"All This Patronizing Nonsense About Him Is Not an Option For Us." (J.R.R. Tolkien)

In his autobiography entitled "Surprised by Joy" C.S. Lewis recounts his own journey from hardened atheist to one of the most celebrated and quoted Christian writers in modern time. Beginning with the death of his mother when he was nine years old and stretching well into his university career, Lewis found himself descending deeper and deeper into a gulf of unbelief and false conceptions. His search to discredit anything and everything related to the Living God led him into heated debates among his peers, inspired feverish academic pursuits aimed to tear down the religionists surrounding him and, for a time, even pushed him to "dabble in the darker side of spirituality" as he flirted with occultic practices and ideas. This description stands in stark contrast to C.S. Lewis you and I are familiar with, the one who, like the character he created, could be seen as a Lion in defense of the living God. While attending Oxford Lewis became friends with a fellow student named J.R.R. Tolkien. Many will recognize Tolkien as the author of the "Lord of the Rings" series. However, what may be less well known, is that this man was also a firm believer in and unwavering defender of Christianity even in the most hostile of settings. Lewis and Tolkien quickly developed a friendship which was cordial and mutually respectful as one would argue to build faith and the other would devote equal energy to tearing it down. Toward the end of Lewis' conversion into the man we know him as today, he found himself in a candle lit room arguing over the idea of Christianity with Tolkien. These two had already had many similar conversations but this one would prove to be different than all others. Recent events in Lewis' life had led him to no longer identify has an atheist and to accept some form of higher power or greater intelligence but certainly not to become a Christian or accept Jesus Christ as anything more than a influential historical figure. In this context Tolkien presented point after point to his friend in an attempt to make him abandon his faithless position. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, Lewis relented slightly and said that he could accept Jesus Christ as a great moral teacher but he simply could not accept him as the Savior and Redeemer of the World. To this statement Tolkien promptly responded "Either this man was and is the Son of God, or else he is a liar, a lunatic or a fraud, but all this patronizing nonsense about him being some great moral teacher, is not an option for us, nor was it intended to be."

The invitation of the Savior was not then nor is not now to view him as some ideological leader or wholesome example. True belief, true faith, must find its roots in soil much deeper and richer than that. The Son of God did not descend from His throne in order to foster superficial change or half-hearted belief. When questioned by the unbelieving pharisees as to the origin of his doctrine his response was unavoidably bold: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." In every moment and in every setting our Redeemer directed our gaze higher, to something grander, something which was simply beyond the grasp of any mortal, no matter their influence for good. Indeed, this man of Galilee who "had no form nor comeliness that men should desire him" is the root of all good, the fountain of eternal truth from which legions of good men and women attempt to quench the thirst of a morally parched world. Too many then and far too many now chose to look upon the man called Jesus and cast him out "to be trodden under foot of men."

The snare in all of this line of reasoning is that the doctrine and eternal mission of Jesus Christ descends to depths far deeper than any other in order to lift us to heights far loftier than any other doctrine in time or eternity. Righteous and well intended individuals may, even without religious motivation, suggest ideas or habits that will foster improvement and temporal progression. Those who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ as their guide and reason may lift their work and those influenced by it to a higher tier of influence which will reach beyond the temporal. But ultimately there is only one who, when this world and all who were deemed great within it have faded away, will still have authority to say "Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father." We speak the name of Jesus Christ with profound reverence not because he taught the path to our Father but because He is the path. He did not teach a way but rather he is "the way, the truth and the light." He did not merely teach a fulfilling lifestyle but rather fulfilled the law and as such will one day fulfill the yearnings of righteous hearts throughout the years. That is the Savior whose Gospel this is and the Master to whom all others are merely instruments in His hands.

To anyone who would claim Jesus Christ to be anything less than Savior, Redeemer and Light of the World I say "All this patronizing nonsense about him being some great moral teacher is simply not an option for [me]." Great moral teachers have never held me through dark nights of the soul and pierced the darkness with the dawn of their presence. Great moral teachers have never called me by name and in their own hour of struggle found reason for their pain in my face and my need for their gift. Great moral teachers have never placed themselves in the gaping maw of hell itself and blocked my stubborn march towards certain destruction. Great moral teachers will never command me to "come forth" from my own grave because theirs was left empty. And in that day it will not be the feet of a great moral teacher which are wet with my tears. It will not be the hem of a great moral teacher's garment that I and a faithful woman with an issue of blood will be stretching out our hands to touch. It will not be the hands of a great moral teacher which bear the irrefutable proof that "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." It will not be the voice of a great moral teacher which will welcome me home by name and with that single word bring me to my knees in worship. It will not be the face of a great moral teacher which will shine like the sun in that day, but rather of my truest friend and unwavering support, the author and finisher of our faith, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.