Mere Mere ChristianityChristianityBy C.S. LewisBy C.S. Lewis

““……to explain and to explain and defenddefend

the belief that has the belief that has been common to been common to

nearly all nearly all Christians at all Christians at all

times.times.””

Book 1Book 1

Right and Wrong Right and Wrong as a Clue to the as a Clue to the Meaning of the Meaning of the

UniverseUniverse

Right and Wrong as a Right and Wrong as a ClueClue……

All human beings have the All human beings have the curious idea that they curious idea that they ought to behave in a ought to behave in a certain way (certain way (Law of Law of Human NatureHuman Nature), ), and yetand yet they do not behave this way they do not behave this way

Objection!Objection!IsnIsn’’t the Law of t the Law of

Human Nature just Human Nature just one of your one of your instincts?instincts?

Objection!Objection!IsnIsn’’t the Moral Law t the Moral Law just something wejust something we’’re re

taught as kids by taught as kids by parents/teachers?parents/teachers?

Objection!Objection!IsnIsn’’t what you say is t what you say is ““rightright”” just the way just the way you prefer people to you prefer people to behave?behave? (Relativism) (Relativism)

Objection!Objection!IsnIsn’’t what you call t what you call ““wrongwrong”” behavior just behavior just inconvenient for you? inconvenient for you?

And what you call And what you call ““rightright”” –– isn isn’’t that just t that just

whatwhat’’s good for s good for society?society?

Objections Objections Overruled Overruled We canWe can’’t escape or t escape or

explain away the Law of explain away the Law of Human NatureHuman Nature

““There is something above and There is something above and beyond the ordinary facts of beyond the ordinary facts of menmen’’s behavior, and yet quite s behavior, and yet quite definitely real definitely real –– a real law, a real law, which none of us madewhich none of us made, but , but which we find pressing on uswhich we find pressing on us””

What Lies Behind the What Lies Behind the LawLaw

Behind the Moral Law, there is Behind the Moral Law, there is ““Something which is directing Something which is directing the universe, and which appears the universe, and which appears in me as a law urging me to do in me as a law urging me to do right and making me feel right and making me feel responsible and uncomfortable responsible and uncomfortable when I do wrongwhen I do wrong””

What Lies Behind the What Lies Behind the LawLaw

Does the universe Does the universe happen to be what it is happen to be what it is for no reasonfor no reason OR is OR is there a there a powerpower behind it behind it that makes it what it is? that makes it what it is?

So there is Something!So there is Something!

What is he like?What is he like?

The ProblemThe Problem““God is the only comfort, He is also the God is the only comfort, He is also the

supreme terror: the thing we most supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to need and the thing we most want to hide from. He is our only possible hide from. He is our only possible ally, and we have made ourselves his ally, and we have made ourselves his enemies. Some people talk as if enemies. Some people talk as if meeting the gaze of absolute meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to goodness would be fun. They need to think again. They are still only think again. They are still only playing with religion. Goodness is playing with religion. Goodness is either the great safety or the great either the great safety or the great danger danger –– according to the way you according to the way you react to it. And we have reacted the react to it. And we have reacted the wrong waywrong way””

The Solution The Solution –– pt. 1 pt. 1 ““Christianity simply does not make Christianity simply does not make

sense until you have faced [the facts sense until you have faced [the facts wewe’’ve talked about tonight]. ve talked about tonight]. Christianity tells people to repent and Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing to say to people therefore has nothing to say to people who do not know they have done who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness.feel that they need any forgiveness.””

The Solution The Solution –– pt. 2 pt. 2 ““It is after you have realized It is after you have realized

that there is a real Moral that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the Law, and a Power behind the law, and that you have broken law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself that law and put yourself wrong with that Power wrong with that Power –– it is it is after all this, and not a after all this, and not a moment sooner, that moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talkChristianity begins to talk””

Want to know more?Want to know more?Keep coming to KG!Keep coming to KG!

(It stands for Knowing (It stands for Knowing God)God)

LetLet’’s pray s pray ..