In 3:3 of Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis addresses the topic of morality at the social level. It may come as a shock to modern Evangelical conservatives in America who think Donald Trump’s or Ted Cruz’s vision of America is the same as that of Jesus, but C.S. Lewis doesn’t see things that way. For that matter, some on the more extreme Right, after reading this chapter, would no doubt conclude that C.S. Lewis is “too liberal.” For the rest of us level-headed Christians, regardless if we lean more liberal or more conservative, we will no doubt see the truth in what Lewis is saying, without throwing labels around.
What Christianity Doesn’t Say/Do in Regards to Morality
So what does Lewis say about morality? Well, he starts off by pointing out that Christ didn’t come preaching any new kind of morality. In fact, he says, “really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that.” Instead, the great moral teachers, Jesus included, end up bringing people back to the time-tested moral truths that have always been there. Now obviously Jesus was more than just a great moral teacher—but Lewis’ point was that Jesus’ moral teachings were not anything brand new. “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” is a sentiment in most societies and cultures. Jesus re-emphasized that to be sure, but I would say he rooted that ability to do that in the reality of his death and resurrection. If you will, it’s not that Jesus preached a new morality; it’s that he provided the way to live out the morality God has imprinted on our very beings as image-bearers of God.
The second thing Lewis says (and this is particularly important in this current political season) that Christianity does not profess to have a detailed political program to realize Jesus’ moral teachings. For example, Christianity says, “Feed the hungry,” but it does not detail whether or not it should a program run at the state or federal level. For that matter, it doesn’t even insist that such a program be undertaken by the government. It says, “Hey YOU…if you see someone hungry…FEED HIM!” If a society wants to put together a government program to help do that very thing, great—but it’s up to the people and that particular society to implement the program the best they know how.
As a side note, let’s take Obamacare for an example. Everyone wants to have a system that helps the poor in times of need. The Democratic party thinks a federal program is the best way to achieve that. The GOP thinks it could be achieved better through either the free market or at the individual state level. Regardless of your own opinion, don’t get sucked into the political poison that says either, “Obamacare is Obama’s direct attempt to destroy America!” or “The GOP want to push old people off cliffs!” Regardless of your own political position on the issue, if you get sucked into such over-heated rhetoric—I’m not going to say you’re not a Christian, but I will say you’re not a very smart Christian.
Should the Church Take the Lead in Social Morality?
Even though I tend to be politically conservative, it always makes me cringe when I hear Christians talk as if all we need to do to “get this country back on track” is to overturn Roe v. Wade and bring prayer back into public schools. Now sure, I think Christians and the Church should “take the lead” in our society when it comes to morality—but I certainly don’t think that’s the way to do it.
Lewis essentially says the same thing. If, when you say, “The Church should take the lead,” you mean, “Christians need to live out their faith and be the best nurses, doctors, teachers, businessmen, etc. they can be, and let that have an impact on others at a grass roots and individual level—and that Christ-like living will have a lasting impact on society”—then I (and Lewis) am in total agreement.
Of course, as Lewis correctly points out, most of the time when people say, “The Church should take the lead,” they have politics in mind, and they want to implement some political program that reinforces what they have been told by numerous Christian leaders. But think about that, is that a good idea? Would you want Tim LaHaye or John Hagee setting our foreign policy? Would you want any pastor (no matter how good a pastor he may be) setting economic policy? Lewis certainly didn’t want for a very basic reason: they’re not trained in those areas. I don’t want a local pastor writing what they feel is good Christian literature—I’m very happy letting writers like Lewis and Tolkien do that!
In any case, in this day and age, I don’t think imposing Christian morality through the legal system would work. The legal system in a society will reflect that society’s sense of morality, and we need to just face it—we’re living in a post-Christian culture. If we want to “bring this country back to Christ,” we can’t doing it through passing a few laws. We will need to change hearts and minds, slowly over time, to where perhaps in the future there will be a consensus about certain things, and there wouldn’t be a political firestorm.
What Would a Christian Society Look Like?
Lewis ends his chapter by outlining a few things he feels would characterize a truly Christian society. Here are the highlights:
- No passengers or parasites: What that means is that if one refused to work, that person wouldn’t get a free hand out. Welfare would be for the truly needy.
- No Silly Luxuries and Sillier Advertisements: A Christian society would expect its citizens to contribute to the public good, not public excess or stupidity. (So yes, I’m pretty sure there would be no MTV Awards, Kardashians, or ____________–feel free to add whatever you want).
- Obedience and Respect: would be expected to those in places of authority, be it parents or elected officials.
- It would be a Cheerful Society: Why? People would be fulfilled, working for what is good, owing proper courtesy to each other.
Lewis then says that a truly Christian society would seem quite odd to some: economically it would seem rather Socialistic, but very old-fashioned and almost aristocratic when it comes to family life and code of manners. In any case, it would be a good intellectual exercise to take part in: What do you think a Christian society would look like? Given Lewis’ thoughts, I’d have to say that doesn’t sound like America too much.
There are two other points Lewis makes, and both would make you typical materialistic American uncomfortable. First, Lewis points out that our entire economic system is based on lending money at interest, and the one thing the ancient Greeks, Old Testament Jews, and great Christian teachers of the Middle Ages agreed on was that it was wrong to lend money at interest. I think the situations and circumstances are considerably different, and could probably take issue with Lewis at this point—but his point should be noted, and it should make us constantly self-assess our current economic system. I particularly don’t see anything wrong with our system in general; but I do believe that the way it can be manipulated to hurt the poorest of the poor—that is the sort of thing the ancient Greeks, Jews, and Medieval teachers were warning against.
Finally, the topic of charity comes up, and with that, the question, “How much should I be expected to give?” Your pastor might say the 10% tithe, but Lewis goes further. It’s not a matter of percentage. He says, “The only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.” Again—I think that is quite a challenge. I think that is at the heart of the story of Jesus watching people drop in money at the Temple. It was the poor woman who gave a penny who was praised, not because it was a lot, but it was all she had. Don’t get me wrong: that is tough to do. I know I don’t always do that. But I like hearing the challenge. It keeps me humble: I’m not as charitable as I like to think I am.
Anyway, Lewis certainly gives us plenty to think about in this chapter. I’d love to hear any comments or thoughts.
