Mere Mere ChristianityChristianity

Social MoralitySocial Morality

Christian Social Christian Social Morality is Nothing Morality is Nothing NewNew ““The first thing to get clear about Christian morality betwThe first thing to get clear about Christian morality betw

een man and man is that in this department Christ did not een man and man is that in this department Christ did not come to preach any brand new morality. The Golden Rule ocome to preach any brand new morality. The Golden Rule of the New Testament (Do as you would be done by) is a sumf the New Testament (Do as you would be done by) is a summing up of what everyone, at bottom, had always known to ming up of what everyone, at bottom, had always known to be right. Really great moral teachers never do introduce nebe right. Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As Dr. Jow moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As Dr. Johnson said, ‘People need to be reminded more often than hnson said, ‘People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.’ The real job of every moral tethey need to be instructed.’ The real job of every moral teacher is to keep on bringing us back, time after time, to the acher is to keep on bringing us back, time after time, to the old simple principles which we are all so anxious not to seeold simple principles which we are all so anxious not to see…”…”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1952) 82. Publishers, 1952) 82.

Nothing NewNothing New

Luke 6:31 (The Golden Rule)Luke 6:31 (The Golden Rule) II Thessalonians 3:10 (If you won’t II Thessalonians 3:10 (If you won’t

work, you don’t eat.)work, you don’t eat.) Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:10 Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:10

(Worry and anxiety are wrong.)(Worry and anxiety are wrong.)

We’re all responsible We’re all responsible for showing God’s for showing God’s morality.morality. Lewis agrees with people who say, as he puts it, Lewis agrees with people who say, as he puts it,

“The Church ought to give us a lead.” as long a“The Church ought to give us a lead.” as long as what they mean by “Church” is every believer,s what they mean by “Church” is every believer, rather than church leaders. Christian doctors sho rather than church leaders. Christian doctors should be practicing in the medical profession to the uld be practicing in the medical profession to the glory of God. Christian lawyers should be practiciglory of God. Christian lawyers should be practicing law to that end. Christian economists should bng law to that end. Christian economists should be influencing society’s economic system for the e influencing society’s economic system for the glory of God. Each of us has a role in the body anglory of God. Each of us has a role in the body and a role in the world, and we have a very real respd a role in the world, and we have a very real responsibility. Church leaders teach us Christian onsibility. Church leaders teach us Christian princprinciplesiples, and we , and we applyapply those principles in whatever f those principles in whatever field we’ve been trained in and God has placed uield we’ve been trained in and God has placed us in.s in.

This Won’t Happen This Won’t Happen Unless There’s a Heart Unless There’s a Heart ChangeChange ““A Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us rA Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us r

eally want it: and we are not going to want it until we becoeally want it: and we are not going to want it until we become fully Christian. I may repeat ‘Do as you would be done me fully Christian. I may repeat ‘Do as you would be done by’ till I am black in the face, but I cannot really carry it ouby’ till I am black in the face, but I cannot really carry it out till I love my neighbor as myself: and I cannot learn to love t till I love my neighbor as myself: and I cannot learn to love my neighbor as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot lmy neighbor as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him. And so, as earn to love God except by learning to obey Him. And so, as I warned you, we are driven on to something more inward I warned you, we are driven on to something more inward – driven on from social matters to religious matters. For the – driven on from social matters to religious matters. For the longest way round is the shortest way home.”longest way round is the shortest way home.”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins PubC.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1952) 87.lishers, 1952) 87.

Heart ChangeHeart Change

Jeremiah 31:31-34Jeremiah 31:31-34

““Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I wBehold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the hoill make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fuse of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring thathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, tem out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is thhough I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, ose days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, anand I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one tead they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lch his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to ORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquthe greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” ity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The New Covenant is The New Covenant is for Christians. (V. 31)for Christians. (V. 31) Romans 9:6-8 But it is not as though the wRomans 9:6-8 But it is not as though the w

ord of God has failed. For not all who are dord of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and escended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because thnot all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac sey are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This meanhall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who s that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.the promise are counted as offspring.

The New Covenant is The New Covenant is for Christians. (V.31)for Christians. (V.31) Romans 4:13-14 For the promise to ARomans 4:13-14 For the promise to A

braham and his offspring that he wobraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come uld be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righthrough the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is adherenteousness of faith. For if it is adherents to the law who are to be heirs, faitts to the law who are to be heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.h is null and the promise is void.

The Old Covenant was The Old Covenant was with a physical nation. with a physical nation. (V.32)(V.32) Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you

will indeed obey my voice and will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is all peoples, for all the earth is mine;mine;

Those in the New Those in the New Covenant have God’s law Covenant have God’s law written on their hearts. written on their hearts. (V.33)(V.33) Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean Ezekiel 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean

water on you, and you shall be clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.obey my rules.

All those in the New All those in the New Covenant will know God. Covenant will know God. (V.34 a) (V.34 a) John 10:14-15 I am the good John 10:14-15 I am the good

shepherd. I know my own and my shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the and I lay down my life for the sheep.sheep.

Those in the New Those in the New Covenant have Covenant have forgiveness of sins. (V.34 forgiveness of sins. (V.34 b)b) Romans 4:7-8 (Psalm 32:1-2)Romans 4:7-8 (Psalm 32:1-2)

Blessed are those whose lawless Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”the Lord will not count his sin.”

Heart ChangeHeart Change

So you see, we can’t just forge a gSo you see, we can’t just forge a good, Christian society in our own stood, Christian society in our own strength. Real societal change will tarength. Real societal change will take the power of God to mold the heke the power of God to mold the hearts of His people to love Him and darts of His people to love Him and desire to do His will. And the good thesire to do His will. And the good thing is, He’s promised to do just thing is, He’s promised to do just that.at.

Morality and Morality and PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis We judge people by external We judge people by external

actions; God judges them by their actions; God judges them by their moral choices.moral choices.

Morality and Morality and PsychoanalysisPsychoanalysis ““We see only the results which a man’s choices make out of his We see only the results which a man’s choices make out of his

raw material. But God does not judge him on the raw material at raw material. But God does not judge him on the raw material at all, but on what he has done with it. Most of the man’s psycholoall, but on what he has done with it. Most of the man’s psychological makeup is probably due to his body: when his body dies all tgical makeup is probably due to his body: when his body dies all that will fall off him, and the real central man, the thing that chose, hat will fall off him, and the real central man, the thing that chose, that made the best or worst out of this material, will stand naked. that made the best or worst out of this material, will stand naked. All sorts of nice things which we thought our own, but which were All sorts of nice things which we thought our own, but which were really due to a good digestion, will fall off some of us: all sorts of nreally due to a good digestion, will fall off some of us: all sorts of nasty things which were due to complexes or bad health will fall off asty things which were due to complexes or bad health will fall off others. We shall then, for the first time, see everyone as he really others. We shall then, for the first time, see everyone as he really was. There will be surprises.”was. There will be surprises.”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1952) 1952)

Our Judgment vs. Our Judgment vs. God’s JudgmentGod’s Judgment We’ve all been shaped by different influences aWe’ve all been shaped by different influences a

nd circumstances. This gives us different “raw mnd circumstances. This gives us different “raw material” to work with. aterial” to work with.

What matters is what What matters is what moral choicesmoral choices we make wit we make with those raw materials. h those raw materials.

Some people may be more morally upright than tSome people may be more morally upright than they seem, while others may not be as morally gohey seem, while others may not be as morally good as they appear.od as they appear.

More Heavenly or More More Heavenly or More HellishHellish Every moral choice you make forms you into Every moral choice you make forms you into

either a more heavenly or more hellish either a more heavenly or more hellish creature creature

Romans 12:2 Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.perfect.

Being Conformed to Being Conformed to the Image of This the Image of This WorldWorld When you make bad moral choices, When you make bad moral choices,

turning yourself into more of a turning yourself into more of a hellish creature, the bible calls this hellish creature, the bible calls this “being conformed to the image of “being conformed to the image of this world.” The world, remember, this world.” The world, remember, is following after Satan. (Ephesians is following after Satan. (Ephesians 2)2)

Transformed by the Transformed by the Renewal of Your MindRenewal of Your Mind When a CHRISTIAN makes good When a CHRISTIAN makes good

moral choices, he/she is being moral choices, he/she is being transformed by the renewing of transformed by the renewing of his/her mind.his/her mind.

Renewal of Your Mind Renewal of Your Mind – We do this by:– We do this by: Reading the BibleReading the Bible Praying for God’s guidancePraying for God’s guidance Obeying what we read/hearObeying what we read/hear

The more godly we become, the The more godly we become, the more aware of sin we are. more aware of sin we are.

””When a man is getting better “When a man is getting When a man is getting better “When a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil thabetter he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. When a man is getting worse he undert is still left in him. When a man is getting worse he understands his own badness less and less. A moderately bad stands his own badness less and less. A moderately bad man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thman knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right. This is common sense, really. You undinks he is all right. This is common sense, really. You understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeerstand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping. You can see mistakes in arithmetic when your mind ping. You can see mistakes in arithmetic when your mind is working properly: while you are making them you cannis working properly: while you are making them you cannot see them. You can understand the nature of drunkennot see them. You can understand the nature of drunkenness when you are sober, not when you are drunk. Good pess when you are sober, not when you are drunk. Good people know about both good and evil: bad people do not eople know about both good and evil: bad people do not know about either.”know about either.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1952) 93.C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper-Collins Publishers, 1952) 93.

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

Before becoming a Christian, Paul thought Before becoming a Christian, Paul thought very highly of himself. very highly of himself.

(Philippians 3:4b-6) If anyone else thinks h(Philippians 3:4b-6) If anyone else thinks he has confidence in the flesh, I have more: e has confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the peocircumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Heple of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;brew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as t as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, bleameless.o righteousness under the law, bleameless.

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

After conversion and having lived as a After conversion and having lived as a Christian for some time, Paul had a very Christian for some time, Paul had a very different view of himself. different view of himself.

(Ephesians 3:8) To me, though I am the (Ephesians 3:8) To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,unsearchable riches of Christ,

(1 Corinthians 15:9)(1 Corinthians 15:9)For I am the least of the apostles, For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of because I persecuted the church of God.God.

The Apostle Paul The Apostle Paul

Philippians 3:7-11Philippians 3:7-11

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.attain the resurrection from the dead.