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In the chapter "Let's Pretend" from Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis explores the concept of behaving "as if" one is a better person than one actually is, which can serve as a pathway to genuine transformation. He begins by discussing the idea of children playing pretend games, where they imitate adults or heroes, suggesting that this act of pretending teaches them something about the roles they are imitating.
Lewis applies this analogy to Christian practice, emphasizing that Christians are encouraged to "pretend" to be like Christ, which means trying to emulate His behavior and virtues. He argues that this pretending is not about being hypocritical or dishonest, but rather about aspiring to something better and in the process becoming transformed. The act of pretending to be like Christ can help cultivate real virtues within us.
He explains that even if we feel we are not naturally loving, by behaving as if we are loving, we start to foster genuine love. This process is supported by Christian doctrines which state that Christ is working within us, helping us to improve and slowly transforming us into better versions of ourselves.
Lewis concludes by reinforcing that this practice is not about achieving perfection on our own, but about allowing God's grace to work through our actions, gradually changing us. He likens it to a schoolboy learning to write by following the lines of a copybook, implying that our efforts to mimic Christ are guided by a divine hand. This chapter encapsulates Lewis’s belief in the transformative power of "pretending" as a practice in moral and spiritual development.