A Moment Aside --- 13 April 2021
I’m not sure what I could add as a comment on this very
insightful paragraph from a well-known and much loved Christian author. C.S.
Lewis wrote fiction that expressed his faith and theology as he understood it.
He wrote of his own struggles over faith and practice as well. I’d always
recommend his small book, The Great
Divorce to any one wanting to start reading his works.
In this short paragraph, he speaks of love, acceptance,
approval, revulsion, forgiveness, and pain. He is speaking from his own knowledge
of himself and his actions.
The idea of self-hate and despising oneself is often made
part and parcel of the Christian life by many. Indeed, the Gospel states Those who love their life lose it, and
those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John
12:25) This cannot be denied, explained away, or “whited-out.” We have to face
this. The Gospel also says ‘You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
all your mind.’ This
is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor
as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39) How can we reconcile such opposing
statements?
Maybe we can’t. Maybe we have to do both; love ourselves as
the basis of loving others and have a healthy realization that this life
we lead is incomplete and in that, the life we lead is often false. As Lewis
points out, we love, accept, and forgive ourselves despite the thought and
actions that revolt us and often hurt others.
Paul wrote Wretched man
that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through
Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25) God forgives us and calls us to
live forgiven. And that forgiven life, lived in gratitude, will be quite a
different life.
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