KKNOWINGNOWING A Teaching Quarterly for Discipleship of Heart and Mind C. S. LEWIS INSTITUTE OINGOING &D&D Winter 2005 PROFILES IN FAITH IN THIS ISSUE Helen Joy Davidman 3 C. S. Lewis Institute Feature: (Mrs. C.S. Lewis) 1915-1960: A Portrait The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Lyle W. Dorsett by Art Lindsley Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, 7 Fellows Feature: Beeson Divinity School, Samford University Feeding the Five

Used by permission of The Marion E. Wade Center, Thousand Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. by Jeff Lindeman

8 Special Feature: fter C.S. Lewis went public with Hunter College and an M.A. from Columbia Jefferson and his conversion and commitment University. From childhood Joy exhibited Wilberforce: to Jesus Christ, controversy marked intellectual prowess. She broke the Leaders Who hounded him until scale on an IQ test in elementary Shaped Their Times AhisA death. Fashionable agnostics school and as a youngster she – Part III dubbed him “Heavy Lewis,” lib- The brilliant loved books and typically read by Ray Blunt eral Christians reviled him for his numerous volumes each week. 10 Review and lack of theological sophistication, and attractive Obviously a prodigy, Joy mani- Reflect: and fundamentalists attacked his fested unusual critical and ana- Book Review: Art interpretation of scripture and woman Mr. lytical skills, as well as musical Lindsley’s C.S. his ecumenical charity towards Lewis married talent. Raised in a middle class Lewis’s Case for most Christian traditions. But Bronx neighborhood, Joy Christ neither these issues nor a host of in 1956 Davidman amazed even her by Dr. Jerry Root other contentions stirred up any- possessed a brilliant and demanding father 12 Guest Feature: thing like the furor that sur- by being able to read a score of Passion For Your rounded his marriage to Helen well-deserved Chopin and then play it on the Name Joy Davidman. In the minds of piano without another glance at by J. John many of C.S. Lewis’s friends it literary the score. Similarly she would was bad enough that a bachelor take her part in a Shakespeare 20 Growing in Christ reputation in Series: Maturity nearly sixty years old married a play and memorize her lines af- Can Be Measured woman of forty. But to make her own right ter the first reading. Howard by J. Oswald matters worse, she was an Davidman, Joy’s brother and Sanders American divorcee who also years before she her junior by four years, recalled happened to be Jewish and the that her striking intellectual 28 Upcoming Events mother of two boys. met the powers and aggressive personal- The brilliant and attractive celebrated ity elicited his devoted admira- woman Mr. Lewis married in tion but at the same time 1956 possessed a well-deserved Oxford don. inhibited him. To be sure, literary reputation in her own Howard was no intellectual right years before she met the cel- slouch. Indeed, he excelled at ebrated Oxford don. Born in the University of Virginia, be- New York City to well-educated Jewish par- came a medical doctor who practiced psy- ents in 1915, Joy Davidman attended public chiatry in Manhattan after serving in World schools and then went on to earn a B.A. at War II. Nevertheless, he confessed that he

(continued on page 16) KNOWING & DOING Editor’s Note is a publication of the C. S. LEWIS INSTITUTE, INC. Editor, James L. Beavers It was a golden summer afternoon when we walked from the charming village of LI SENIOR FELLOW Leighlinbridge, Ireland, across the bridge over C. S. LEWIS James M. Houston, Ph.D. the River Barrow to the large stone home of INSTITUTE SENIOR FELLOW Douglas and Merrie Gresham. Douglas, son of Steven S. Garber, Ph.D. Helen Joy Davidman Lewis and stepson of ESTABLISHED 1976 SENIOR FELLOW C.S. Lewis, had invited our Oxford-bound group to his liv- Arthur W. Lindsley, Ph.D. ing room to hear some of his reminiscences of his mother SENIOR ASSOCIATE and step-father. One of the many subjects discussed was Greg Headington, D.Min. the 1993 film, Shadowlands, directed by Richard PRESIDENT Attenborough and starring Anthony Hopkins as C.S. Thomas A. Tarrants, III In the legacy of “Jack” Lewis and Deborah Winger as Joy. Douglas related EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT that the film had a number of factual inaccuracies, e.g., al- Thomas W. Simmons C. S. Lewis, though shown driving in the film, C.S. Lewis never COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR James L. Beavers learned to drive a car. However, he went on to say that the Institute “emotionally, the film was spot on.” ADMINISTRATOR Emily J. Roberts Joy was, as Lyle Dorsett’s portrait of her in this is- endeavors to develop sue indicates, an extraordinarily brilliant person. Douglas VOLUNTEERS shared that he believed his mother to have been one of the disciples who can OFFICE & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT few people who was on an intellectual par with—if not Karen Olink beyond—the enormously gifted Lewis, and therefore articulate, defend, SPECIAL PROJECTS someone with whom he could fully engage in an unfet- B.J. Blunt tered exchange of ideas. and live HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR What was missing from the film? “Laughter,” he Jennifer Collins faith in Christ told us. The most common memory he had of Jack’s talks CONFERENCE COORDINATORS with friends and colleagues was the presence and prepon- Jim & Cynthia Eckert through personal derance of laughter. “There was always laughter when- ever he met with friends.” BOARD OF DIRECTORS and public life. Kenneth W. Broussard I have always remembered that comment and so William R. Deven found it not surprising to read that C.S. Lewis’s recom- James W. Eckert Elizabeth B. Fitch, Esq. mendation to the readers of The Lion, the Witch and the Cherie Harder Wardrobe was, foremost, to enjoy it. I also think that is James R. Hiskey Dennis P. Hollinger, Ph.D. sound advice for watching the new The Lion, the Witch and Kerry A. Knott the Wardrobe film: rather than dissecting it to look for all of Arthur W. Lindsley, Ph.D. Carl R. Meyer its hidden meaning, first, simply enjoy it. John O. Renken, Esq. Enjoy this issue of Knowing & Doing, too. I pray Bruce M. Scott Thomas A. Tarrants, III that it will enrich your heart and mind.

© 2005 C. S. LEWIS INSTITUTE. Portions of this publication may be reproduced for noncommercial, local church, or ministry use without prior permission. For quantity reprints or other uses, please contact the CSLI offices.

KNOWING & DOING is published by the C. S. Lewis Institute and is available on request. A suggested annual contribution of $25 or more is requested to provide for its production and publication. An electronic version (PDF file) is available as well, and can be obtained via the web site: www.cslewisinstitute.org. Page 2 Requests for changes of address may be made in writing to: KNOWING & DOING C.S. LEWIS INSTITUTE; 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300; Springfield, VA 22151-2110 Winter 2005 or via e-mail to: [email protected]. C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Institute Lewis’s best-loved classic Feature by Art Lindsley, Ph.D. Senior Fellow, C. S. Lewis Institute

inally, The Lion, the Witch and the through the generations. Lewis says: Wardrobe is coming to the big screen. The anticipation is great. The book Fashions in literary taste come and go F has already been at #1 on The New among adults, and every period has its own F shibboleths. These, when good, do not cor- York Times bestseller list. Many people, both believers and non-believers, will see the film, rupt it, for children read only to enjoy. Of and it will be an opportunity to speak to oth- course, their limited vocabulary and general ers about the film’s meaning as well as about ignorance make some books unintelligible C.S. Lewis. There are already plans for other to them. But, apart from that, juvenile taste is volumes of the Narnia series to be made into simply human taste. movies, so it is possible that all seven might Dr. Art Lindsley eventually be filmed. Any preparation we Lewis felt that to grow into adulthood Dr. Art Lindsley is a do now may prepare us for future opportu- without developing your imagination was to Senior Fellow with the nities, so it’s good to learn more about the be impoverished. One five-year-old boy who C.S. Lewis Institute where he has served since Narnia series and The Lion, the Witch and the visited Lewis’s home outside Oxford during 1987. Formerly, he was Wardrobe (LWW). the bombing of London in World War II, had Director of Educational never been exposed to fairy tales. Lewis la- Ministries of the Ligonier An Allegory? mented that “his poor imagination has been Valley Study Center and Staff Specialist with One of the first questions that arises about left without any natural food at all.” Lewis Coalition for Christian the series is: Are the books allegories, where felt that it was important (as Jesus taught) Outreach, Pittsburgh, each detail of the books has symbolic spiri- for adults to keep a childlike outlook on the Pennsylvania. He re- tual meaning? The answer is “No.” Lewis world: “Only those adults who have re- ceived his B.S. (Chemis- try) from Seattle Pacific stressed that each volume started with pic- tained, with whatever additions and enrich- University, an M.Div. tures in his mind, which he turned into a ments, their first childlike responses to poetry from Pittsburgh Theo- story. For instance, LWW started with the unimpaired can be said to have grown up at logical Seminary, and his image in Lewis’s mind of a Faun carrying all.” In Experiment in Criticism, Lewis writes: Ph.D. (Religious Stud- ies) from the University packages, and he had been having dreams of Pittsburgh. He is about lions. As he wrote, some of his Chris- But who in his right mind would not keep if author of True Truth: tian beliefs crept into the story, but it is im- he could that tireless curiosity, that intensity Defending Absolute portant not to press every detail of the story of imagination, that faculty of suspending Truth in a Relativistic World (IVP, 2004), as you might do with The Pilgrim’s Progress. belief, that unspoiled attitude, that readiness C.S. Lewis’s Case for to wonder, to pity, to admire? Christ (IVP, 2005), and For Children or for Adults? co-author with R.C. In response to the charge that fairy stories Lewis’s friend Ruth Pitter said that Lewis Sproul and John Gerstner of Classical such as The Chronicles of Narnia were child- had a child’s sense of glory and nightmare. Apologetics. Art, his ish, Lewis distinguished between fairy tales Lewis said about himself, “Parts of me are wife, Connie, and their and children’s stories. He pointed out that still twelve, and I think parts were already two boys, Trey and many children do not like fairy stories, while fifty when I was twelve.” In any case, the Jonathan, make their home in Arlington, many adults do, and that a good story is a capacity to avoid being hardened by cyni- Virginia. good story no matter what the reader’s age. cism and suspicion was regarded as essential “Children’s” stories retain their appeal to human well being.

(continued on page 4) Permission is granted to copy for personal and church use; all other uses by request. © 2005 C.S. LEWIS INSTITUTE • 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300 • Springfield, VA 22151-2110 Page 3 703/914-5602 • www.cslewisinstitute.org KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (continued from page 3) I have met people of every One of C.S. Lewis’s cousins, say Aslan is on the move— age, from five to eighty-five, Claire, remembered occa- perhaps has already landed.” who have enjoyed the The sions when various cousins When the children first hear Chronicles of Narnia. When I along with “Jack” (C.S. the name Aslan, it stirs each of One of C.S. read the series to my sons, I Lewis) and his brother War- them in a different way: found that I was more ex- ren, would climb into the Lewis’s cited by rereading the stories wardrobe while young Jack Edmund felt a sensation of myself than the boys were to would tell them stories he mysterious horror. Peter felt cousins, hear them. As an adult I had invented. It is interesting suddenly brave and ad- Claire, could better understand the to note that Lewis mentions venturous. Susan felt as if many layers of meaning a few times that “it is foolish some delicious smell or remembered within the stories. to shut oneself into any some delicious strain of wardrobe” perhaps because music had just floated by occasions The Plot he always kept a crack of her. And Lucy got the feel- when The first thing that needs to light when he told his stories ing you have when you be said about LWW is that it and also because he was wake up in the morning various is meant to be enjoyed. Before warned. When Lewis sent a and realize that it is the be- you analyze or pick apart the draft of LWW to friend ginning of summer. cousins story, realize that Lewis Owen Barfield, Barfield’s along with wrote it so that children (and wife Maud was concerned They find out Aslan is a others) could delight in the lest children read the story king and hear about an old “Jack” (C.S. story itself. Next, we might and accidentally lock them- rhyme, a kind of prophecy: ask why the story has had selves in a wardrobe. So Lewis) and such appeal to so many. Per- Lewis added five warnings to Wrong will be right, when his brother, haps some of the elements LWW. The wardrobe is such Aslan comes in sight, would include a magical entry a vivid image that one Ox- At the sound of his roar, Warren, to Narnia through a ward- ford boy, after reading the sorrows will be no more, robe, an invented world book, chopped a hole in the When he bares his teeth, would populated with strange crea- back of the family wardrobe winter meets its death, climb into tures, talking animals, sibling trying to get to Narnia. And when he shakes his rivalry (Lucy vs. Edmund), an mane, we will have the aloof professor, a vivid por- Aslan spring again. trayal of evil in the White There are many dimensions wardrobe Witch, a cosmic problem (al- of the book we could exam- Susan asks, “Is he quite ways winter and never ine, and there are plenty of safe?” “Safe?” said Mr. Bea- while Christmas), its British-ness, new books on LWW or The ver, “....Course he isn’t safe, young Jack temptation (Turkish Delight), Chronicles of Narnia to help but he’s good.” places of rest and refresh- you do so; but the central Eventually, Aslan appears would tell ment (the Beavers’ house), character is the lion, Aslan. and the battle between good adventure, and above all, the Although the children hear and evil begins in earnest. As them stories lion, Aslan. about Aslan at the Beavers’ the story unfolds, Aslan he had The actual wardrobe that house in chapter seven, they shows up when and where prompted the stories was one don’t actually meet him till he will. He does not appear invented. made by Lewis’s grandfather chapter twelve. often, almost never on de- and was in the family home mand, and always at his in Belfast. Later, it was moved Not Safe but Good own discretion. And, he does to Lewis’s home at Oxford Soon after the children arrive not have to be visible in order and now resides at the Wade in Narnia, their new friend for his power to be felt. Center, at Wheaton College. Mr. Beaver tells them: “They Throughout the Narnia

Page 4 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 stories we see in Aslan the at- they hear a loud crack and This story has the capacity to tributes of Jesus. He is always see the Stone Table broken in sneak “past watchful drag- present, whether or not we two. But there is no Aslan. ons” of our religious upbring- Just as are aware of him. He is al- “Who’s done it?” cried Su- ing, giving us a new view of ways working for our good, san. “What does it mean? Is an old message. LWW can Aslan was whether or not we under- it more magic?” “Yes!” said prepare people to hear the stand (or even like what he a great voice behind their gospel in a new way. killed in does). He transforms us in backs. “It’s more magic.” Edmund’s ways we could never do for Aslan is alive! He is real, Interesting Notes ourselves. Greatest of all, he not a ghost. He licks Susan’s Here are a few interesting tid- stead and sacrificed his life for us and forehead. The girls are over- bits or insights on Narnia in has risen again to free us from joyed and throw themselves general or LWW in particu- saved his the bondage of sin. on him, kissing him repeat- lar, gleaned from my recent life, so Jesus’ edly. When they calm down, reading of C.S. Lewis’s books: The Lion Who Sacrifices Himself Susan asks: “But what does it death for us In LWW there is a confronta- all mean?” • The origin of the name tion between the White Witch Aslan is from the notes of not only and Aslan. She comes to claim “It means,” said Aslan, Lane’s Arabian Nights. It is takes away the life of Edmund because he “that though the witch Turkish for lion. Lewis pro- has turned traitor. She appeals knew the Deep Magic, there nounced it Ass-lan. He did our guilt for to a deep magic from the be- is a magic deeper still mean to portray the Lion ginning of time saying that which she did not know. of Judah (Jesus!). what we “Every traitor belongs to me Her knowledge goes back have done as my lawful prey” and that only to the dawn of Time. • LWW was originally “for every treachery I have a But if she could have planned to be a single, or left right to kill.” looked a little farther back, stand alone book, not part Aslan and the White into the stillness and the of a series. undone, but Witch talk privately, and darkness before Time when we Aslan declares Edmund free dawned, she would have • It took ten years from 1938 from the witch’s claim. But read there a different incan- (when Lewis first had the believe in the look of joy on the witch’s tation. She would have idea of a children’s story) face as she departs, and her known that when a willing till 1948 to actually get Him, new allusion to a promise Aslan victim who had committed down to completing the life begins to has made, indicate that some- no treachery was killed in task. thing ominous is about to a traitor’s stead, the Table transform happen. Late that night, would crack and Death it- • After LWW, the rest of the Aslan leaves the camp “head self would start working books came quickly—pub- us from the hung low” and walking backwards.” lished one per year after slowly. As Lucy and Susan 1950. inside out, watch from a distance in hor- Just as Aslan was killed in from death ror and disbelief, the witch Edmund’s stead and saved • Father Christmas, though and all manner of evil crea- his life, so Jesus’ death for us thought by some (Roger to life that tures bind Aslan to the Stone not only takes away our guilt Green and J.R.R. Tolkien) Table, shave him, and for what we have done or left to be an alien intrusion into will go on muzzle him. Finally, the undone, but when we be- the story (LWW), serves an for all witch takes a stone knife and lieve in Him, new life begins important role. First, his ar- kills Aslan. Exhausted by to transform us from the in- rival shows that the spell eternity. grief, Lucy and Susan wait side out, from death to life “always winter and never for morning. As the sun rises, that will go on for all eternity. Christmas” has begun to be (continued on page 6)

Page 5 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (continued from page 5) broken. Second, the gifts he brings serve an of the Narnia series is a battle in which we important role in LWW (and in other books all partake. We need to take sides. Lewis of the series): Peter—shield and armor; Su- wrote: san—bow, quiver and ivory horn; Lucy — bottle of cordial and a small dagger. . . . there is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second is claimed . . . there is • The magic in Narnia contrasts with the by God and counterclaimed by Satan. no neutral Harry Potter series. In the Narnia books magic is part of the genre of fairy tale and Although Narnia is an imagined world, it ground in an affirmation that the supernatural is real. can point us to central truths we need to Magic exists in LWW and others of the se- grasp anew in our own world. LWW also the ries primarily in provides opportuni- the fantasy world, ties to talk to others universe: not in our world. not only about The every Whereas in Harry Chronicles of Narnia Potter, magic is the series but also about square inch, central focus, what C.S. Lewis be- draws attention to lieved about other every split itself, and is located things. [There are second is in our world. In many helpful books LWW, magic is written to help us claimed by practiced by super- grasp this moment natural agents, of opportunity. See God and whereas in Harry this issue and our counter- Potter magic is a result of human web site for a review of C.S. Lewis’s Case for spellcasting and occult practice. In Narnia Christ.] claimed by the children are not generally permitted to engage in magic, but invited to call on To summarize the message of LWW in a Satan. Aslan for help. nutshell: the Emperor beyond the sea cre- ated Narnia through Aslan, it had come un- • There have been about 85 million sets of der a spell from the White Witch making it The Chronicles of Narnia sold since their “always winter, never Christmas,” Aslan publication. came to reverse the curse and to sacrifice himself for Edmund’s sin. Though there are • The chronology of the seven Narnia books more battles to be fought, the time will come cover 2,555 Narnian years to only 52 En- when the kids will truly live “happily ever glish or earth years. after.” They will forever enter the great Ad- venture, like a book where every chapter is • Strange mythological creatures present on better than the one before. In short, it is the Aslan’s side—dryads, naiads, centaurs, timeless message of creation, fall, redemp- unicorns, a bull with the head of a man, a tion, consummation put into a new disarm- great dog, animals with symbolic meanings ing form. (pelican, eagle, leopards)—indicate a his- torical continuity, ancient myth coming to its fulfillment in Aslan.

Battle Between Good and Evil Lewis believed that the battle between good and evil that we see in LWW and in the rest

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, NARNIA, and all book titles, characters and locales original thereto are trademarks of C.S. Page 6 Lewis Pte Ltd. and are used with permission. © DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. and WALDEN MEDIA, LLC. All rights reserved. KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Fellows Feature Feeding the Five Thousand by Jeff Lindeman 2003 Fellows Class

s an attorney in private practice, I am re- cannot make new work simply appear. You’ve Asponsible for bringing in work to support, tried. Trying makes you weary. Discouragement not just myself, but also those who work with and thoughts of failure can fill your mind. me. There are times when we have more work “You give them something to eat.” Mark than we can handle. More often, times are tells us what went through the disciples’ minds. leaner with no sight of needed new work ap- “That’s impossible.” “It would take more than pearing on the horizon. Since attorneys are paid eight months wages—200 denarii.” Jesus, how- for their time and expertise, being productive ever, was not done with the disciples, “How means having “billable hours.” When your plate many loaves do you have? Go look!” They did is not full, worry, uncertainty, and discourage- not know what they had. They had to go find ment can set in. In spite of your best marketing out. The answer was, perhaps, more deflating and networking, the needed and hoped-for than the problem—five loaves and two fish, Jeff Lindeman is a partner in the law firm work may not appear. You sometimes simply do next to nothing when attempting to feed five Nixon Peabody, LLP not know where else to look. It was during one thousand. What could be done now? where he practices patent of those lean times that I read the story of Jesus Now that the disciples had recognized the law. In addition to his feeding the five thousand in Mark 6. It is a fa- problem and knew their resources (their lim- law degree, Jeff has a miliar story. I was keenly aware of my need to ited resources), Jesus acted. He first brought Ph.D. in chemistry. Jeff depend on God, but now the story gave me re- order to the situation—at His command, the recently completed the newed hope and confidence in God’s provision. people sat down in groups of hundred and fif- Year One and Year Two Fellows Program at the Jesus and his disciples were trying to get ties. He took what little the disciples had to C.S. Lewis Institute. He away for some rest and time to be alone. The offer—five loaves and two fish. Looking up to continues in the Fellows crowd, however, had followed them. Out of heaven, Jesus gave thanks and began distribut- Program this year compassion Jesus took time and taught the ing the food. He looked to God, gave thanks, serving as a mentor to crowd many things—“they were like sheep and acted. All five thousand were fed. And, first year fellows. Jeff and without a shepherd.” When it was late, the dis- there was food left over. his wife of 21 years, To me, new incoming work is God’s provi- Mona, have a four year ciples came to Jesus with a problem: the crowd old son Matthew. They needed to eat. The disciples suggested the sion to do what He called me to do in my vo- live in McLean, Virginia crowd be sent away so they could buy food for cation. There have been times when the work and attend The Falls themselves. No one expected Jesus’ answer, on hand looked as meager as the five loaves Church. “You give them something to eat.” The disciples and two small fish. In those times when work could not imagine doing that. It was late in seemed to be lacking, I have tried to apply six the day. They and the crowd were in a deso- action steps I learned from Jesus’ feeding of late place. There was nothing there. Even if it the five thousand: 1) Recognize the problem, were possible, it would take much more 2) Take stock of what you have, 3) Look to money than they had. God for His provision, 4) Bring order to the Everyone has heard that recognizing the situation, 5) Lift what you have to the Lord, problem is the first step to solving it….but not and 6) Begin doing what needs to be done. this time. “You give them something to eat” was Lean times can distract me from staying fo- Jesus’ surprising solution. When our law firm cused on Jesus. Taking action on these steps seemed to lack the sustaining work that we may not bring work, but it always brings me needed, it was not hard to state the problem or to the Lord. Bringing every request to God in even to pray about it. Yet, Jesus’ answer: “You prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, give them something to eat” (in our case: “You moves us from self-centered anxiety to give them the work they need”), is hardly help- peace—peace in our hearts and peace in our ful or encouraging. Of course, I wanted to do minds, peace guarded in Christ Jesus. that, but how? Sometimes you simply lack the resources. It is late. The place is desolate. You

Permission is granted to copy for personal and church use; all other uses by request. © 2005 C.S. LEWIS INSTITUTE • 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300 • Springfield, VA 22151 703/914-5602 • www.cslewisinstitute.org Page 7 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Special Feature Leadership Series—Part III Jefferson and Wilberforce: Leaders Who Shaped Their Times by Ray Blunt Adjunct Faculty, Federal Executive Institute and the Leadership Development Academy

now turn to look more closely at the third Two Worldviews— sustaining factor in more detail—their two Two Legacies worldviews—and how they were lived out in their two visions for abolishing slavery.2 We will then be in a better position n contemporary leadership and organiza- through a summary comparison to under- Itional research, Dr. Peter Senge stands stand how and why they chose the course among the most respected scholars in the that they did that began to vary so widely. field seeking to understand why people be- We might also understand how each man Ray Blunt have the way they do in large organiza- shaped the times they lived in long after tions. In a somewhat unique finding, he has they were dead. These then are the tasks for Ray Blunt served 35 framed what he calls the ladder of infer- this concluding essay. years in the Air Force and ence as a way of understanding how Department of Veterans people both convey and understand mean- Saint vs. Hypocrite? Affairs, and is now Adjunct Faculty with the Federal ing and how they act upon it. Central to his In the starkest of terms, many would con- Executive Institute and the findings is that at the core, an individual’s clude that simply by limiting the inquiry to Graduate School, Leader- beliefs lie behind the real meaning in all their actions alone, it would seem that ship Development Acad- they say or do.1 Wilberforce set an unswerving course to emy. In addition, he serves as Senior Consultant with His meaning of belief in this context is de- abolish slavery to his very deathbed because Federal Consulting Group fined as what people think is true about of his beliefs in the equality of all men and and with Center for Hu- how the world works, what their under- that Jefferson, in contrast, abandoned the man Resources Manage- standing is of why people behave the way field because his beliefs radically changed ment at the National Academy of Public Admin- that they do, and what their own sense is of over time. In short, Jefferson was a hypocrite istration (NAPA). He is a what is central to their purposeful actions in of the first order. frequent speaker and au- all of life. Others might use the term world- While a tempting conclusion, this is far thor in the field of leader- view to describe this perspective. too simplistic an answer and masks how a ship and human capital initiatives. Lurking behind all of what we have been leader’s (and politician’s) worldview can He and his wife, B.J., live seeing so far in the comparison of what help us to understand the distinction be- in Alexandria, and have shaped the lives of Wilberforce and tween verbal affirmations and consequent two grown children and Jefferson is the notion of contending world- actions. More than anything, it was the di- four grandchildren. views. We have examined two factors that vergence in their worldviews, their beliefs of played key roles in both men sustaining the how history worked, that most deeply di- commitments they made early in political vided the two men and determined the life to abolishing slavery. Where we have course of action each would follow seen this distinction most clearly is not in throughout their mature lives regarding what they said or wrote publicly, but in the how to engage the fractious political and choices they made to act or not to act. In human issue of slavery. examining so far two sustaining influ- ences—their early mentors and their choice The Optimist of colleagues and supporters—we have also As we have seen, William Smalls, Jefferson’s seen an emerging and a differing world- first and likely most important mentor, view that guided each of these men. We helped to expose Jefferson to the exciting

1 Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline (New York: Currency Doubleday, 1990) Page 8 2 The three-part framework for the discussion in the three papers is drawn from Dr. Steven Garber as set forth in his KNOWING & DOING marvelous book, The Fabric of Faithfulness (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1996). Winter 2005 ideas of the Enlightenment that were emerg- the rights of states to declare slaves free, ing on the global scene. Space does not allow and tantamount to giving the slaves both for a thorough discussion of the new thinking freedom and the dagger whereby they that was being introduced, but for our pur- might kill their masters. Adams voices his poses there are three key beliefs that Jefferson own misgivings, not just about the Mis- held that illustrate the impact it had on him. souri issue, but about the “black cloud” of First, he believed the progress of history slavery that hung over America for over ...these two should be viewed with optimism owing to 50 years. Like Jefferson, he replies, he can the power of man’s reason which could only only leave it to posterity, but unlike God-inspired lead to inexorable progress not only materi- Jefferson, he leaves it to God as well. goals would ally, but far more so morally. Progress toward equality depended upon the subsequent gen- The Realist be what erations’ further development of the requisite There is perhaps no better place to contrast knowledge and moral insight to complete the the worldview of Wilberforce with that of would task of ending slavery. Jefferson than to return to Wilberforce’s animate the Second, the equality of which he spoke was great vision and how he understood his more of a metaphysical equality based upon “two great objects:” abolishing slavery and rest of the notion of individual rights and not revealed the reformation of manners. moral truths of what it means to be human. As we have noted, by “manners” he Wilberforce’s He expressed skepticism in his Notes on Vir- means nothing less than the moral climate life and ginia that black slaves possessed the requisite of England—the culture embedded in and mental and moral raw material to ever rise to shaped by the leaders and members of Brit- sustain his the level of most white Americans. ish society at all levels. This is a breathtak- And, third, the Enlightenment view was ing vision that could only be the product of commitments that the tyranny most to be feared was not a completely youthful idealist or of some- in the face of tyranny of one man over another, but rather one who actually believed that God, Him- that of the King, Executive, or the Federal self, had cast the vision and would shape the most Government over the rights of individual the outcome. states. Thus, he would argue later in life that Jefferson would most likely have been furious slaves were not men but property because appalled that an educated political leader, opposition, that is what was decreed by many of the particularly, would make such a proclama- state laws of the south and that the Federal tion. Jefferson would have viewed such repeated government could only override the states in sweeping goals of a political leader as tan- regard to the rights of individuals, not the tamount to a declaration of tyranny of the failure, rights of property. Certain rights trumped worst sort—seeking to invoke personal re- others in his mind. ligious beliefs on an entire society and he public This sense of priority can readily be seen in would have categorically opposed any derision and the remarkable correspondence that was car- thought that there even was such a thing ried between Jefferson and John Adams for as the supernatural direction of God for a even the the last 14 years of their lives. As these two human life or a government. old revolutionary thinkers and leaders looked Nevertheless, these two God-inspired opposition of back on where they had come as a nation, goals would be what would animate the the crown. they attempted to explain what each had rest of Wilberforce’s life and sustain his done and why, and they shared their hopes commitments in the face of the most furi- for the future. ous opposition, repeated failure, public de- What interests us is that in all the years of rision and even the opposition of the their exchange of letters (they never saw each crown. What sustained these goals was other after 1800) the subject of slavery was that Wilberforce held a particular Christian raised only one time. In 1821, Jefferson spoke to the Missouri question as an abridgement of (continued on page 18)

Permission is granted to copy for personal and church use; all other uses by request. © 2005 C. S. LEWIS INSTITUTE • 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300 • Springfield, VA 22151-21100 Page 9 703/914-5602 • www.cslewisinstitute.org KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Review & Reflect Book Review Art Lindsley’s C.S. Lewis’s Case for Christ by Dr. Jerry Root Professor of Evangelism, Wheaton College Associate Director, Institute for Strategic Evangelism

ith the upcoming film adaptation of that takes Lewis’s arguments further than WC.S. Lewis’s, The Lion, the Witch and Lewis himself, thus contemporizing these the Wardrobe, the market has been flooded arguments and applying them to a post- Dr. Jerry Root with books about Lewis and his work. modern context. The book is written as a While it is fair to wonder why anyone dialogue, therefore the reader is able to see a modeled application of these arguments Dr. Jerry Root serves as the would read a book about Lewis when he, Associate Director of the or she, could actually read Lewis first hand; and relate them to one’s own conversa- Institute of Strategic nevertheless, there is certainly an audience tional experience. The book provides a Evangelism. Jerry also that would benefit from guided tours that reader with the wide range of Lewis’s teaches evangelism courses at apologetical thought concerning miracles; both the undergraduate and explore his life, fiction, and thought more graduate level. deeply. Out of the sampling of the problem of evil; the exclusive claims of Jerry was born and raised some of the nearly thirty books be- Christ in light of other world in Southern California. He has ing published around the time of religions; moral relativ- pastored three different ism; the challenges of churches over twenty three the movie release one book, and years, and nineteen of those one book alone, addresses postmodernism; and years were invested in student Lewis’s Apologetic vision, and brings it together in a ministry. While pastoring he that is Art Lindsley’s C.S. useful single volume. taught courses in Philosophy Lindsley begins his and on C.S. Lewis for ten Lewis’s Case for Christ: Insights years at the College of from Reason, Imagination and study of Lewis’s apologet- DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. He Faith (Downers Grove, Illi- ics by making a clear case has served as an Adjunct nois: InterVarsity Press, 2005. as to why Lewis, who died Faculty Member at Biola over forty years ago, still University since 1991, Paperback, 216 pages). teaching courses on Lewis. Dr. Lindsley, of the C. S. speaks with authority to- Jerry has lectured and Lewis Institute, as an day. Lewis’s genius, his preached in 14 countries and apologist and theologian, breadth of scholarship, his has traveled to 31 countries adult conversion from athe- and 3 continents. He co- walks his readers through edited The Quotable C.S. Lewis’s most salient argu- ism to Christ, his love of argu- Lewis with Wayne ments for the Christian ment in the context of true Martindale and has produced faith. Lindsley’s breadth of friendship, his gift as a power- study guides and booklets on ful communicator, all establish Friendship Evangelism, and knowledge about Lewis and his grasp of the contributed to other books wide range of Lewis’s writing (there are Lewis’s methods as an apologetical model and has presented a number some 72 Lewis titles and hundreds of books second to none. Even with this strong ex- of lectures on C.S. Lewis. about Lewis) allows him to bring together planation of Lewis’s strength as an apolo- apologetic insights often missed by the more gist, Lindsley does not engage in casual reader of Lewis. Consequently, C.S. hagiography; he points out that Lewis Lewis’s Case for Christ makes accessible ma- had his detractors and Lindsley looks terial that is virtually unavailable in any openly at their criticisms thus strengthen- single source. Furthermore, Lindsley mani- ing his [Lindsley’s] own critical judg- fests an ability to simplify complexities in ments. Lewis’s arguments, placing both Lewis’s As Lindsley’s treatment of Lewis’s argu- presuppositions as well as his inferences ments progresses, he dismantles the ob- Page 10 within the reach of the reader. Lindsley also stacles that Lewis himself had to KNOWING & DOING reveals, in many places, an engaging skill overcome in his own pilgrimage to faith, Winter 2005 developing Lewis’s arguments in the pro- The section of Lindsley’s study that a cess. This removes the arguments from reader is destined to find most helpful the realm of mere sterile intellectual con- concerns the coherence of Lewis’s apolo- sideration and places each one in the getic scheme. With skill Lindsley shows more vital context of a real spiritual quest. how Lewis’s arguments do hold together. In this section Lindsley discusses Lewis’s Furthermore, as has been mentioned, concept of Chronological Snobbery, which Lindsley takes Lewis’s arguments further, rejects a view once held as credible in the giving them application in a postmodern past even when it has never been reason- culture. The book is generously footnoted, The book ably discredited. Lindsley also develops has a helpful index, and supplies an ap- Lewis’s ideas relative to the Problem of pendix with ideas for further reading to Evil, reminding readers, if evil exists there go along with each chapter. is a good must be some transcendent standard by At the end of the day, one must con- “ which one can even make the judgment clude that the overall effect of Lindsley’s that evil exists; thus raising a caution investigation of Lewis’s apologetics has read, its against the all too easy charge that the been a setting forth of a strong cumula- existence of evil in a world supposedly tive argument for the Christian faith. created by a good and all-powerful God The book holds value for those looking to argument is enough to doubt God’s existence. buttress their own faith with a vigorous Lindsley’s development of Lewis’s argu- intellectual support. It has value for the ment takes into account a free-will Christian wanting to have answers for a artfully theodicy (that moral evil is the result of friend or co-worker whose questions the ill-use of free-will); and soul-making seem to stand in the way of his or her theodicy (if a good God allows evil to exist believing in Christ. It is also a valuable developed, then He knows He will bring greater read for the seeker looking for answers. good out of its existence than might have The book is a good read, its argument art- and, most occurred had it not been allowed—this fully developed, and, most of all, it is results in good which potentially comes worthy of Lewis. to God’s creatures through suffering). of all, it is “ Lindsley also accounts for the emotional stress relative to suffering and admits there may be times when answers may worthy of not be forth coming. His argument is not so air tight that he cannot make room for ambiguities and perplexities. Lindsley Lewis. gives satisfying answers while avoiding that kind of triumphal, and unsatisfying, last-wordism one often encounters in less intellectually robust presentations. It is here however that a reader may disagree with one feature of Lindsley’s presenta- C. S. Lewis’s Case for Christ tion and that is his assessment that “Job can be purchased never receives an explanation for his suf- through our friends at fering” (p. 59). It is refreshing to observe Hearts & Minds Bookstores, Lindsley’s willingness to tackle Lewis’s Dallastown, Pennsylvania. ideas regarding Myth and the Imagination bringing these often neglected, yet very www.heartsandmindsbooks.com important, themes into the arena of (717) 246-3333 apologetics. He is right to see the impor- tance of these ideas in Lewis’s corpus and or reminds those interested in apologetics at booksellers everywhere. Page 11 not to disregard them. KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Guest Feature Passion For Your Name by J. John Author and Speaker

t really is a mystery. How could such a EZEKIAL 28:12-19 Igifted and trusted being as Lucifer (whose very name means “light bearer” or “son of the 12Son of man, weep for the king of Tyre. morning”) cause the first church split and Give him this message from the Sovereign take a third of the congregation with him? In J.John LORD: You were the perfection of wisdom Ezekiel 28—thought by many to refer to the and beauty. 13You were in Eden, the garden fall of Lucifer—the Bible says that he was “the perfection of wisdom and beauty” (v. 12). His J. John is regarded as of God. Your clothing was adorned with one of the most creative clothing was “adorned with every precious Christian speakers and every precious stone—red carnelian, stone” (v. 13), and God said, “I ordained and writers in the U.K. He chrysolite, white moonstone, beryl, onyx, anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian” has an appeal that tran- scends age, gender, cul- jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald— (v. 14). So what went wrong? Although we ture and occupation. His all beautifully crafted for you and set in the may fear and despise Satan in equal measure, much-loved art of story- finest gold. They were given to you on the there is much we can learn from the story of telling helps people to 14 his fall from grace that is crucial for us as discover spiritual mean- day you were created. I ordained and ing in a way that makes anointed you as the mighty angelic guard- workers in the kingdom of God. sense of everyday life. ian. You had access to the holy mountain of Lucifer might have been wonderful, but he J.John has a Lambeth let it go to his head. He began to believe his M.A. and is an Honorary God and walked among the stones of fire. own hype, as we might say today. He was Canon of Coventry Ca- 15You were blameless in all you did from thedral. amazing, beautiful, and glorious…but he He is Killy’s husband the day you were created until the day evil wasn’t divine. Twice the Bible says that God and father to Michael, was found in you. 16Your great wealth filled created him (vv. 13,15); Lucifer may have been Simeon, and Benjamin. part of God’s wondrous creation, but he was He enjoys food, films, you with violence, and you sinned. So I ban- and fun and lives in ished you from the mountain of God. I ex- not—and never could be—God. He did not Chorleywood, Hertford- pelled you, O mighty guardian, from your exist before all else; he didn’t have the power shire. place among the stones of fire. 17Your heart to create incredible things—people, animals, For more information plants, mountains, and seas—from nothing. about J.John’s ministry, was filled with pride because of all your visit the web site Lucifer was subject to God’s rule and author- www.philotrust.com. beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the ity, just like anyone else. sake of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth and exposed you to the curious gaze of Infamous Downfall kings. 18You defiled your sanctuaries with It’s too easy for us to dismiss Lucifer either as a your many sins and your dishonest trade. cartoon figure, or an icon of evil who has been So I brought fire from within you, and it evil and twisted from the start. Yet if we do so, consumed you. I let it burn you to ashes on we create a scapegoat for all the evil in the world. He is so unlike us, we think, that he the ground in the sight of all who were 19 has no relevance, other than to fight or dismiss watching. All who knew you are appalled him. Yet, like so many people in front-line min- at your fate. You have come to a terrible istry and worship today, Lucifer had anointing end, and you are no more. and authority. He found favor with God, and was close to him. He was, by all accounts,

Permission is granted to copy for personal and church use; all other uses by request. Page 12 © 2005 C. S. LEWIS INSTITUTE • 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300 • Springfield, VA 22151-2110 703/914-5602 • www.cslewisinstitute.org KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 something of a heavenly celebrity. And for those begin to take our eyes off God, perhaps by en- of us who like a little attention and adoration as joying the status that comes with leading oth- we go about God’s business within the Christian ers in worship, or overseeing a home group, or world, Lucifer is a warning to us all. discipling needy people, then it’s easy to be- In this passage, Ezekiel underlines time and come introspective and suffer the paralysis of again how lovely Lucifer was—he had “perfect self-analysis. We can only do things in God’s beauty” he writes in Chapter 27:3, “perfected strength and Spirit; but if we take our eyes off beauty” (27:4, 11) and was “perfect in beauty” God and focus on our own gifts, we can be- (28:12). One of God’s finest works of art. But it’s come so self-conscious that we end up self-ob- not always easy being the center of attention. sessed. And we then we become self-obsessed, “Sin” is a “You were blameless in all you did from the we push God to the side and put ourselves on day you were created until the day evil was center stage. As we’ve seen with Lucifer, it’s found in you,” we read in 28:15. “Your great the original sin against God. three-letter wealth filled you with violence and you sinned. Have you stopped to think about sin re- So I banished you from the mountain of God. I cently? “Sin” is a three-letter word with “I” in word“ with “I” expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your the middle. In eternity past, it was a sin to put place among the stones of fire” (v. 16). yourself over and above God, and it is still a sin in the middle. All that stardust went to Lucifer’s head. today, with the same serious consequences. “Your heart was filled with pride,” writes Nothing has changed. Lucifer’s pride per- In eternity Ezekiel, “because of all your beauty. You cor- verted him. It can pervert us. And pride, as we rupted your wisdom for the sake of your splen- know, comes before a fall. past, it was a dor. So I threw you to the earth” (v. 17). As we see in Ezekiel’s account, pride takes us along the path to destruction. It generates sin to put 7Then there was war in heaven. Michael and the violence (v. 16), dishonest trade (v. 18) and a angels under his command fought the dragon terrible end (v. 20). In today’s culture, we “tol- and his angels. 8And the dragon lost the battle erate” so much, as if it is a virtue to do so. Yet yourself over and was forced out of heaven. 9This great God remains a holy God, the same yesterday, dragon—the ancient serpent called the Devil, or today and forever, and he will never tolerate and above Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was sin. Because of Lucifer’s sin of pride, arrogance thrown down to the earth with all his angels. and violence, God did not allow him to remain God, and it is

(Revelation 12: 7-9) in his privileged position near the throne of God. God cast him out. still a sin

It’s a stunning and shocking lesson for us all. Even in the place where you might think no sin I Want It All and I Want It Now today, with could possibly be found—at the epicentre of Lucifer’s “fall” began with dissatisfaction at his God’s universe, under the shadow of his situation, at what he was called to do— what the same “ wing—Lucifer began to nurture a sense of we might call his “anointing.” While there’s pride and self-centredness. He took a long, hard nothing wrong with unselfish ambition, we look at himself in the mirror, and liked what he have to watch that we don’t become so proud serious saw a little too much; with all of his beauty, of our ministry, our fame, or our talent that we wisdom, perfection, power and status, he be- seek an ever-bigger stage for ourselves. consequences. came captivated with his own ego, and he Lucifer began to want more. We’re not “lifted himself up with pride.” quite sure why, but perhaps he was jealous of As the great writer C.S. Lewis once ob- the humans God was about to create. His ego served, “the surest way to spoil a pleasure is to was bruised, because someone else was about start examining your satisfaction.” And we to be created who would be even closer to must guard against that. Take worship, for ex- God. Whatever his problem, Lucifer harbored ample. It can always help us to focus on God, as secret ambition. He may have been holy, but he it captivates our consciousness and we look out- was also proud. He may have been awe-in- ward and upward instead of inward. But if we spiring, but he also craved power. Lucifer was

(continued on page 14)

Page 13 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Passion For Your Name (continued from page 13) a servant of God, but not a approached the pulpit with Moses. I could tell that two child of God. great expectations from the women were watching us, John Wesley, upon his con- crowd that had gathered to so, swelling with pride, I version, observed that “I hear him. But when he walked pointed to another picture swapped the faith of a servant up to the pulpit, his worst and asked, “Who is this?” for a son.” We are children of nightmare happened: his mind With a thoughtful frown, the living God first and fore- went blank and he couldn’t Michael replied, “I don’t ...if we are most. Who wants to be greater think of what to say. He was, know who the woman is, full of pride than his father or mother? No quite literally, speechless. A but that man is George of one who is in a right relation- hush fell upon the crowd as he the Jungle.” So much for and conceit ship with either, for that is retreated down the steps a bro- my pride! what it’s all about: relationship. ken-hearted man. D.L. Moody once said, “I and ambition It’s only when the relationship The dejected young preacher believe firmly that the mo- and the is neglected that we think of asked Alexander Whyte, ment our hearts are emptied ourselves before our family. “What went wrong?” He re- of pride and selfishness and world, there plied, “If you had gone up the ambition and everything that Making A Name For God or way you came down, you is contrary to God’s law, the is no room for Ourselves? would have had more chance Holy Spirit will fill every cor- the Spirit of In Revelation 22.16, we read: of getting down the way you ner of our hearts. But if we “I, Jesus, have sent my angel went up.” are full of pride and conceit God. We to give you this testimony for Pride, the idolatrous wor- and ambition and the world, the churches. I am the root ship of self, is the national reli- there is no room for the Spirit must be and the offspring of David, gion of hell. It is so subtle that of God. We must be emptied emptied and the bright morning star.” if we aren’t careful, we’ll before we can be filled.” “Bright morning star” is the even become proud of our And we really do need to before we can title that Lucifer wanted. In- humility. The good that’s in us be filled with Christ’s love if stead, he gained the name Sa- becomes bad. Our virtue be- we are to remain true to his be filled. tan, meaning “hater.” comes our vice. calling. The apostle Peter The question is, whose It’s like the Sunday school wrote, “Be clothed with hu- name are we most keen to teacher who, having told the mility” (1 Peter 5.5), which is make known? Whose name story of the Pharisee and the a fascinating phrase when do we want spoken from the publican, said, “Children, let’s we consider that our clothes lips of men and women? We bow our heads and thank are often the first thing that live in an X-Factor, Pop-Idol God we are not like the Phari- people see of us. How are you culture, in which so many see!” Pride must die in us or “clothed?” What are you people seek fame without even nothing of heaven can live in wearing? Humility is know- expecting to work for it. It’s us. So let’s root out our pride ing and acknowledging that even easier to fall into the trap and prejudice. I’m a nobody who has be- of thinking that we are really Once, I was in a hospital come a somebody in Christ. doing something useful if we waiting room with my son The Bible says, “Whoever become famous. But unless it’s Michael, who had broken his humbles themselves will be God’s name that we’re making leg. I was trying to entertain exalted.” Humility is to re- known, we are simply setting him and found a Bible-story ceive praise and then to pass ourselves up as idols. picture book. Flicking through it on to God untouched. We A gifted young preacher it, I pointed to one drawing cannot afford to take our- was asked by the renowned and asked if he knew which selves too seriously when we preacher Alexander Whyte to story the picture referred to. are seeking to give God the preach at his church in Imagine my delight when he honor he so richly deserves. Edinburgh. The young man identified first Noah and then

Page 14 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 On Guard plan of God. He wants to kill, good that we have a Savior, So, what are we to do? Of steal and destroy everything in Christ the Lord, who inter- course, as the apostle Paul re- our lives. cedes for us! Jesus once minds us, we have all sinned But God’s plan includes the prayed, “I’m not asking you and fallen short of the glory of plan of salvation and the plan to take them out of the God. None of us is perfect, and of protection, and in Eph- world, but to keep them safe all of us are tainted by pride. esians (6:11) we read, “Put on from the evil one.” As the But it’s not good enough to all of God’s armor so that you well-known saying goes, Jesus didn’t take for granted God’s grace will be able to stand firm Jesus didn’t come to take the come to take and forgiveness, wonderful against all strategies and church out of the world, but and redeeming though it is. If tricks of the Devil.” the world out of the church. the church we are working for the King- So arrogant and desperate is In the book of James (4: 6- dom of Christ, we must be this fallen angel that he even 7), we read, “He gives us out of the willing to learn, to grow, to tried to cause Jesus to sin more and more strength to world, but mature on our walk with Jesus. against God (see Matthew 4:1- stand against such evil desires. As John the Baptist, one of the 11). But the final word in that As the Scriptures say, ‘God the world out greatest messengers the church story is that the Living Word sets himself against the has ever known, said, “He defeated all the temptations proud, but he shows favor to of the must become more important, Lucifer had to throw at him. the humble.’ So humble your- church. while I become less impor- And how did he do that? With selves before God. Resist the tant.” So how do we do it? faith in this one, simple sen- Devil, and he will flee from First, we must examine our- tence: “Get out of here, Satan!” you.” This is not an impos- selves. We might like to pray Jesus told him, “For the Scrip- sible task. We are not fighting the words of Psalm 139:23: tures say, you must worship an impossible battle. And as “Search me, O God, and know the Lord your God; serve only we seek to spread God’s my heart, test me and know Him” (Matthew 4:10). Jesus is name far and wide across my anxious thoughts. See if the victor. And the reason the this land and across our glo- there is any offensive way in Son of God appeared was to bal village, humility must be me, and lead me in the way destroy the devil’s work. our constant companion— everlasting.” This psalm is won- In the book of Hebrews especially when we begin to derful, as it celebrates the fact (2:14-15), we read, “Because see results. that we are all uniquely created God’s children are human be- Have you pushed God in the image of God—”I praise ings—made of flesh and aside? Are you guilty? Then you,” writes the psalmist— blood—Jesus also became flesh now is the time to bow down “for I am fearfully and wonder- and blood by being born in once more to Jesus and dis- fully made.” And yet, it pleads human form. For only as a hu- solve your guilt in his blood. with God to search and know man being could he die, and The one before whom we our hearts, and to lead us along only by dying could he break bow is the greatest being in the right path. the power of the Devil, who all the world: Jesus Christ, Second, we must guard had the power of death. Only in who, the Bible says, “being ourselves. Further into Peter’s this way could he deliver those found in appearance as a first letter, he goes on to say, who have lived all their lives as man, humbled himself and “Be careful! Watch out for at- slaves to the fear of dying.” became obedient to death— tacks from the devil, your great We must all be aware of even death on a cross!” (Phil- enemy. He prowls around like Satan’s schemes—to accuse, ippians 2:8). a roaring lion, looking for some deceive, plant doubts, tempt us victim to devour.” The devil to be proud, to discourage, dis- knows his time is short, so he tract and try anything else to will do anything to hinder the oppose God’s purposes. How

Page 15 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Profiles in Faith: Helen Joy Davidman (Mrs. C.S. Lewis) (continued from page 1)

The Rev. Dr. was so intimidated by with Dial in 1943, and then spent four summers at the Lyle Dorsett Joy’s writing that he never MacDowell Colony for writers in the White Mountains holds the Billy attempted to publish any- of New Hampshire. There she wrote articles, poetry, Graham Chair thing until his sister died. and edited another volume of verse. of Evangelism at Beeson Joy Davidman gradu- Always the radical with somewhat of an obsessive Divinity ated from a demanding personality, Joy Davidman, like many intellectuals in School in high school at age four- the 1930s and 1940s, proclaimed herself disillusioned Birmingham, teen. She read books at with capitalism and the “American system.” Joy flirted Alabama. He is the author of numerous books, among them home for the next year with Communism during these tumultuous years. And biographies of Joy Davidman (Mrs. and matriculated at while she never came close to becoming a doctrinaire C.S. Lewis), E. M. Bounds, Hunter College at age fif- Marxist, she did advocate socialism over capitalism, Dwight L. Moody, and Billy teen. Clipping through especially since the later system, to her mind, had failed Sunday. Keenly interested in the life and writings of C. S. Lewis, he Hunter as an English ma- and caused the Great Depression. Joy actually joined has published a volume of Lewis’s jor and French Literature the Communist Party but found the meetings and most Letters to Children and The minor with honors at age of the members quite boring. If she never advocated or Essential C. S. Lewis. His most nineteen, Joy then became expected the overthrow of capitalism, she did indeed recent book is Seeking the Secret Place: The Spiritual Formation a high school teacher enjoy criticizing both Democrats and Republicans who of C.S. Lewis. upon graduation. While she believed were less enlightened than the supposedly Dorsett is ordained in the teaching her first year out heroic socialists who led the USSR. Anglican Church and is with the of college, she earned a Ultimately Joy Davidman was too intelligent to buy Anglican Mission in America (AMIA) under the Province of master’s degree from Co- into the romanticized notions of the USSR circulating Rwanda. lumbia in only three se- among the American intelligentsia during the 1930s Lyle and his wife, Mary, have mesters. and early 1940s. Indeed, the only things Joy got out of two children and four grand- In college Joy David- her brief affair with Communism was part-time em- children. The Dorsetts founded and currently serve as directors of man exuded a passion ployment as a film critic and book reviewer and poetry Christ for Children International, a for writing. She pub- editor for New Masses, a Communist newspaper, plus mission to the economically and lished some poetry as an an acquaintance with another left-wing writer who spiritually impoverished in Mexico. undergraduate, and then would become her husband and the father of their two in January 1936, Poetry, bright and healthy boys. a prestigious magazine out of Chicago and edited by As early as 1942 twenty-seven year old Joy the venerable Harriet Monroe, bought several of her Davidman observed that the Communist Party in poems. Monroe published a few more of Joy’s works America had only one valid reason for being, “it is a and then asked her to serve as a reader and editor great matchmaker.” In August that year, Joy married for the magazine. Consequently Joy resigned her William Lindsay Gresham, novelist, journalist, Spanish teaching position after one year, and devoted herself Civil War veteran, charming story teller, and sometime fulltime to writing and editing. guitar player and vocalist in Greenwich Village drink- Her choice to write turned out to be a wise one. By ing establishments. Bill had grown disillusioned with age twenty-three her poetry caught the attention of Communists and their lofty speeches during his time in Stephen Vincent Benet. He published a volume of her Spain. His dim view of the leftist movement hurried Joy work, Letters to a Comrade, in the Younger Poet Series out of the Party especially when she gave birth to he edited for Yale University Press. This volume of David in early 1944, and Douglas less than a year and forty-five poems was celebrated by Benet and it re- a half later. ceived excellent reviews. Thanks to her initial successes By her own admission, Joy Davidman Gresham had and connection with influential members of the eastern been searching for fulfillment for years. College and literary establishment, she became a client of Brandt graduate school, writing and editing, and socializing and Brandt, one of New York’s finest literary agencies, with some of New York’s most celebrated editors and and Macmillan brought her into their stable of writers. authors, as well as political activism, were good in their In 1940 Anya, her first novel, was published by place, but she was empty inside. With highest expecta- Macmillan and well-received. She contributed to and tions she entered into family life with her husband. edited War Poem of the United Nations which appeared While Bill Gresham wrote and sold novels, including

Page 16 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 one (Nightmare Alley) that became a motion picture exists, then there is nothing more important than starring Tyrone Power, Joy stayed at home, did some learning who He is and what He requires of us. Con- freelance writing, and cared for her little boys, and the sequently the former atheist embarked upon a journey house and garden. to know more of God. At the outset she explored Re- The Gresham marriage was in trouble from the out- formed Judaism but could find no inner peace. Always set. Bill had a serious drinking problem. Binges and the reader, she devoured books and verse on spiritual- hangovers cut into his writing—just when the growing ity, including Francis Thompson’s long poem “The family required more time and money. Bill not only Hound of Heaven.” It was first Thompson’s poetry and wasted time and earned little money, he embarked then three books by C.S. Lewis—The Great Divorce, upon a series of extra-marital affairs that at once broke Miracles, and The Screwtape Letters—that caused her to Joy’s heart and drove her to fits of anger and despair. read the Bible. And when she got into the Gospels, ac- To make matters worse, she had few friends and abso- cording to her testimony, the One who had come to lutely no religion to turn to for strength. her appeared again: “He was Jesus.” C.S. Lewis once remarked that “every story of con- Joy Davidman found nourishing spiritual food in the version is a story of blessed defeat.” By the end of 1945 Bible and the writings of C.S. Lewis. Because of her in- large cracks began to appear in her protective armor. terest in Lewis, the publications of a liberal arts college Better educated and more intelligent than most people, professor and poet, Chad Walsh, who also happened well published and highly respected for a person only to be a mid-life convert, caught her attention. Walsh thirty years old, Joy had seldom if ever seriously enter- wrote a biographical article on C.S. Lewis for the New tained weakness or failure. But Bill’s long absences from York Times in 1948, and he published the first biogra- home and apparent lack of concern for her and the phy of Mr. Lewis a few months later entitled C.S. Lewis: boys left her devastated. One night in spring 1946 Bill Apostle to the Skeptics. Joy corresponded with Chad called from Manhattan and announced he was having Walsh about her many questions related to Lewis’s a nervous breakdown. Whether true or just another books and her new-found faith. Walsh understood and cover story for one of his escapades is beside the point. respected Joy’s pilgrimage so he and his wife, Eva, fre- In brief, he was not coming home and could not quently entertained Joy and her boys at their summer promise when or if ever he would be back. Bill then cottage at Lake Iroquois, Vermont. rang off and Joy walked into the nursery where her ba- The C.S. Lewis—Walsh connection provided just the bies slept. In her words, she was all alone with her fears right tonic for Joy’s thirsty soul. At Chad’s suggestion she and the quiet. She recalled later that “for the first time my read everything Lewis wrote as well as some books by pride was forced to admit that I was not, after all, ‘the Charles Williams, George MacDonald, G. K. Chesterton, master of my fate’. . . . All my defenses—all the walls of and Dorothy Sayers. By 1948 Joy pursued instruction in arrogance and cocksureness and self-love behind which a Presbyterian Church near her upstate New York I had hid from God—went down momentarily and God home. Soon thereafter she and the boys were baptized. came in.” She went on to describe her perception of the Between the New York pastor and her mentor, Chad mystical encounter this way: Walsh, Joy grew in faith and began manifesting signs of genuine conversion and repentance. It is infinite, unique; there are no words, there are no At Chad Walsh’s urging, Joy wrote to C.S. Lewis comparisons. . . .Those who have known God will un- about some of her thoughts on his books. Although derstand me. . . . There was a Person with me in that Walsh assured Joy that Lewis always answered his cor- room, directly present to my consciousness—a Person so respondence, it took her two years to find the courage real that all my precious life was by comparison a mere to write. When she did, in January 1950, Lewis’s shadow play. And I myself was more alive than I had brother noted in his journal that Jack had received a fas- ever been; it was like waking from sleep. So intense a life cinating letter from a most interesting American cannot be endured long by flesh and blood; we must or- woman, Mrs. Gresham. dinarily take our life watered down, diluted as it were, by For the next two and a half years Joy and C.S. time and space and matter. My perception of God lasted Lewis carried on a rich correspondence that intellectu- perhaps half a minute. ally and spiritually encouraged each of them. Over that

Joy concluded that inasmuch as God apparently (continued on page 25)

Page 17 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Jefferson and Wilberforce (continued from page 9) worldview that contrasted sharply even with Stemming from his Christian worldview the prevailing religious beliefs and resulting was an understanding of what it means to practices of his day. For an understanding of be human that marked another contrast this perspective he held and which sustained with Jefferson. As we have seen, Jefferson’s him and his colleagues, the best source is view of slaves included that they were to be [Wilberforce] written in his own hand. considered property and that their capaci- He believed that slavery would not be ties were limited in potential for absorption believed that abolished without a transformation of the into the culture. Once slavery ended in the slavery prevailing views of society that went well far off future, Jefferson saw slaves as being beyond a single issue. Thus, he viewed the returned to Africa. In contrast, Wilberforce’s would not be “second great object” as critical to the ac- views of the slaves as persons can perhaps complishment of the first. In that task, his best be described in the strategy discussed in abolished strategy was to begin with the head, the the previous essay which he developed with without a leaders of society in persuading them of the fellow Christian Josiah Wedgwood, the fa- need for a radical change of character. mous designer and manufacturer of presti- transformation Among many other strategies, he took what gious lines of fine china. we might view as an odd turn: he wrote a The conversation “starter” of a china of the best selling book. But not just any book, his charger plate with a kneeling black man, in prevailing was a book of practical theology, improbably chains, his hands uplifted in prayer was (to our ears) called A Practical View of the Pre- more than an intriguing gambit. The words views of vailing Religious System of Professed Chris- on the plate, “Am I not a man and a tians, in the Higher and Middle Classes in this brother?” were an expression of a central society that Country. belief that animated Wilberforce and, in His central thesis was that God’s redemp- that day, were also a distinctively evangeli- went well tive work in each person’s life was not to be cal Christian worldview. It is interesting to beyond a that of the nominal faith so widely practiced speculate what Jefferson’s reaction would in England and among his political col- have been had he been a guest at single issue. leagues, but a real belief in the historic faith. Wilberforce’s table. That faith was revealed best in scripture and was evidenced in daily action and humble A Comparative Summary service. His own diagnosis of “the grand Our task has been to try to gain an under- malady” was not that of the threat of the standing of what it was that might have tyranny of the state, as Jefferson held, but shaped the commitments of Thomas nothing less than selfishness—the tyranny of Jefferson and William Wilberforce as their self gratification above all. In an age where lives sailed further away from their commit- faith was kept on a leash and separate from ments as young, rising politicians. Many the crucible of power and choices in life, his possible explanations have presented them- was a voice that was unique. And it had an selves along the way under the rubrics of immediate impact becoming a widely read their mentors, their colleagues and support- best seller in both England and later in ers, and their worldviews. We can at this America. Lincoln was said to have been point summarize them comparatively as a strongly influenced as a boy by Wilberforce’s way to fill out the entire picture. In the end, life story and later by his writing. there is one last explanation for their diver- In the end, Wilberforce was to be the gence that we have yet to touch upon. champion of over 70 bills that became law leading to vast changes in child labor, the ex- [Refer to the chart on the facing page for a ploitation of women and the poor, and even comparative summary.] the first effort to prevent cruelty to animals. The end result was, as one commentator ob- served, “he made it fashionable to do good.”

Page 18 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 JEFFERSON WILBERFORCE

X Early mentors in Enlightened ratio- X Early mentors influenced Christian nalism, removal of tyranny of gov- beliefs and faith, serving the poor, ernments and religion realities of slavery, and vocation of politics

X Colleagues, e.g. Madison, shared X Clapham circle gave encourage- common beliefs to work only within ment of prayer support, persistence, Jefferson was “party” and against former support- worked across party and belief lines, very ers such as Adams; pragmatic regard- gave up personal aspirations ing slavery vs. ambitions fastidious

X Enlightenment worldview of opti- X Christian worldview of redressing about how he mistic resolution of slavery in the societal ills as personal responsibility wanted “next generation”; belief of triumph to God; faith = action, not practices of right ideas over time history to

X View of African slaves as lesser be- X View of African slaves as men remember ings whose destiny is Africa made in the image of God and him, even brothers designing X Societal moral reform through tri- X Societal reform through changed umph of rational structures, educa- hearts and lives and unselfish re- the obelisk he tion, removal of all forms of sponsibility wanted to tyranny mark his X First Loyalty to Virginia planter X First loyalty to God and colleagues class and to the southern planters in faith grave and its inscription. X Unwilling to come under criticism X Willingness to be vilified and expe- publicly or to give up lifestyle rience economic hardship

Two Legacies Planned Yet Unanticipated The notion of a person’s legacy in life has Interestingly, Jefferson was very fastidious taken on much interest in recent decades. It about how he wanted history to remember is perhaps most prominently and publicly him, even designing the obelisk he wanted discussed when the term of a President is to mark his grave and its inscription: nearing its end and many of the penultimate acts are interpreted by journal- Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author ists as enhancing the leader’s legacy. But of the Declaration of Independence, of the what of the legacies of Jefferson and Statute of Virginia for religious freedom and Wilberforce: what did they leave behind Father of the University of Virginia. for the next generations, and what were their own views of their legacy? (continued on page 24)

Page 19 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Growing in Christ Series Maturity Can Be Measured by J. Oswald Sanders Reprinted by permission from his book In Pursuit of Maturity

he biblical writers frequently draw A native of New Zealand, the late J. Oswald Sanders parallels between physical and (1902-1992) was a consult- TT spiritual life, and in many cases the ing director for Overseas parallels are close. The physical maturity of Missionary Fellowship, the a child can be measured with the aid of a organization founded by tape measure and scales; the child’s intellec- Hudson Taylor in 1865. He tual development can be gauged by exami- preached and taught in nations and tests. Likewise our own growth conferences in many coun- tries and wrote over 40 in maturity can be measured, and those books on the Christian life, including The Incompa- most closely associated with us will be the rable Christ, Satan Is No Myth, and Enjoying Intimacy best judges of our growth. Paul states the in- With God. fallible standard of measurement—”the This is the fourth in a series of reprinted chap- whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” ters from his book In Pursuit of Maturity which This seems a daunting and unattainable will be featured in Knowing & Doing during 2005. standard; but then, could an infinitely holy and ethically perfect God entertain a stan- dard any lower? Dr. A. T. Robertson, the eminent Greek scholar, throws light on this It was he who gave some to be apostles, dilemma. In commenting on our Lord’s staggering demand, “Be perfect therefore as some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. and some to be pastors and teachers, 5:48), he explains the significance of the word “perfect” in this context: “Here it is to prepare God’s people the goal set before us, the absolute standard of for works of service, our heavenly Father. The word is also used for relative perfection, as of adults compared so that the body of Christ might be built up with children” (italics mine).1 until we all reach unity in the faith We will know absolute maturity only when we see Christ and are like Him (see 1 and in the knowledge of the Son of God John 3:2), but until then it is possible to attain and become mature, a relative maturity, “continually progressing attaining to the whole measure to maturity,”—the perfection of a child go- ing on to maturity. Both aspects coalesce in of the fullness of Christ. Philippians 3:12-15, where Paul says, Then we shall be no longer infants. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Ephesians 4:11-13 Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not Emphasis added. consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for

1 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament I (New York: R.R. Smith, Inc., 1930), p. 49. Page 20 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 which God has called me heavenward in intimate way. So Moses asked, “Now show Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should me your glory” (Exod. 33:18). This request, take such a view of things. (italics mine) too, was granted. Every forward move to- Paul here clearly disclaims having at- ward a deeper knowledge of God was met tained an absolute maturity, but he lays by a positive response. claim to a relative maturity in his experience. Paul cherished a similar aspiration. “I ...the want to know Christ, and the power of his How May We Gauge Our Degree of Maturity? resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing maturing Paul rules out the validity of comparing our- in His sufferings, becoming like him in his selves with ourselves. “We do not dare to death” (Phil. 3:10). Only a maturing Chris- Christian classify or compare ourselves with some tian would share that aspiration. It was not who commend themselves. When they mea- a mere intellectual concept of Christ that will sure themselves by themselves and compare Paul desired, but a comprehension, an ac- experience a themselves with themselves, they are not quaintance with Him on the deepest level wise” (2 Cor. 10:12). that would issue in transformation and un- growing In his book Christian Holiness Bishop reserved commitment. Stephen Neill concurs with Paul’s dictum. passion for Bishop Neill writes, “Is man once again to The maturing Christian has as a life objective the glory of be the measure of all things? By what stan- the securing of the glory of God. The old Pres- dard am I to be judged? Is my unaided ca- byterian catechism has its priorities right God such as pacity at any one moment to be the with its first question, “What is the chief end measure at that moment of Christian attain- of man?” Equally right is its answer, “The gripped ment and Christian expectation?”2 chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Count The answer is, No! The measure of our Him for ever.” maturity is seen when the “fullness of The first petition of Christ’s pattern Nikolaus von Christ”—the sum total of all the qualities prayer, “Hallowed be your name,” is really that make Him what He is—is increasingly asking that God’s name might be honored Zinzendorf, exhibited in our lives. and glorified everywhere, by all people. If founder of we prayed this petition sincerely, we could The primary mark of a developing maturity is well add, “at any cost to me.” Every choice in the Moravian growth in personal and experiential knowledge which the honor and glory of God is involved of God, coupled with a strong aspiration to will have only one answer from the mature Church—“I know Him better. This was well illustrated in Christian. There is no room for debate. have one the experience of Moses. As his intimacy After Jesus had opened His heart to His with God developed, he had the temerity to intimates in the Upper Room, he offered His passion; it is ask of Him, “If I have found favor in your moving High Priestly Prayer. The prayer eyes, teach me your ways so I may know sounds as if He is reporting to His Father He, He you…” (Exod. 33:13). The readiness of the about His earthly ministry: “I have brought alone!” Lord’s response should encourage others to you glory on earth by completing the work make the same request. “And the Lord said you gave me to do” (John 17:4). How con- to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing you have cise yet how comprehensive! Since the ser- asked…’” (Exod. 33:17a). vant is not greater than his or her Lord, the This gracious response gave Moses bold- maturing Christian will experience a grow- ness to ask for yet a further blessing. Won- ing passion for the glory of God such as derful as it was to have an understanding of gripped Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf, God’s ways—the principles on which he founder of the Moravian Church—“I have governs His people—that only inflamed one passion; it is He, He alone!” Moses’ desire to know God himself in a more

(continued on page 22)

2 Stephen Neill, Christian Holiness (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1960), p. 38. Page 21 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Maturity Can Be Measured (continued from page 21) To the mature Christian holiness will be more the letter to the Hebrews, “not solid food. attractive than mere happiness. It seems that in Anyone who lives on milk, being still an in- some Christian circles, the pursuit of happi- fant, is not acquainted with the teaching of ness has become almost pathological. In a righteousness. But solid food is for the ma- John Wesley recent letter from Dr. J. Hudson Taylor III, ture…” (Heb 5:13a-14, italics mine). he makes the following assessment of the No longer is the maturing Christian solely once said he contemporary scene: “Ours is a very self- dependent on pre-digested spiritual food centered culture. Self-fulfillment and self- and artificial stimuli. The spiritual infant has doubted that advancement have become our chief goals. now learned how to nurture the inner life on people had Even Christians are not exempt from this. the Word of God and delves more deeply The leading question of our faith seems to into its teachings. While enjoying helpful been made be, ‘How can I be happy and satisfied?’ As a and challenging Christian literature, the result there is shallow conversion and super- main stimulus comes directly from the Word complete in ficial commitment.” The mature Christian of God illuminated by the Holy Spirit. has learned that true happiness is a by- Christ while product of holiness. The maturing Christian also has a growing dis- they came to A consuming desire to be holy is clearer cernment that helps him to discriminate between proof of sanctification than is an itch for truth and error, good and evil. “The church to thrilling and exciting experiences. John Wes- mature…by constant use have trained ley once said he doubted that people had themselves to distinguish good from evil” enjoy been made complete in Christ while they (Heb. 5:14). There is such a thing as spiritual religion, came to church to enjoy religion, instead of intuition, but more than that is in view here. to learn how to be holy. It is a spiritual sensitivity that comes from instead of to God wants His people to be joyous, and “training”—that is, through the mastery of the Holy Spirit is the source of that fruit of the principles of Scripture and their consis- learn how to the Spirit, which is joy. Jesus said, “These tent application to the decisions and events be holy. things have I spoken unto you, that my joy of daily life. might remain in you, and that your joy This quality characterized the Christians might be full” (John 15:11 KJV). But true at Berea. When new teaching was pre- happiness comes only along the pathway sented to them, they did not accept it on the of holiness. mere say-so of those who brought it, but Our Lord was the most joyous person this they searched the Scriptures daily to see if world has ever known, and this was be- these things were really so. They trained cause He was the holiest. It was said of their spiritual senses to detect error just as Him, “You have loved righteousness and police dogs are trained to detect harmful hated wickedness; therefore God, your drugs. The Bereans were not heresy hunters God, has set you above your companions by but truth seekers. This type of Christian does anointing you with the oil of joy” (Heb. 1:9, not fall an easy prey to the heresies and cults italics mine). that abound today.

When we make holiness the object of our Like the Master, the maturing Christian prefers pursuit, joy is thrown in as a bonus. It takes serving others to being served by others. The some of us a long time, however, to master maturing Christian emulates the Lord who the elementary lesson that we are happiest claimed, “I am among you as one who when we are holiest. serves” (Luke 22:27c). “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to The maturing Christian becomes dissatisfied serve” (Mark 10:45). with the “milk” of the Word and craves “solid True spiritual leadership springs not from food.” “You need milk,” wrote the author of a desire to rule but from a passion to serve.

Taken from In Pursuit of Maturity by J. Oswald Sanders Page 22 Grand Rapids: Lamplighter Books (Zondervan Publishing House) © 1986, pp. 37–47. Reprinted by permission. KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 This exotic grace is not native to most of us, barren. The ability to reproduce oneself is the but the Master equated it with greatness. proof of physical maturity, and this is also “Whoever wants to be great among you true of spiritual maturity. One of Christ’s must be your servant” (Mark 10:43). purposes for us as His disciples is that our This was one of the most revolutionary lives should be fruitful. “You did not choose concepts Jesus introduced into the religious me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit— world of His day. Now, as then, most want fruit that will last [. . . This is my com- to be masters not servants, leaders not fol- mand]” (John 15:16). A fruitless disciple is a Unlike in lowers. Christ’s view of His kingdom was a contradiction in terms. earthly community of people characterized by serv- What constitutes “fruit”? We can look for ing one another and the needy world out- it in two areas. realms, our side. Unlike in earthly realms, our status in There will be fruit in character—the fruit of His kingdom is to be judged by the number the Spirit that finds expression in the nine status in of people whom we serve, not by the num- winsome graces enumerated in Galatians His ber who serve us. 5:22-23. Note that these are passive rather It was in the context of servanthood that than active qualities. All nine can be pro- kingdom is Jesus said, “I have set you an example that duced in the life of one who is paralyzed you should do as I have done for you. I tell from the neck down. As we grow in matu- to be judged you the truth, no servant is greater than his rity, these graces will be manifested in in- master, nor is a messenger greater than the creasing measure. by the one who sent him” (John 13:15-16). There will be fruit in service. “Even now number of the reaper...harvests the crop for eternal life, The life of the maturing Christian will be charac- so that the sower and the reaper may be people terized by giving rather than receiving. In this glad together” (John 4:36). In writing to the the Master is again the model. “The Son of Romans, Paul revealed the purpose of his whom we Man [came]...to give his life as a ransom for visit: “I planned many times to come to you serve, not by many” (Mark 10:45). This, too, is not natural ...in order that I might have a harvest to us. In the Christian life we are mostly on among you” (Rom. 1:13). Souls won and the number the receiving end, but Jesus exemplified our lives discipled and encouraged into a closer responsibility to give as well as to receive. walk with God will be evidence of a who serve From Bethlehem to Calvary, the Lord’s believer’s growing maturity. us. life was one consistent giving of Himself, a constant outpouring of His life, until at its The maturing Christian’s life will be dynamic close, He gave up life itself. Every act of ser- rather than static. The growing believer will vice He performed cost Him something. not resist change that is obviously in the in- When an afflicted woman pressed her way terests of the church of God. The maturing through the throng and touched the fringe Christian will reach out toward new hori- of His robe, she was healed. But in the pro- zons of service and will grapple with new cess He lost something—nervous and spiri- concepts of truth. The growing believer will tual force. “I know that power has gone out not be content with reading what is superfi- from me,” Jesus said (Luke 8:46). He gladly cial but will welcome mind-stretching and gave of Himself to needy people in life, even heartwarming new aspects of truth. Growth as He gave His life for needy people in death. will continue even in old age. It is far easier for us to give time or money than it is to give our very selves to those in The maturing believer will accept rather than need around us, yet this is the path to spiri- resent or rebel against the disciplines God in tual fruitfulness. His wisdom allows to come into his or her life. If we are maturing as Christians, we may The mature Christian life will be fruitful, not not actually enjoy the experience while we (continued on page 26)

Page 23 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Jefferson and Wilberforce (continued from page 19) He then added, “because of these as testi- much as a son as a colleague in the fight. In a monials that I have lived, I wish most to be letter, he warns Buxton of the difficult road remembered.” ahead and then shares his own hard earned It might also be added—with the benefit of lessons of leadership: Despite over our view from history—that he, himself, was mentor to two future leaders and Presidents, If it be His will, may he render you an instru- 50 years of both fellow Virginians and neighbors, Madi- ment of extensive influence . . . [But] above all, laboring for son and Monroe. Both would perpetuate may He give the disposition to say at all times Jefferson’s avoidance of the slavery issue as a “Lord, what wouldest thou have me to do or the abolition matter to be resolved politically, despite the suffer?” looking to Him, through Christ, for growing seriousness of its divisiveness in wisdom and strength. of slavery America north, south, and west. But yet on a and personal level, both men would, unlike their Buxton would go on to introduce the bill, and patron, free their slaves upon their deaths. with Wilberforce supporting and advising championing Despite his unarguably superior accom- him, the last race began that would end liter- plishments and visionary leadership, it may ally on Wilberforce’s deathbed when the bill dozens of be seen that Jefferson’s legacy lies as well in finally passed in 1833. worthy what was not done with the opportunities His own view of his legacy was far differ- he had and the consequences of a failure to ent than Jefferson’s. Despite over 50 years of causes for act in accord with belief. His optimism that laboring for the abolition of slavery and history and the intellectual and moral championing dozens of worthy causes for op- oppressed progress of man would resolve the black pressed people, all he could say of himself people, all cloud that hung over them proved wrong. was “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” Never would he have foreseen that the lives he could say of over six hundred thousand Americans A Final Note would be given to keep intact the union his There is one final explanation for the diver- of himself generation had forged and finally resolve gent outcomes and legacies of the lives of the was “God the question on which they stood silent for two men who made early commitments to so many years. abolish slavery that may be more telling than be merciful any historian has noted to date: the sover- Humbly Transforming a Culture eignty of God. to me, a Wilberforce, much like Jefferson, had leaders When Wilberforce was first taking up his sinner.” coming behind him whom he had influenced task, the aged John Wesley wrote to encour- and who would carry on his work. By 1823, age him and to warn him. “Unless God has he was obviously becoming more frail and raised you up for this very thing, you will be subject to attacks of inflamed lungs (pneumo- worn out by the opposition of men and dev- nia?) which laid him low for weeks or ils; but if God be for you who can be against months at a time. Yet his two great objectives you?”3 Why God raised up a Wilberforce in still animated his life. While the abolition of England, brought him together with a New- slavery was gaining momentum, it was by ton, and surrounded him with the Clapham no means complete. He was reluctant to step circle during his life, we will never know. We down feeling he had not done enough! do know it was a sovereign act of grace. Nevertheless, he prepared to pass the For Jefferson, the belief in sovereignty ran mantle on to Thomas Buxton, a Quaker equally strong: the sovereignty of man. It was M.P. who shared Wilberforce’s views on the central core belief of the Enlightenment abolition and had been a leader in prison that man would ultimately triumph and se- reform. Wilberforce saw Buxton almost as cure moral progress through ideas and

3 John Wesley as cited in Belmonte, Hero for Humanity (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002), p. 138.

Page 24 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 through education freed from religious cant. York Post, and he brought out a multi-part series of Joy’s testimony And many in America felt that way in his dubbed “Girl Communist.” Then while writing a book-length Jew- time. Why God did not raise up a Wilberforce ish-Christian interpretation of the Ten Commandments, she became in America and why so many died to end sla- gravely ill with jaundice. Her doctor ordered rest—preferably away very and leave a legacy that haunts the from the pressures of her chaotic house and family. United States even today is also something In the midst of this turmoil Joy received a cry for help from her we will never know. We do know that the first cousin, Renée Pierce. Renée had two little children, and an alco- great leaders of the North and the South, holic husband, and a desperate need to live apart from her estranged Grant and Lee, acknowledged the provi- spouse until a divorce could be finalized. With no money and few dence of God in the outcome and it humbled alternatives, she threw herself on the Greshams for mercy. Joy took both men. This, too, we know as a sovereign her in and after a few months Renée enthusiastically agreed to over- act of God’s grace. Not why, but Who. see the household so Joy could get away for a rest. Even as we have examined these two With financial help from her parents, Joy sailed for England in lives and sought to understand them, we re- August 1950. She found a room in London, rested well, and put the main awed by what Wilberforce and his finishing touches on Smoke on the Mountain: An Interpretation of the friends were able to accomplish and the Ten Commandments. While in London for four months the Lewis legacy they left. Perhaps John Newton brothers invited Joy to Oxford. Indeed, there were several visits where draws the conclusion best in a letter he Joy Gresham and Jack Lewis had opportunity to get better ac- wrote to a young Wilberforce in 1796 urging quainted. Joy laid out her problems before Jack. He listened, grieved him to remain in the political vocation and for her, and said a sad farewell when she returned to New York in not withdraw from public life. He counseled January 1951. that God’s grace would be sufficient and During the four months Joy resided in London, Bill wrote from that “Happy the man who has a deep im- time to time keeping her informed about the boys. Just before her re- pression of the Lord’s words, ‘Without me turn, however, he announced that he and Renée were in love and you can do nothing.’”4 For the next 37 years having an affair. He wondered if Joy would consider living under Wilberforce took that scriptural wisdom to the same roof despite the changed circumstances. Joy had no inten- heart. To God be the glory. tion of doing that but she did return with some hope that the mess could be redeemed. Months of wrangling failed to bring reconciliation. Nine months Profiles in Faith: Helen Joy later Bill sued Joy for a divorce on grounds of her desertion when she Davidman (Mrs. C.S. Lewis) went to England. In the meantime C.S. Lewis and his brother, War- (continued from page 17) ren—both of whom had grown extremely fond of Joy—urged her to quarter decade Joy’s health and family prob- return to England and bring the boys. She was back in England with lems opened the way for the famous English David and Douglas before Christmas. author and his talented American pen Joy lived in London for nearly two years, trying to support herself friend to meet. by free-lance typing and writing in order to supplement Bill’s erratic During the late 1940s Joy’s health deterio- child-support checks. The boys were placed in private schools thanks rated. She suffered from nervous exhaustion to the generosity of C.S. Lewis. For almost two years Joy and Jack while trying to raise the boys and write visited one another regularly. When Joy’s financial situation wors- enough to pay all the bills. To be sure, Bill ened in August 1955, Lewis secured a place for her in Oxford, not far Gresham sobered up for brief periods, and he from his own home. He paid the rent and he and Warren plied her was in and out of the house depending on with manuscripts to edit and type. his moods. By Christmas 1955 it was apparent to everyone who knew them Joy finished several writing projects, in- that friendship had become love. Lewis visited Joy almost daily and cluding a novel, Weeping Bay, that came out she and the boys spent holidays and special occasions with Warren with Macmillan in early 1950. She gave a and Jack at their home, The Kilns. Because Joy was now a divorced lengthy interview to a reporter for the New woman, there was no impropriety—at least to their mind—for them (continued on page 27)

Page 25 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Maturity Can Be Measured (continued from page 23) are passing through it—and Scripture real- The immature Christian is content to accept istically recognizes this possibility (see Heb. all the blessings and benefits of faith but is 12:11)—but we will regard the will of God unwilling to share the accompanying re- as being “good, acceptable, and perfect” sponsibilities. When God called Moses to lead (Rom. 12:2 KJV), a statement that indicates Israel out of Egypt, he produced all kinds of Growth in that God’s will for our lives cannot be im- excuses to cover up his unwillingness to as- maturity is proved upon. sume that onerous responsibility. We can all As Paul’s character matured, he was able understand and perhaps condone Moses’ re- stimulated by to testify that he had reached the place luctance, but God did not. He was angry at where he could truthfully say, “I have Moses’ lack of confidence that He would en- sharing the learned to be content whatever the circum- able him to do what He had commanded knowledge of stances” (Phil. 4:11). Not that he had al- (see Exod. 4:14). God is equally displeased ways been content, but his increasingly with us when we decline responsibility and God with intimate walk with God had made him ab- cover it up with a plea of inadequacy. solutely satisfied that whatever God or- The mature believer will be willing to ac- other dained was in his best interests. cept responsibility for failure, too, and will When tragedy, sorrow, or bereavement not shuffle the blame onto a subordinate. believers, for strike, it is not always easy to hold on to this we are to contentment, but it is the only path to com- The mature Christian will demonstrate a grow- fort and peace of heart. Paul enunciated a ing love for God and others. Paul commended become principle of perpetual relevance when he the Thessalonian believers for this mark of recorded the word from the Lord that came their growing maturity: “We ought always mature in to him: “He said to me, ‘My grace is suffi- to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly community cient for you, for my power is made perfect so, because your faith is growing more and in weakness’“ (2 Cor. 12:9). more, and the love every one of you has for life as well as He will glory in the Cross of Christ and each other is increasing” (2 Thess. 1:3). will sing with Sir John Bowring: By pouring out his love into our hearts by in individual the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5), God stimulates experience. In the cross of Christ I glory, and enlarges our hearts and enables us to Towering o’er the wrecks of time, love Him in return. Love begets love. But All the light of sacred story when love cools, every grace languishes. Gathers round its head sublime. Growth in maturity is stimulated by sharing the knowledge of God with other believers, for Only the spiritual person welcomes the im- we are to become mature in community life as pact of the Cross on his or her life, for it well as in individual experience. spells death to the self-life. “I have been cru- Paul talks of attaining “the unity of faith” cified with Christ, and I no longer live, but as well as spiritual maturity, for that devel- Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20a). ops best not in isolation but in the corporate life of the church (see Eph. 4:13). This unity The mature Christian will be willing to accept among believers is produced by their mutual responsibility in the work of the kingdom. Not sharing of “the knowledge of the Son of everyone is called to a place of prominence God”—an increasing acquaintance with in God’s service, but very many could do Him in corporate life. F. F. Bruce rightly con- much more than they are doing if only they tends that “the higher reaches of the Chris- would respond to the promptings of the tian life cannot be attained in isolation from Spirit and the persuasion of godly people. others.”3 It is the team that is fully integrated All too many believers are content to be and works together unselfishly and harmo- spectators instead of participators. niously that wins the game.

3 Frederick F. Bruce, Epistle to the Ephesians (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1961), p. 86.

Page 26 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Profiles in Faith: Helen Joy Davidman (Mrs. C.S. Lewis) (continued from page 25) to see one another on a regular basis. But Joy place to call for help. She was rushed to the hospital where x-rays told her closest friends that although they fre- and tests revealed that her body was full of cancer. C.S. Lewis’s doc- quently walked and held hands, marriage tor, who tended to her at the hospital, told me in the 1980s that she was out of the question. Because she was di- was dreadfully ill. There were malignant tumors in her breast and her vorced even their friendship appeared scan- bones were riddled with cancer. Dr. Humphrey Havard told Jack to dalous to some people. prepare for her death. She could not live but a few days or weeks. In April 1956 the British Government, Professor Lewis called in a favor from a man he had helped after perhaps because of Joy Davidman’s previous the war. Father Peter Bide, an Anglican priest with a parish just Communist Party affiliation, refused to re- south of London, was purported to have the spiritual gift of healing. new her visa. C.S. Lewis was devastated. Lewis called him and asked if he would come up to Oxford, anoint How could this woman be sent back to the Joy with oil, and pray for her. Father Bide arrived at Oxford at night. United States where her boys would possibly He and Jack talked about Joy’s situation at some length, and Lewis be abused by their alcoholic father who had told him of Joy’s dying wish to be married in the Church. Father more than once done them physical harm? Bide recalled that he did not feel he could in good conscience deny And how could he manage without Joy this poor soul her wish, even though she was not in his diocese. nearby? She, after all, was the first woman Therefore the next day, March 21, 1957, he anointed her with oil, with whom he had been truly close. She prayed for healing, and then in the presence of Warren Lewis and was his equal if not superior in intellect, and one of the sisters at the hospital, he administered the sacraments of they were the epitome of two people who Holy Matrimony and Holy Communion. Within a few minutes an truly were like iron sharpening iron, apparently dying Joy Davidman became Mrs. C.S. Lewis. In fact, C.S. Lewis could not imagine liv- Christian marriage was only the first unexpected effect of Joy’s ing apart from Joy Davidman. He threw cau- illness. To the amazement of doctors and nurses, she made a rapid tion and appearances to the wind. They recovery after being sent home from the hospital to die. She went quietly married in a civil ceremony on April into a remission of nearly three years. She and Jack traveled to Ire- 23, 1956. Now Joy could legally remain in land and Wales, and they made a memorable trip to Greece with England, with her boys, as long as she their friends, June and Roger Lancelyn Green. The Lewises’ closest wished. friends, the Greens and George and Moira Sayers—all said that she C.S. Lewis inquired about a sacramental showed no signs of poor health except some edema. Indeed, Joy and marriage in the Anglican Church because to Jack were like two school-aged youth who were cutting up and his mind a civil marriage was a legal conve- having a wonderful time. That Joy had brought great happiness to nience but not a real marriage. Lewis sought Jack became evident by what he wrote to one friend: “it’s funny the blessing of the church on the grounds having at 59 the sort of happiness most men have in their twenties. that Joy had legal grounds to be divorced . . [ellipses his] ‘Thou has kept the good wine till now.’” and remarried due to Bill’s infidelity, and The relationship of C.S. Lewis and Joy lasted only a decade. She further because he had been married prior first wrote to Jack in January 1950, and the cancer returned with a to marrying Joy, and also neither of them vengeance in spring 1960. Joy died in July and her ashes (she re- were Christians when they were joined in a quested cremation) were scattered over a rose garden at the crema- civil service years before. But the Bishop of torium. Although it is impossible to quantify the impact of any Oxford refused. Joy was divorced. The loving relationship, there is massive evidence to show that these two Church did not condone divorce and he pilgrims were unusually important to one another. On Jack’s part, would not give his blessing. his early books had helped Joy come to faith in Christ. His letters and Joy and Jack lived apart but they contin- their personal relationship helped her mature spiritually in Christ, ued to see one another. So much so that and he helped her to develop professionally as a writer. Lewis helped some people were critical of their relation- Joy sharpen Smoke on the Mountain. He also wrote a Foreword for ship despite the fact that they honored the the British edition, helped promote the book and intervened to se- guidance of the Church. But everything cure her a good contract with a British publisher. On her part, Joy changed in early 1957. Joy was standing in had an impact on C.S. Lewis that has seldom been recognized. her kitchen, her leg broke, and with excruci- Lewis admitted that when she and the boys came into his life it was ating pain she was able to drag herself to a extremely difficult for an aging bachelor to have an instant family in

Page 27 KNOWING & DOING Winter 2005 Profiles in Faith: Helen Joy Davidman (Mrs. C.S. Lewis) (continued from page 27) his house. But the result was that both he and title of Surprised by Joy to some words and Warren were forced outside of themselves phrases in The Chronicles of Narnia. But the and this was precisely what these self-cen- clearest evidence of her impact on his think- C.S. LEWIS tered bachelors needed. Beyond such intan- ing and writing is in The Four Loves and A NSTITUTE gible benefits, Joy helped Lewis with his Grief Observed. Lewis might have written The I writing. She wrote to one person that she in- Four Loves without Joy as his wife, but it ESTABLISHED 1976 creasingly felt called to give up her own writ- would have been much less profound and ing so that she could assist Jack in his work. certainly more theoretical than experiential. Lewis gave up writing non-fiction and And finally, A Grief Observed could never apologetical books after he published Miracles have been written without the love and pain Discipleship in 1947. Some people have argued it was be- of Jack’s life with Joy. cause Elizabeth Anscombe so devastatingly In the final analysis, then, those of us of attacked a part of the book. In any case Joy who thank God for the way C.S. Lewis has Heart Davidman pushed him to take up non-fic- been our teacher through his books, must tion once more and as a result she helped him also be grateful for Joy Davidman Lewis. and produce Reflections on the Psalms (1958) and Without her the Lewis collection would be she enthusiastically talked him out of a smaller and poorer. Mind writer’s block so he could finally go forward with his long-time coming Letters to Malcolm, Note: This article is based on Lyle W. Dorsett’s biography Chiefly on Prayer. of Joy Davidman: And God Came In (Macmillan, 1983) Lewis believed his best book was Till We and a revision of that book titled A Love Observed: Joy Have Faces, and most students of his books Davidman’s Life and Marriage to C.S. Lewis (Northwind, 1998), as well as the author’s oral history in- agree. He unabashedly dedicated this classic terviews housed at the Marion E. Wade Center, Wheaton The C.S. Lewis to Joy Davidman and many saw her in the College, Wheaton, Illinois. Dorsett’s book on Joy Davidman Institute novel’s character Orual. To the point, Lewis is available in audio format as Surprised By Love: The is supported believed that Joy helped complete him as a Life of Joy Davidman: Her Life and Marriage to C.S. Lewis (Hovel Audio) www.hovelaudio.com. through the gifts person, and she acknowledged that he did of those who the same for her. A careful reader will also recognize the find Joy’s fingerprints on several of his other vital need for works, all the way from the double-meaning authentic discipleship in current culture. 2006 UPCOMING EVENTS Gifts are very ¡ Art Lindsley Conference: Narnia and C.S. Lewis: Imagination, Reason, and You, January 13-14, much appreciated 2006, McLean Presbyterian Church, McLean, Virginia. and can be mailed ¡ Dr. Drew Trotter: Show & Tell: The Christian and The Movies in Contemporary America, (a co- or made via a sponsored event with Cornerstone Church), February 24-25, 2006, Cornerstone Church, secure on-line Annandale, Virginia. donation. ¡ Fifth Annual Fundraising Banquet & 30th Anniversary Celebration, Thursday evening, March 23, 2006, with featured speakers Dr. James Houston and Mr. Jim Hiskey, Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia. The C.S. Lewis Institute ¡ is recognized by James Houston Conference: Psalms As The Prayerbook for Israel—And For Us Today, March 24- the IRS as a 501(c)(3) 25, 2006, Location TBA. organization. All gifts to the Institute ¡ Os Guinness Conference: The Gospel and Globalization, April 21-22, 2006, Location TBA. are tax deductible to the extent provided under law. www.cslewisinstitute.org

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