We Have Cause to Be Uneasy | C. S. Lewis

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - We Have Cause to Be UneasyThe author opens by acknowledging that the conclusion of the previous discussion—that a power or "Somebody" beyond the material universe is influencing us through the Moral Law—might lead some readers to feel annoyed, thinking they have been led into a predictable religious sermon. The author counters this skepticism by addressing the notion of "putting the clock back." He asserts that if humanity has taken a profoundly wrong turning, as the current state of the world suggests, then true progress means making an about-turn and returning to the right road. The quickest way forward, therefore, is to go back.The current discussion, the author clarifies, is not yet focused on Christianity or any specific religion, but simply on the nature of the Somebody or Something behind the Moral Law. To deduce the nature of this Being, two sources of evidence are available. The first is the universe He created, which suggests a great artist, but also a merciless, terrifying force. The second, and superior, source is the Moral Law placed in human minds—which is considered "inside information." This second source reveals a Being intensely interested in right conduct, such as fair play, courage, and truthfulness. This means the Being is "good," though not in the sense of being soft or indulgent; the Moral Law itself is described as "hard as nails."The understanding of this power presents humanity with a severe dilemma. If the universe is not governed by absolute goodness, then all human efforts are ultimately hopeless. But if such goodness exists, humans—who constantly violate the Moral Law—are making themselves enemies of that goodness, which again renders their case hopeless. This places humanity in a terrible fix where God is both the supreme comfort and the supreme terror, the thing most needed and the thing most hidden from.The author emphasizes that his "roundabout way" of approaching the subject was deliberate, as Christianity only begins to make sense once this despairing position is realized. Christianity tells people to repent and promises forgiveness, but this message is meaningless to those who do not yet recognize the real Moral Law, the Power behind it, and their own transgression against it. Christianity offers an explanation for this terrible fix—how the demanding impersonal mind behind the Moral Law can also be a Person who has met the law's demands on humanity’s behalf. While Christianity offers unspeakable comfort in the long run, it must begin with this initial dismay and facing terrifying facts.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730