It's been far too long since I've posted on C.S. Lewis', 'Mere Christianity', but I finally feel called to continue in this series, so here we go.
It is at this point in the book that Lewis considers Christian morality as regards sex, which believers call the virtue of chastity, different than the social rule of 'modesty', 'propriety', or 'decency'. These three contrast from each other in that they hold different characteristics, the most significant one being that chastity is the same for all believers at all times. Before delving into this topic deeply, it must be noted that a level of respect must exist in order to observe this virtue all in the same way. Non-believers must acknowledge that this discussion is from a Christian point of view, believers must understand that not everyone is a believer, the elderly must not assume that young people are corrupt by their own standard, and young people should not view elderly people as prudes or puritans by their own standard. As Lewis says, 'A real desire to believe all the good you can of others and to make others as comfortable as you can will solve most of the problems'. We must respect one another whether we agree with one another or not.
Lewis makes the point that because our human instinct is so in combat with the Christian rule of preserving sex for marriage with one partner alone or abstinence, either the instinct has gone wrong or the rule is wrong, and from a believer's standpoint it is presented that the instinct has gone wrong, which Lewis gives various reasons as to why this is so.
One reason, that really contains multiple reasons within itself, is that our world has been told lies regarding sex, the first being that sexual desire is on the same level as any other natural desire (which it very well may be in some ways, but not so in others) and that sex has become a mess due to it being 'hushed up' or repressed. Society says that sex has been hushed up, but that is not true. The media throws sex in our faces all day long, and yet sex is still a mess. People today still do not know how to handle sexual desires-and the media isn't helping that-as we continue to be emotionally, physically, and spiritually damaged as a result of 'playing with fire', if you will, or not handling sex as the beautiful God-given gift that it is.
Another lie, or perhaps misconception, is that sex, or the body, or pleasure, are bad in and of themselves. This is flat out wrong. Lewis makes the point that Christianity is almost the only one of the great religions that very much approves of the body. Christians view matter as good, believe that God Himself took on human flesh, and that we will receive new and restored bodies in Heaven. 'Christianity has glorified marriage more than any other religion: and nearly all the greatest love poetry in the world has been produced by Christians. If anyone says that sex, in itself, is bad, Christianity contradicts him at once', Lewis writes. The point is here made that, though sex itself is nothing to be ashamed of, perhaps the state into which the sexual instinct has now got is everything to be ashamed of, and this may be a bold statement to make, but think on this for a second. Enjoying your food is not shameful in the least. However, if a person made food the main interest of his (or her) life, spending a whole life looking a pictures of food and smacking one's lips constantly, you would not view such a lifestyle as admirable or commendable.
Though our world suffers from what I'd call 'sexual sickness', and it may not be my or your fault, it is still a problem nonetheless. In America, it is near impossible to escape propaganda down-putting of chastity. Our own sexual instinct-though it is not bad in itself, as we have established-has been twisted and distorted from generation to generation so that we believe it should be inflamed at all times and whenever we want it to be, however we want it to be, with whoever we want it to be. How incredibly selfish of us. Thank God we have a Lord who cares not about our iniquities but rather our sincere heart behind our will to overcome them.
How is this to be done? Lewis argues it is impossible-by human efforts-to maintain complete chastity (or any virtue), and he outlines three reasons for why this is.
Firstly, our fallen natures are constantly being tempted by Satan. Add onto that all of the propaganda centered around lust and the end result is the view that it is abnormal to resist any sexual desires, simply because they are natural. How have we believed this lie of giving into our flesh? We have convinced ourselves that it is our right to give in to any and every desire that comes our way. However, as Lewis points out, surrendering to all our desires leads to impotence, jealousy, lies, concealment, and so much else that is often the opposite of health and goodness. Christianity teaches that to patiently preserve these desires until what God outlines as the right moment, in the proper context, and with a significant person leads to happiness for us, yes, but even more importantly to the heart of God Himself.
The second reason is that many people do not think it possible to achieve chastity at all. To this, Lewis encourages to not even think about the possibility or impossibility of the task. 'It is wonderful what you can do when you have to', he says, and I very much agree. What a beautiful concept. We have already agreed that complete virtue is not attainable by human standards, for that would be perfection, so we must turn to the one who is perfect and call upon His name. Through Christ, these things are attainable, and it is in asking for His help that we are taken on the most magnificent journey imaginable, because by trying to attain chastity we will fail, only because we are still living in a broken world, but through this we accept the forgiveness of the Lord, pick ourselves up, and try again. It is here that we find my most favorite quote by C.S. Lewis: 'Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal thing is to sit down with anything less than perfection'.
The third point is that people often misconstrue what it is meant by repression. The word itself has a negative connotation, but it need not. Many think this to mean 'suppressed' or 'denied', but really a better definition would be 'put aside until a better time'. If sex has been meant for something better than what we so often make it, then why wouldn't we want to wait? We have humanized God's plan for relationships. He has offered us homemade chocolate cake and we have settled for the fake stuff they sell in school cafeterias.
One last point and this post will wrap up: the center of Christian morality-which is not found in overcoming the sins of the flesh. Do not misunderstand-fleshly sins are bad-but spiritual sins are worse. All the worst pleasures are purely of the spiritual realm, which is what the Bible, I think, means in saying that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly realms. There are two parts of us competing to overcome sin, which Lewis calls the Animal self and the Diabolical self, the latter being the worse of the two. In the words of the philosopher, 'That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to Hell than a prostitute'.
Thanks for sticking with me this far! Next time's post (within this series) will be over the Christian view of marriage. Until then!
