If Clive Staples and I hung out at pubs, I would be very tempted to pull an Affleck (a la Good Will Hunting) and constantly be bragging: "Our boy's WICKED SMAT!"
His latest epiphany-inducing, theological uppercut for me is in Reflections on the Psalms. In a particular chapter, Lewis is talking about the subject of the Bible being "God's Word". He makes a pretty important distinction that the Bible is not like God reciting a story to a man, which he records verbatim (as he hurriedly tries to keep up).
"Uh, sorry God I zoned out there for a second...how many loaves and fishes were there?"
But rather God chooses to bring us His Word through humans - in spite of humans, really. And by God choosing to work through flawed (sinful) humans, we're left with Psalms that start out praising God then quickly switch to praying that God will "get even" with everyone that has wronged the psalmist (that doesn't seem very forgiving...). All throughout Scripture there are these dashes of humanity, these brushstrokes of a sinful creature, yet somehow still contained within God's message to us.
But here's where he burns Paul:
"Uh, sorry God I zoned out there for a second...how many loaves and fishes were there?"
But rather God chooses to bring us His Word through humans - in spite of humans, really. And by God choosing to work through flawed (sinful) humans, we're left with Psalms that start out praising God then quickly switch to praying that God will "get even" with everyone that has wronged the psalmist (that doesn't seem very forgiving...). All throughout Scripture there are these dashes of humanity, these brushstrokes of a sinful creature, yet somehow still contained within God's message to us.
But here's where he burns Paul:
"I cannot be the only reader who has wondered why God, having given him so
many gifts, withheld from him (what would to us seem so necessary for the first
Christian theologian) that of lucidity and orderly exposition."
Oh snap! Basically, why can't Paul concisely get to the point and articulate himself a bit better? Lewis would argue that is simply a sign of God's modus operandi: He just loves the challenge of working with sinful man. He can use us in spite of us to get His message to us.
I really encourage you to check this book out and particularly this section. I probably have made a very unlucid attempt at explanation here. Sorry C.S.
Next time we go out, I'll buy you a pint.
I really encourage you to check this book out and particularly this section. I probably have made a very unlucid attempt at explanation here. Sorry C.S.
Next time we go out, I'll buy you a pint.
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