08 July 2020

Luther and Lewis

Think how you would like it if God should do unto you as you do to your neighbour, and should expose all your sin to the world? Or how would you like it if some other man would make known all your malice? You would doubtless want every man to be silent, to excuse you and cover up your evil and pray for you.—Martin Luther, Exposition of the Lord's Prayer for Simple Lay-folk

When I respond to that appeal I seem to myself to be a thousand miles away from Christ. If I am sure of anything I am sure that His teaching was never meant to confirm my congenital preference for safe investments and limited liabilities. I doubt whether there is a anything in me that pleases Him less. And who could conceivably begin to love God on such a prudential ground—because the security (so to speak) is better?—C. S. Lewis, Business of Heaven, pp. 175, 6.

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