from “God In The Dock,” a collection of essays by C.S. Lewis; the essay “Answers to Questions on Christianity.”
The Third Segment in the Building Narnia Review Series
In a series of questions, Mr. H.W. Bowen asked C.S. Lewis a particular question which I find to be a serious point of conflict within the spheres of Christian Ethics and Personal Identity.
H.W. Bowen – Christians are taught to love their neighbors. How, therefor, can they justify their attitude of support the war?
Lewis – You are told to love your neighbor as yourself. How do you love yourself? When I look into my own mind, I find that I do not love myself by thinking myself a dear old chap or having affectionate feelings. I do not think I love myself because I am particularly good, but, just because I am myself and quite apart from my character. I might detest something which I have done. Nevertheless, I may not cease to love myself. In other words, the definite distinctions that Christians make between hating sin and loving the sinner is one you have been making in your own case since the day you were born. You dislike what you have done, but, you don’t cease to love yourself. You may even think you ought to be hanged. You may even think you ought to go to the Police, own up, and be hanged. Love is not an affectionate feeling, but, a steady wish for the Loved One’s good as far as it can be obtained. It seems to me, therefor, that when the worse comes to worst and you can not restrain a man from doing harm by anything less than killing him, then a Christian must do that. That is my answer. I may be wrong. It is very difficult to answer.
(Op-Ed) And he’s right. It’s a very difficult question to answer.It’s a veritable can-of-worms. It’s difficult enough to wade through the hogwash of so many different opinions and ideals surrounding the question. You have Zionism, just-war, Tolstoyans, pacifism, supremacists, and a whole other slough of beliefs. It’s sometimes hard to remember in practicality what Jesus asked of Christians, Jews, and all people regarding murder and warfare. Do we settle for what Lewis says regarding “loving thy neighbor” or do we slide to the right and hardline with “what is right is right” or do we hang left and accept all that occurs and take the evil or harm as it comes? Why do we even need to think in those terms? What ultimate harm can another do that we feel the need to kill him? Will he kill us? If so, what is the nature of death and afterlife? Then… War? What about the Old Testament’s view of divinely inspired warfare and conquest? What about Jesus and the New Testament? What of passive-resistance? What is right? What is true?
See – Can o’ Worms.
Here is what I can safely assume we all know: we shouldn’t kill and we shouldn’t engage in unjust war.
Now, here is my opinion, and I mean strictly opinion. I claim to be neither educated on the subject at large or small, nor do I think that I would be better able to answer this great debate in so many small words if I were.
All ends in dust. Nothing on this earth is forever. What matters is our hearts and our actions. Small goods may cause large ripples over history and with that in mind no act is too small. I don’t believe we should wage an unrighteous war and I’m not even sure waging war in “self-defense” is ultimately worthy, either. All I know is that if I saw someone attacking or harming one I loved or even a complete stranger I would rush to their rescue if I was able and subdue the danger in any way possible. Does this mean killing a person? That, I do not know. I know that many soldiers feel conflict when in battle between their faith and duty to state. I would expect to be confused in such a situation. Hence, the importance of our heart. God knows it. I feel like we were all just put here to fart around and do the best we can. In those moments when we may be scared, confused, tense, or angry – in those moments when we may do something we regret or resent – that we may join in war or take the life of another who would harm our child or wives – all we can do in honesty is be as good as possible in our decisions and motives. It really is that simple in my mind. Now, I am not saying we shouldn’t disregard other modifiers, but, God knows our hearts. He will judge. The only truth I can know for certain is if we were all loving our neighbors from the get-go, then we wouldn’t need to worry about all this, no?
I fear this will be an unsatisfactory response and I make no claims that it is correct. This problem raises many questions and many conflicts (which… is a little redundant. Ha).
Friends, readers, layman, and theologians… add to the discussion. Bring in your voices. How can we answer this question and the others it raises?
It’s the year 2044 and Parzival’s world is a beautiful place. It’s a sprawling universe where one can buy anything, be anyone, and do anything – slay a dragon, pilot a Firefly or X-Wing, visit the Matrix, fall in love, make your fortune, lose your fortune, or simply escape. Escaping is what most of humanity is doing in the real world – a planet swallowed up by abject poverty. Famine, war, riots, and the global energy crisis have turned our planet into hollow and drear place.
