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In C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity there is a particular position taken regarding denominations. C.S. Lewis himself was part of the Church of England but he was not trying to make people part of that church. His goal for non-believers was to get them into the hallway of Mere Christianity. It was their responsibility which door they chose to walk into once they got into the hallway.
Some Christians have a hard time with this simple and basic approach. They are often found asking “Which church is the true church?” This question is unfounded if we take the Lewis point of view. If one is in the hallway of Mere Christianity then they are already part of the true Church of Jesus Christ universally speaking. They have been grafted in and they are connected to the vine. After we get in the hallway we then do have a seeming responsibility of sorts to go into one of the doors available, yet which one?
I was raised mostly Catholic with some Lutheran influence as well through the Catechism years. Then I heard a Pentecostal Preacher by which I was urged to dedicate more thoroughly to Jesus Christ. I then went to a Pentecostal Bible College for two years and now am attending a Wesleyan University for the next two and currently I go to a non-denominational church. So which one is the right one?
As much as I would like to give the definitive answer on this question I am not sure that I can. One has to personally reflect on the particular truth claims of a denomination and then decide if they will enter into that particular room. There are a couple things that could be said however.
1. The Bible is the mark by which one should examine the truth claims of particular denominations. Church history as well can be helpful in understanding the coming together of particular denominatins.
2. One does have to eventually walk in the door of a Church. Ecclesia is the word for Church in the Bible and it means the called together assembly. Thereby assembling with the “saints” or other Christians is necessary for the Christian today. One does not know what they are saying when they say “I love Jesus but not the church.” Jesus founded the church, so he who loves Jesus should love what he did and does as well.
I do have my thoughts doctrinally regarding some denominations. I think that there are some with greater error and some with lesser error. A person should work to be part of one with lesser error theologically as well as a group that truly works to achieve the great commission by being witnesses for Christ. I also must say that I have brothers and sisters in Christ who truly love Jesus and try to follow him with their whole heart who are part of Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Pentecostal and more. I think as Christians we must be one in the substance of Christ and our unity can be expressed in a certain amount of diversity.
Lewis gives some strong advice that we all need to consider. If we heed these words we will be more open to our brothers and sisters as well as purer at heart for how we are to make this decision.
Mere Christianity is “more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think, preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light; and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and paneling. In plain language, the question should never be: ‘Do I like that kind of service?’ but ‘Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?’
When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more, and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house” (Lewis, 1952, XVI).
As we reflect on this, let us work together to bring Jesus Christ to all people groups on this planet. As we reflect on this internally, our external work should be a united front against the secularism that is brewing strong as we speak.
For the love of truth,
Isaac
Lewis, L. S. (1952). Mere christianity, a revised and amplified edition, with a new introduction, of the three books, broadcast talks, christian behaviour, and beyond personality. HarperOne.Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=978-0-06-065292-0
Children: The incredible joy that children can bring to one's life. My wife and I had our first child October 2, 2011. We had a girl! We named her Zion Nicole Fleming. Psalm 48:2-3 is the specific description that caught our eye as to name our daughter Zion. Long nights may be tiring but they can be characterized by incredible moments of reflection on the meaning of life and the nature of human beings as we look into the eyes of the newly born. Family is wonderful and I thank God for my wonderful wife and new daughter!
New Moment of Truth Online! Watch Here. http://isaacfleming.com/index.php/moment-of-truth/
Preparation: I have been thinking a lot about preparation as well. I am constantly challenged by individuals with incredible depth as well as humility. Several people in particular come to my mind. Ravi Zacharias, William Lane Craig, and Ronald Cottle. Recently I was reading a short book with good Greek word studies by Dr. Ron Cottle. There is so much depth packed into such short chapters. I think it is one of my top twenty favorite books. It is called "Christian Life Word Studies." Although it is only about 80 pages, the thinking is clear and concise yet with great depth. Ron Cottle has a double doctorate and to see someone with so much depth bring about things so clearly without losing that depth is something I aspire too. Check out the book here. https://buy.rcottleministries.com/Products_Detail.php?ProductID=1194
Dear Christian: I challenge you to add depth to your thinking. Spend time in the Scriptures, get some good commentaries, work through apologetic books and systematic theology. Add to your range of thinking. We are called to study to show ourselves approved. Let's be thoroughly prepared!
-Isaac