CS Lewis and the Social Gospel?
February 15, 2008 5 Comments
From Mere Christianity,
‘Niceness’–wholesome, integrated personality–is an excellent thing. We must try by every medical, educational, economic, and political means in our power to produce a world where as many people as possible grow up ‘nice’; just as we must try to produce a world where all have plenty to eat.
But we must not suppose that even if we succeeded in making everyone nice we should have saved their souls. A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world–and might even be more difficult to save.
It is a good thing that truly nothing is impossible with God or else none of us would escape His wrath…
Good points. Of course we’d rather people be “nice” than “not nice,” but first things first: Have we looked for opportunities to share the Gospel with them? I’m not talking about forcing it on anyone, just seeing if they are interested.
There is little value in trying to emphasis the distinction between following God and working to make the world a better place, for they are inextricably intertwined. This is most beautifully stated in the last chapter of the Gospel of John. In his final appearance before the disciples, Jesus tells them three times: If you love me, then take care of my people.
Chris,
This is what the Lord told Peter (John 21:17) in the passage I believe you referred to,
Who do you think the “sheep” are?
sheep = people
Yes, but what group of people?