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There are few Christians who are not familiar with C.S. Lewis. His books continue to sell at a remarkable rate, long after he died on 22 November 1963, the same day that JFK was assassinated. His writings have profoundly shaped my thinking and my life. More than anyone, Lewis represents the Christian mind that the Apostle Paul discussed in 1 Corinthians 2:16. But in Lewis there is also the intersection of not only the mind but the heart. Consider these masterpieces:
- Mere Christianity. Originally a series of talks over the BBC during World War II, the book today remains one of the best works of apologetics in print. Each essay is unique and filled with insights.
- The Problem of Pain. A rich, insightful exploration of how God uses the “megaphone” of pain to get our attention, teach us eternal truths and get us ready for heaven.
- The Screwtape Letters. One of his most creative works, this book gives valuable insights into the strategeis and tactics of Satan. One cannot read this book without taking seriously Paul’s admonition that we fight against powers and beings far greater than we ourselves. And for that reason each day we must dress with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6).
- The Chronicles of Narnia. The gracious, firm, powerful, compassionate figure of Aslan forever burns into our psyche as a figure of Jesus Christ. I will never forget the first time I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When it came time for Aslan to offer himself in place of Edmund, I gained an incredible new insight into the whole biblical concept of substitution. These are the kinds of lessons Lewis teaches.
I could go on, but after an edition of Issues in Perspective so heavy with seriousness and detail, the refreshment of the truths C.S. Lewis taught us would be appropriate. May each generation learn afresh the lessons taught by the heart and mind of the atheist turned Christian—C.S. Lewis.
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