“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (I Corinthians 1:18-25 NIV)
He described himself as the most reluctant of converts to Christianity. And rightly so. He was an intellectual giant. He held prestigious positions in literature at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities and was an expert in medieval literature. He was also, for the first half of his life, a devout atheist. His name? Clive Staples Lewis. You might know him as the author of the Chronicles of Narnia series.
Today is the 50th anniversary of his death and is far overshadowed by the shocking assassination of President John F. Kennedy on the same day. I remember exactly where I was on that day—in my second grade classroom—when the announcement of the President’s death came over the loudspeaker. At the time, I did not know a man of perhaps greater historical influence over the lives of people had also died that day.
In the academic world where embracing a belief in a God who descended to earth, died, and then was resurrected is considered pure foolishness by the vast majority, Lewis found himself intrigued by the myth. As time passed, he slowly came to the conclusion, albeit reluctantly, that the myth was true. He chronicles his road to conversion in Surprised by Joy and details his rationale in perhaps his most famous and influential book, Mere Christianity.
For those of us working in the world of academia, Lewis deftly demonstrated what so many consider foolishness is actually quite logical and true. And he provided the intellectual heft to back it up.
Today, while most of the nation is focused on remembering a slain president, I will be remembering my gratitude for a man who has influenced me far more. He helped me, and so many others, see that while the vast majority views the Gospel as foolishness, there are good, solid reasons to believe it is true. If you still have doubts about that, then along with your Bible, read Lewis’ Mere Christianity and see for yourself.
© Jim Musser 2013
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