Remembering C. S. Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963)

Though he rarely left his home in Oxford, England, Clive Staples Lewis was far more than a staid and proper Englishman, more than even a scholarly, popular, and effective professor of medieval literature and intellectual history at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.  It was his half-century contribution to the spiritual awakening of a war-torn, disenchanted and skeptical Western world that was the hallmark of his popularity and lasting influence.  It was Lewis’ simple but powerful writings on the transforming nature of Christian faith that endeared him to so many.  He was, I believe, the most trusted and widely-read Christian author of the 20^th Century. 

Following the death of his mother from cancer, ten-year-old Clive became angry with God and eschewed his childhood upbringing in the Anglican church.  Lewis entered a period of atheism before regaining his faith at age 33.  Although he became a communicant in the Church of England his faith was not in the trappings of that religious denomination but rather the result of a conversion to the bedrock tenets of Biblical and revelatory Christianity. Example and patient personal persuasion by good Christian friends plus the influence of enlightened writers such as George MacDonald and J. R. R. Tolkien led to repentance and spiritual submission and consequent confirmation of faith in Jesus Christ. 

Lewis’ personal conversion and quickly gained insights were put into print in the 1930’s and ‘40’s and he became a very popular apologist for the Christian faith.  Probably his most influential book (at least for me) was a compilation of talks he had given on BBC radio during WWII,  first published as Broadcast Talks and later, in 1952, as Mere Christianity. 

Lewis’ prolific output of very readable non-fiction and fiction works and extensive correspondence were, in his words, “a defense of Christianity” and clearly “evangelistic.” Yet his writings were never dry, pedantic, or histrionic.  He never claimed that he or his church had all or even most of the answers, but instead invited sincere investigation of the Christian truth that was somewhere “out there.” 

Here, indeed, was an insightful, enthusiastic and joyful Christian –witty, fervent, non-sectarian and apolitical –a man whose confident focus on Christianity shows us how a faith in Christ and knowledge and application of His gospel gives meaning to everything we experience, think, crave, are and do.