SHADOWLANDS AND C. S. LEWIS

A popular movie is making a great impact on the country dealing with the British writer, C.S. Lewis. It is entitled Shadowlands. Lewis, as many readers will remember, was a popular educator, writer, and apologist. In an age of agnosticism and materialism, he renounced atheism, turned to theism, and wrote numerous volumes defending his belief in God. I have no doubt that many will flock to the movie and proclaim it superb in describing this well-known personality and "defender of the faith."

Sadly, I believe that most Evangelicals and Fundamentalists do not know the true C.S. Lewis. Michael J. Christensen, in his book C.S. Lewis on Scripture, points out a number of the essential Christian beliefs that Lewis denied and some of the false convictions that he espoused. For instance, Lewis (1) denied the full inspiration and trustworthiness of Scripture, (2) believed in evolution rather than Biblical creation, (3) believed in purgatory, (4) thought that one should pray for the dead and pray to dead "saints," (5) denied the historicity of various Biblical books (Jonah, Esther, Job), (6) speculated that animals may be immortal, (7) thought that Jesus was mistaken about the time of His second coming, (8) denied the historicity of Adam and Eve; (9) remained an Anglican all of his life; and (10) did not believe that conscious acceptance of Jesus Christ was essential to go to heaven. Other items could be mentioned.

Although these beliefs and disbeliefs may well be accepted by many in society, I find it dismaying that Evangelicals and Fundamentalists seem to wholeheartedly endorse Lewis and count him a defender of their own cause. Self-confessed Bible believers need to examine this matter more closely. We may be mentally stimulated by this insightful author but we should not mistakenly assume that he was an Evangelical Christian!

Richard Hollerman
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram)