The Reality of Evil #2: A Word of Wisdom from CS Lewis in the Midst of Confusion

 I want to thank the many people who responded to my blog last month entitled "Dietrich Bonhoeffer and The Reality of Evil: A Word of Wisdom in a Church and World Living In Confusion". So many of you asked for me to go further and deeper on this topic so I am going to offer several future blogposts, informed by several excellent if not provocative works (works CS Lewis, Johann and Christoph Blumhardt, Hendrikus Berkhof, Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Walter Wink, Greg Boyd, and others) which can serve as guides for us in addressing evil. Lewis points us to the reality that much of the ways in which we think about this matter have been shaped and formed by the works of Dante, Milton and others from a pre-modern time. Yet the work of Martin Luther and the seriousness with which he took to address this issue is also significant.

Furthermore it seems to me that the Temptations of Jesus Christ in the Wilderness by Satan reveals to us the importance of what we will be reflecting upon. Additionally, the Apostle Paul's teachings on the principalities, powers and authorities along with the Apostle Peter's understanding of evil and the Evil One and the Apostle John's portrayal of these matters in the Book of Revelation must also inform our conversation.

I am so appreicative of Bonhoeffer's insight (from CREATION AND FALL and elsewhere, especially ETHICS) that the Scriptures do not clearly reveal to us how evil entered the created order, but they do reveal the means by which we may overcome it.

Our first guide will be CS Lewis from his excellent work THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS and SCREWTAPE PROPOSES A TOAST. It was a privilege to teach these works, along with THE GREAT DIVORCE, this past Monday (YES Halloween!), at Fuller Seminary. It was a delight to see and hear so many seminary students so engaged on the topic. Oddly enough the work was dedicated to JRR Tolkien with two great quotes beginning the SCREWTAPE, one from Martin Luther:

"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn."

the other from Sir Thomas More:

"The devil, the proud spirit, cannot endure to be mocked."

Thus, I wish to first address the reality of evil by addressing the reality of the devil. I almost fully fall in line with Lewis on this one, not only as he addresses it in the satirical presentation of SCREWTAPE, but elsewhere in his writings. In the original preface he does rightfully warn us that "there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race (humanity) can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight." When Lewis wrote an updated preface some 20 years later, he stated that the most common question he was asked was if whether or not he really believed in the Devil. Lewis' answer is brilliant as he says that if people believe the Devil is somehow God's equal counterpart then the answer is a definite NO. Instead, Lewis says the proper question is whether or not one believes in the devils and to that he says "I do." As he says that while this is not a matter equal to other parts of Christendom's creeds he does believe that "such a position agrees with the plain sense of Scripture, the tradition of Christendom and the beliefs of mose men (and women) at most times in the church." He then goes on to speak of the mythological ways in which the Devil and devils have been portrayed. He then turns, quoting Chesterton to say that "Satan fell through force of gravity." [pride] and therefore "we must picture Hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance and resentment..." What he says next I love and demonstrates that we are living in hell under the direction of devils...

"I (we) live in the Mangagerial Age, a world of Administration. The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men (and women) with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state OR the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern."

I will pick up further with CS Lewis in my next blog. Would love to hear your feedback.

Comments

[Deborah Evans]

When I think of Hell (a real place with a proper name), my mind runs to Dante's vision of a place where evil is contained, and is its own punishment. Those residing in Hell are now the full expression of the evil they love(d) and the only targets of its consequences.

I look forward to reading more of your thoughts on this topic.

[Bryan Burton]

Deborah,

Thanks for your response...Dante poses many interesting challenges to the issues raised. The one thing that can be said is that you cannot go around Dante to address these issues as his thought and vision is so imbedded in our theological minds. I am mindful of the film WHAT DREAMS MAY COME and how Dante-like was the vision of hell. One great question is "Does God send people to Hell or does God simply comply with their choice(s) and give them what they desire?" Thoughts?