Mere ChristianityMere ChristianityUncommon Truth in Uncommon Truth in

Common LanguageCommon Language

Joel D. Heck

Lewis’s Top ThreeLewis’s Top Three

The Screwtape The Screwtape LettersLetters

The Chronicles of The Chronicles of NarniaNarnia

Mere ChristianityMere Christianity

The Wade CenterThe Wade Center

The TermThe Term

““Mere Christianity”Mere Christianity”– 17th-century Christian writer, Richard Baxter 17th-century Christian writer, Richard Baxter

(1615-1691) (1615-1691) – ““the essential Christian message as the essential Christian message as

espoused historically by Catholics and espoused historically by Catholics and Protestants alike”Protestants alike”

– ““the theological core on which different the theological core on which different Christian traditions can agree”Christian traditions can agree”

– ““the common doctrines of Christianity”the common doctrines of Christianity”– ““the basic form and beliefs of Christianity the basic form and beliefs of Christianity

that all traditions and denominations accept”that all traditions and denominations accept”

InfluenceInfluence

1993 1993 Christianity TodayChristianity Today poll poll Fiftieth anniversary in 2002Fiftieth anniversary in 2002 11,000,000+ sold11,000,000+ sold Translated into at least 6 languagesTranslated into at least 6 languages John Stott, John Stott, Basic ChristianityBasic Christianity ““Books that Made Me Catholic,” Deal W. Books that Made Me Catholic,” Deal W.

HudsonHudson Indelible InkIndelible Ink, Scott Larsen, general editor, Scott Larsen, general editor Chuck Colson and Thomas MonaghanChuck Colson and Thomas Monaghan

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Apologetics (i.e. defense)Apologetics (i.e. defense) A reflection of Lewis’s personality A reflection of Lewis’s personality

(rational, ordered, and imaginative)(rational, ordered, and imaginative) Autobiographical, i.e. a reflection of Autobiographical, i.e. a reflection of

Lewis’s lifeLewis’s life Second most well known voice in England Second most well known voice in England

during World War Twoduring World War Two Battlefield language (more later)Battlefield language (more later) RadioRadio

Not CoveredNot Covered

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (the Sacraments)(the Sacraments)

The Virgin MaryThe Virgin Mary Pope as the vicar of Christ or notPope as the vicar of Christ or not Military service vs. pacifismMilitary service vs. pacifism The Bible as understood by The Bible as understood by

certain traditionscertain traditions

Not CoveredNot Covered

EschatologyEschatology Remarriage after divorce or notRemarriage after divorce or not Genesis and science on originsGenesis and science on origins Those who never heard of ChristThose who never heard of Christ

—lost or capable of salvation—lost or capable of salvation

Not CoveredNot Covered

Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsspiritual gifts

Seven Ecumenical Councils as Seven Ecumenical Councils as authoritative or notauthoritative or not

Spiritual authority of the local Spiritual authority of the local congregation or higher congregation or higher ecclesiastical jurisdictionsecclesiastical jurisdictions

Worship and musicWorship and music

Words from the BattlefieldWords from the Battlefield

More than one per page (247)More than one per page (247) Battle, invasion/invade, force (20x), Allies, Battle, invasion/invade, force (20x), Allies,

march, Gestapo, army, blow to bits, soldier march, Gestapo, army, blow to bits, soldier (16x), war (80x), ration (21x), (16x), war (80x), ration (21x), battle/battlefield, enemy (22x), fight (16x), battle/battlefield, enemy (22x), fight (16x), struggle, German/Germany, Nazi, infantry, struggle, German/Germany, Nazi, infantry, sabotage, rebel/rebellion (9x), surrender sabotage, rebel/rebellion (9x), surrender (8x), arms (7x), conquest, conquer, Jews, (8x), arms (7x), conquest, conquer, Jews, smuggle, and militarysmuggle, and military

Written during World War Two by a Written during World War Two by a veteran of World War Oneveteran of World War One

Series OneSeries One

Dr. James W. WelchDr. James W. Welch The Problem of PainThe Problem of Pain Lewis detested the radioLewis detested the radio Five talksFive talks August 6 through September 6, 1941August 6 through September 6, 1941 ““Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Right and Wrong: A Clue to the

Meaning of the Universe” (pre-Meaning of the Universe” (pre-evangelism)evangelism)

Mr. W. R. ChildeMr. W. R. Childe

““If I tell Mr. Lewis that’s ‘feeling the If I tell Mr. Lewis that’s ‘feeling the presence of God in flowers and presence of God in flowers and music’ is Eternal Life, . . . .”music’ is Eternal Life, . . . .”

Lewis challenged his accuser.Lewis challenged his accuser. Mr. Childe neglected to specify his Mr. Childe neglected to specify his

favorite charity.favorite charity.

Series TwoSeries Two

Five talksFive talks January 11 through February 15, January 11 through February 15,

19421942 ““What Christians Believe”What Christians Believe”

Four ClergymenFour Clergymen

One Church of England One Church of England theologiantheologian

One Roman CatholicOne Roman Catholic One PresbyterianOne Presbyterian One MethodistOne Methodist No Lutherans!No Lutherans!

Four ClergymenFour Clergymen

Probably Austin Farrer, Chaplain, Probably Austin Farrer, Chaplain, Trinity College, OxfordTrinity College, Oxford

Dom Bede Griffiths, Roman Catholic Dom Bede Griffiths, Roman Catholic friend and adult convert to friend and adult convert to ChristianityChristianity

Definitely Rev. Joseph Dowell, RAF Definitely Rev. Joseph Dowell, RAF Padre, MethodistPadre, Methodist

Rev. Eric Fenn, Presbyterian, BBCRev. Eric Fenn, Presbyterian, BBC

Series ThreeSeries Three

Eight TalksEight Talks September 20 through November 8, September 20 through November 8,

19421942

Series FourSeries Four

““Stone” = 14 pounds; “ell” = a mileStone” = 14 pounds; “ell” = a mile Seven TalksSeven Talks February 22 through April 4, 1944February 22 through April 4, 1944 “… “… any reliable firm of assassins, any reliable firm of assassins,

nose-slitters, garrotters and nose-slitters, garrotters and poisoners …”poisoners …”

Eric Fenn: “They love, or hate.”Eric Fenn: “They love, or hate.”

Publication SchedulePublication Schedule

Broadcast TalksBroadcast Talks, the first and , the first and second series of broadcasts, 1942 second series of broadcasts, 1942 (US: (US: The Case for ChristianityThe Case for Christianity))

Christian BehaviorChristian Behavior, the third series, , the third series, 19431943

Beyond PersonalityBeyond Personality, the fourth , the fourth series, 1944series, 1944

Mere ChristianityMere Christianity, 1952, 1952

ReviewsReviews ““We have never read arguments better We have never read arguments better

marshaled and handled so that they can be marshaled and handled so that they can be remembered, or any book more useful to remembered, or any book more useful to the Christian…who finds himself called the Christian…who finds himself called upon to argue briefly from first premises, to upon to argue briefly from first premises, to say why morality is not herd-instinct, why say why morality is not herd-instinct, why there is a special and unique character there is a special and unique character attached to the sense of obligation, why the attached to the sense of obligation, why the conviction that there is a law of right and conviction that there is a law of right and wrong and a transcendent morality is only wrong and a transcendent morality is only intelligible if there is a God.” (intelligible if there is a God.” (The TabletThe Tablet, , July 18, 1942)July 18, 1942)

ReviewsReviews

““No writer of popular apologetics No writer of popular apologetics today is more effective than Mr. C. S. today is more effective than Mr. C. S. Lewis.” (Lewis.” (The Times Literary The Times Literary SupplementSupplement, Sept. 19, 1942), Sept. 19, 1942)

ReviewsReviews

““The author shows himself a master The author shows himself a master in the rare art of conveying profound in the rare art of conveying profound truths in simple and compelling truths in simple and compelling language.” (G. D. Smith in language.” (G. D. Smith in The Clergy The Clergy ReviewReview , December 1942) , December 1942)

Uncommon Truth in Common Uncommon Truth in Common Language!Language!

The BBC in “Shadowlands”The BBC in “Shadowlands”

““Christian Marriage” on October 11, Christian Marriage” on October 11, 1942 during the third series of BBC 1942 during the third series of BBC talkstalks

A video segmentA video segment

The EndThe End