I have always enjoyed C.S. Lewis’ writings. It is as if his words overflow from a heart that is overpowered by God’s truth. While many of us scramble to put these truths into words, Lewis grapples with them until he can clearly put them into beautiful and logical essays that describe precisely what many of us know as a vague concept but cannot express. Upon reading many of Lewis’ essays, these things ring true to us. I believe Lewis’ many powerful quotes strike us because it is an expansion of biblical truth. Lewis takes biblical principles and pushes them to the extreme of their logic. His work may produce ideas that we are not always comfortable with at first, for example that we have no right to happiness; but when we evaluate our beliefs we must come to the conclusion that we must accept these truths in our lives. We do not, in fact, have a right to happiness if we also believe that the purpose of our life is to glorify God and be near to him in joy, not happiness. The process of exploring our beliefs was stretching and refreshing.
I appreciated that the C.S. Lewis DCM was not intended merely to study Lewis at a deeper level, as I had originally expected. DCM was an opportunity for students to take these challenging concepts, struggle with them, and apply truth to our lives. I was challenged not only in my way of thinking, but in my walk with God. I was convicted by the material we were studying, but also by the words of wisdom of Professor Adriana and Paulo Ribeiro and the way they lived out their faith in our class. They were a living example of good and faithful servants of Christ and their passion and faith was contagious.
Through the works of C.S. Lewis and Plantinga, DCM was a constant reminder of the purpose of my life. Both authors wrote about longing and hope. Our human hearts yearn and long for something; we long to be fulfilled. The beautiful picture Lewis painted was that of our relationship with beauty. We are awe struck by the beauty we see around us. We long, not only to take it in, but for it to take us in. This is because we were created to be united with our Savior and satisfied in Him. The beauty of this world is reflection of the beauty of our God. Our desire to be united with it reflects our purpose of being united with Christ (Lewis, “Weight of Glory”). Plantinga makes an interesting point that longing is an ingredient of hope. If we hope for something, we will want it; if we want it, we will long for it (Plantinga). We all search to find satisfaction that can only be found in God. But we can only find fulfillment when we finally rest in God’s forgiveness and grace.
The past two and a half years of my life have been a time of struggling with my purpose and the assurance of God’s faithfulness. I grew up in France as a child of missionaries and the transition to the United States has been difficult and lonely. I started college at Michigan State University. While I had a well established life there, I was struggling to keep perspective of the truth. My faith felt like a house of cards that was about to be knocked down by a gush of wind, just as Lewis said in one of his essays. I transferred to Calvin in hope of finding accountability in my faith. Once again, I found myself without much community. Eventually, I started to believe that if I had good friendships, community, and an established position in a community I would be satisfied. Even though intellectually I knew that the purpose of my life was to glorify God in the pain, my heart longed for happiness above all else. Happiness was an idol. But God’s timing and plan is perfect. This Christmas he revealed to me, and I heard as if for the first time, that he wants me to find my contentment with Him. My prayer ought to be, “Lord, I want to know you more in the midst of this time” instead of “Lord, take away the pain.”
I came to DCM with this new lesson in mind. Day three of interim our class discussed the concept of a right to happiness. My immediate reaction was that we have no right to happiness. I agreed with Lewis’ essay; we are not entitled to anything in this life (Lewis, “No Right to Happiness”). God used this class discussion to convict me. If I know that I am not entitled to happiness, why have I been living in relentless pursuit of happiness? Just as I mentioned earlier, we are meant to find our purpose and joy only in Christ. Living for happiness is a life of idolatry. It is empty and vain. Lewis and Plantinga’s writings exposed the falseness of my thinking. I had been mistaking happiness as the longing and purpose of my life, when what I long for is to be united with Christ and live by his grace. My purpose in times of pain is to point to my glorious God just as much, if not more, as in my happiness. C.S. Lewis’ quote puts it beautifully:
Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times. I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ (Lewis, “The Problem of Pain).
Just as we discussed during our last class period, some of us may only reach this conclusion after painful circumstances. In the pain, we are often faster to rely on God and learn the lessons he has for us. He may strip us of any idols we are putting before him so that we may finally worship him as we should. In the midst of pain we may not find happiness. But we are commanded to be joyful nonetheless. Our joy is rooted in Christ and his character, not in our circumstances. We can rest in the knowledge of his faithfulness and goodness, though we cannot expect that our circumstances will always be enjoyable.
Plantinga and Lewis also remind us that as we live in Christ, we are called to pursue God’s calling on our life through our education. Both authors exhort us to glorify God not only the most significant moments of our life, but in our everyday life and particularly in our education. Lewis urges us to pursue education not for the sake of obtaining a degree, but for the sake of knowledge itself (Lewis, “Our English Syllabus). Plantinga urges us to not look at our education as something that will make us more employable, but as an opportunity to prepare for our vocation (Plantinga). They remind us of the eternal dimension of our education. Through our education our minds are challenged and stretched. We learn invaluable life lessons; the content of our education is not nearly as important as our attitude towards our education. If we view education only as a means to an end it will merely be a stepping stone to a more successful life and we will lose its value. But if we see the value of education in itself, it can shape and enrich us as a people.
Plantinga reminds us that we are to pursue God’s calling on our life through our education. When we see education as an opportunity to prepare to be a prime citizen of heaven, we pursue more than a career; we pursue a vocation. We do not pursue a vocation out of selfish ambition; we pursue God’s calling on our life so that we can bring the Kingdom of God to earth (Plantinga). Our entire life should be a song of praise to God, not to ourselves. As we pursue our vocation we can be prime citizens of heaven who devote every aspect of our lives to the Lord and enthusiastically serve God’s purposes in love.
DCM’s readings, class discussions, and Professors Adriana and Paulo all served to point us to God in every way. While we approached many interesting concepts and were challenged to action, we must not let these things distract us from our ultimate goal. In all that we do, we must not forget to do all things in love. Our objective should be God himself. Just as Lewis constantly reminds us, nothing, not even good objectives, should deter us from God. If our objective is anything else but God, we have been tricked into idolatry. God desires to be the first and all-encompassing passion in our life.
Citations
Lewis, Clive Staples. “Human Pain.” Problem of Pain. 1962.
Lewis, Clive Staples. “No Right to Happiness.” God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics. 1970.
Lewis, Clive Staples. “Our English Syllabus.” Rehabilitations and Other Essays. 1939.
Lewis, Clive Staples. “Weight of Glory.” Theology. 1941
Plantinga, Cornelius. “Vocation in the Kingdom of God.” Engaging God's World. Grand Rapids, Mich: Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Pray the Devil back to Hell
Pray the Devil back to Hell was a gut-wrenching documentary on the violence and war in Liberia that occurred in the past 10 years. The story is told through the eyes of the Liberian women who stood up to demand peace in their country. Charles Taylor, the president of Liberia, was using violence to assert his power and control the Liberian people. Opposite the president was the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), a rebel group determined to force Charles Taylor out of office. The Liberian people were victims of the violent conflicts between the two groups; both groups used appalling violent methods to attack the Liberian government and the Liberian people. Fathers were killed in front of their families, daughters were raped, and mothers were tortured.
While violence was the only method the government and the LURD were using to get their point across, Liberian women decided to stand up for peace. It began in the city of Monrovia. A small group of women organized a protest during which they wore white and spent day and night on the side of a busy city road. They requested President Charles Taylor and the LURD to engage is a peace discussion in order to cease the use of violence in Liberia. What began as a small group soon drew thousands of women. To my amazement, these women were successful in gathering both sides together at a peace conference. After weeks of refusing to sign a peace agreement and increased violence in Monrovia, the Liberian women blocked the group leaders in the conference center, forcing them to come to an agreement. After four devastating years of war, the women of Liberia were successful in establishing peace in their country.
The story of these Liberian women is one of the most powerful stories I have heard. These women were average mothers and wives, yet to my great amazement they were the force that pressured top political leaders and put end to the war. They did not resort to violence or hatred towards those who had killed their children and husbands; they called upon the humanity of both parties and asked for peace. That such a small group of ordinary women had such influence speaks to the power of individuals and perseverance. These women persevered for years and would not be intimidated by political powers.
The statement of one woman stood out to me more than any other. Once the war had ceased and men and boys from the rebel troops began to return to their villages, this woman said “We must forgive them for killing our families and love them – though it is very hard.” These women who had watched such horrors desired to welcome back the perpetrators into their villages, because if they did not they would never attain peace. One sign read “we love you, welcome back.” This kind of love surpasses any human understanding. When I hear this kind of story, Christ’s love seems all the more amazing to me. We are liars and murderers. Just as I look with horror at the things that took place in Liberia, God looks in horror at my sin. I am just as unworthy as those rebels and that president. And yet God is pleased to look upon me with love and forgiveness. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
While violence was the only method the government and the LURD were using to get their point across, Liberian women decided to stand up for peace. It began in the city of Monrovia. A small group of women organized a protest during which they wore white and spent day and night on the side of a busy city road. They requested President Charles Taylor and the LURD to engage is a peace discussion in order to cease the use of violence in Liberia. What began as a small group soon drew thousands of women. To my amazement, these women were successful in gathering both sides together at a peace conference. After weeks of refusing to sign a peace agreement and increased violence in Monrovia, the Liberian women blocked the group leaders in the conference center, forcing them to come to an agreement. After four devastating years of war, the women of Liberia were successful in establishing peace in their country.
The story of these Liberian women is one of the most powerful stories I have heard. These women were average mothers and wives, yet to my great amazement they were the force that pressured top political leaders and put end to the war. They did not resort to violence or hatred towards those who had killed their children and husbands; they called upon the humanity of both parties and asked for peace. That such a small group of ordinary women had such influence speaks to the power of individuals and perseverance. These women persevered for years and would not be intimidated by political powers.
The statement of one woman stood out to me more than any other. Once the war had ceased and men and boys from the rebel troops began to return to their villages, this woman said “We must forgive them for killing our families and love them – though it is very hard.” These women who had watched such horrors desired to welcome back the perpetrators into their villages, because if they did not they would never attain peace. One sign read “we love you, welcome back.” This kind of love surpasses any human understanding. When I hear this kind of story, Christ’s love seems all the more amazing to me. We are liars and murderers. Just as I look with horror at the things that took place in Liberia, God looks in horror at my sin. I am just as unworthy as those rebels and that president. And yet God is pleased to look upon me with love and forgiveness. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The Problem of Pain
C.S. Lewis’ chapter on human pain challenged me and refreshed me with truth. Yet while Lewis offers us an explanation on the purpose of pain, he does not have all the answers. I think the questions and tensions surrounding the concept of pain will never be fully answered until we reach heaven. Nonetheless, while we cannot rest in the assurance of leading a painless life and we inevitably face pain, we can rest in the character and goodness of our God.
When looking at pain, I have been tempted to believe that God must not be as faithful as he promised to be; he must have forgotten me for a time. The lies that Satan throws our way when we are overcome by pain is that horrible circumstances reflect God’s unloving and imperfect character. We, or at least I, am so ready to believe in those first moments that the Lord is not who he says he is. Yet once we come close to God in our pain, his Holy Spirit reveals to us that God is truly good and faithful. And this revelation is even more beautiful than before. We can grasp onto it with a desperate and thankful heart, because God has stripped us of all that we were grasping onto before. C.S. Lewis puts it beautifully: “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.”
As Americans, most of us live a very comfortable life. Everything is at our fingertips. We can “have” so much in this life. We often say, “We have been so blessed to have all of these things.” But is it not also a curse? We become so easily distracted and obsessed with what God has given us. If he gave us just enough to survive, maybe we would be quicker to turn to Him in thanks and worship. We take God’s gift, and we greedily worship it, quickly forgetting the one who graciously gave it. I shared this verse in a previous blog, but I think it applies: “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts” (1 John 5:21). If these things are threatening to take God’s place in our hearts, we should flee them until they no longer threaten to own our hearts. Fasting from these things for a time could be a great defensive weapon to keep them far from the throne of our lives. As to pain, God uses it to do just that: to distance these things from our hearts.”
Such pain may appear purposeless from our human perspective. But we are only permitted to see a small portion of the big picture. Pain reminds us that there is a big picture; living for the pleasures of the moment does not constitute life. When we reach the understanding “that all these toys were never intended to possess [our] heart, that [our] true good is in another world and [our] only real treasure is Christ,” we get a glimpse of God’s beautiful and marvelous purpose.
When looking at pain, I have been tempted to believe that God must not be as faithful as he promised to be; he must have forgotten me for a time. The lies that Satan throws our way when we are overcome by pain is that horrible circumstances reflect God’s unloving and imperfect character. We, or at least I, am so ready to believe in those first moments that the Lord is not who he says he is. Yet once we come close to God in our pain, his Holy Spirit reveals to us that God is truly good and faithful. And this revelation is even more beautiful than before. We can grasp onto it with a desperate and thankful heart, because God has stripped us of all that we were grasping onto before. C.S. Lewis puts it beautifully: “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.”
As Americans, most of us live a very comfortable life. Everything is at our fingertips. We can “have” so much in this life. We often say, “We have been so blessed to have all of these things.” But is it not also a curse? We become so easily distracted and obsessed with what God has given us. If he gave us just enough to survive, maybe we would be quicker to turn to Him in thanks and worship. We take God’s gift, and we greedily worship it, quickly forgetting the one who graciously gave it. I shared this verse in a previous blog, but I think it applies: “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts” (1 John 5:21). If these things are threatening to take God’s place in our hearts, we should flee them until they no longer threaten to own our hearts. Fasting from these things for a time could be a great defensive weapon to keep them far from the throne of our lives. As to pain, God uses it to do just that: to distance these things from our hearts.”
Such pain may appear purposeless from our human perspective. But we are only permitted to see a small portion of the big picture. Pain reminds us that there is a big picture; living for the pleasures of the moment does not constitute life. When we reach the understanding “that all these toys were never intended to possess [our] heart, that [our] true good is in another world and [our] only real treasure is Christ,” we get a glimpse of God’s beautiful and marvelous purpose.
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