughters who actually share in his life and become more and more like his son. This is a massive, yet simple enough concept. Beautiful, actually. Can you see why Lewis says, this is the one that is the center of Christianity? Next time, we are going to examine what Christians call the Trinity and how there can be such a thing as three persons in one. Guys, thank you so much for joining me today. It's good to be back after a few weeks off having some summer fun with the family. I hope that this topic was helpful. I hope that you'll join me again. Remember, there are always more resources on my website, seektruthhere.com, and on my Facebook and Instagram at SeektruthHere. If you liked today's episode or maybe found it challenging a bit, I hope you will share it with a friend because, as always, the truth is worth knowing and sharing. I'll see you next time. God bless.