Subscribe to Sea Harp
/ @seaharp
From C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity".
In this essay, C.S. Lewis discusses the implications of Jesus Christ's identity and mission. He presents the idea that Jesus was either a lunatic, a fiend, or truly God, and concludes that Jesus must be God. Lewis explains that the central belief of Christianity is that Christ's death and resurrection have reconciled humanity with God, though various theories exist about how this works. These theories, however, are secondary to the core belief itself.
Lewis compares understanding the theories of atonement to understanding the nutritional value of food: one can benefit from eating without knowing the science behind nutrition. Similarly, Christians can accept the atonement without fully understanding how it works. Lewis suggests that the process of repentance and returning to God is inherently difficult due to human nature, but it is made possible through Jesus, who, being both God and man, bridges the gap between humanity and the divine.
He addresses common objections to the idea of atonement, explaining that Jesus's divine nature made His perfect sacrifice possible and that this "unfair advantage" is precisely why He can help humanity. Lewis concludes by urging readers to focus on the essence of the atonement rather than getting bogged down by the explanations, using whatever understanding aids their faith.