Excellent podcast, McGrath is superb - what a mind and a wonderful ability to explain things clearly. Great interview and discussion. Thanks from a new listener in the UK.
As mentioned along the way, people are looking for examples of lives being well lived. I suggest checking out Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and the sermons of Pastor Doug Wilson.
The points you and your local guest and CSLweis expert made were outstanding and frankly profound ! I too have long been a CS Lewis fan and have studied his life and read many biographies written about him. This excellent podcast brought back to memory so many deep truths that Lewis was so effective at illustrating to the mind and heart. Truly - any person who truly has any interest in investigating a faith at all or Christianity in particular always has had this amazing author’s words and wisdom to learn from. I would say that our generation is without excuse for knowing about and believing in the Christ in the Bible because of this man. My one wish was that, as easy as I think Lewis is to understand - I do think it would be good to remove any last barrier to unbelievers - to republish many of his works in current vernacular. Almost like there is a NKJV as a “translation” of the KJV Bible. For those who lack the scholarship and reading skills to easily grasp Lewis’s older English style and references - perhaps someone could write or record a version in current American English - just to help a few more get across the faith finish line. The real question is - would it benefit others or would they still choose not to read the even easier to understand wisdom. One theological question I have always had is - are people willfully blind to the things of God or has Satan been effective or has Gid given then over to a depraved mind and heart that they lose any love of the truth and any sense of the need to wrestle with matters of God and faith and eternity? Creation itself is evidence so that men are without excuse for knowing that there is a God and I suppose that means they are without excuse for having both the inspiration and the opportunity to know in their hearts that God is real and they had better investigate the matter further. And even without a NCSL translation of his works - people are probably without any excuse for NOT reading the Bible on their own, or not reading accounts from apologists like Lewis, etc. I simply can’t understand people who claim to deny God and refuse to take the time Or make the effort to give the matter their honest attention and inquiry. So a modern translation should not be necessary and may not even affect a single soul - but it may still be helpful for the young believer being discipled and who knows - a modern translation may just save a few more people . Thank you so much for this amazing exchange about the works of one of God’s more brilliant evangelists / I am glad Lewis was guilty of being somewhat aggressive with his faith explanations - we know what non-aggressive proclamation can accomplish . We could use a few more Lewis’s in each generation. Bravo guys!!
Pugsters, in the spirit of locating resources that speak to the imagination as a way of pointing to Christ and faith, please consider reading the fictional 'Theo of Golden,' and then interviewing the renaissance man/author, Allen Levi. Both the novel and the man are imaginative and inspiring.
Those were interesting questions about how it is important to point out concerns and get people thinking about how to handle it. And the best answer probably is to provide examples of how to live wisely with the issue that you are addressing. I assume you were referring to Ai and how to respond to that potential evil. And I do think it will come to pass whether we want it or warn about it or not. So what is left is simply providing good examples of wise Christian response to the evil that will or already is here. It can’t be stopped but you can provide wisdom for those who discover the narrow path and resist the evils of the world
I liked the comment about finding some writers who speak wisdom to is to be traveling companions for life. I would share one of my traveling companions - it is the American author John Eldredge. And frankly, I have long described Eldredge as a modern day CS Lewis. He speaks biblical truth in a modern and whimsical way - he speaks rational truth and imaginative meaning about the gospel
I'm only halfway through this video and the list of books I need to acquire and read is already quite large. My newfound interest in theology, philosophy and history is getting expensive. 🤔
There are unlimited books you can download off internet for free. Especially the Puritans and older commentaries which in my opinion the old paths need to be regenerated!
I enjoyed this interview. I got the sense that Dr.McGrath is unwilling to acknowledge, or unaware of, the extent to which science has been captured by politics and ideology. The problem isn't Christians being unwilling to allow science it's place, but scientists no longer being willing to engage in actual science. When you can no longer question or challenge certain established narratives, you're no longer even having a honest conversation.
14:30 Here's an idea: If you're looking to win souls for God and you come across a suffering addict, pick him up, get him a meal, and give him a place to detox. That's what the Good Samaritan did. He didn't toss the suffering victim a band-aid and then walk away. Don't hand an addict a clean needle and a gospel pamphlet and then walk away feeling self satisfied that you're a faithful Jesus follower for meeting the sinner where he's at. because that is probably 90% of what I hear from these types of people - "Jesus ate with sinners, he loved everyone" - as an excuse to enable sin. The thing most of you self-styled do-gooders miss is that Jesus didn't stop after he'd met sinners where they're at. He met them and then took them over to the side of righteousness. But today's Christians forget that part. They meet the sinner where they're at and then stay there, patting themselves on back about how warm and accepting they are. That is the attitude this guy is promoting. Instead of lifting his students up to greatness, he lowers himself to wallow on their shallow level. There's a passage in Revelation where people call to Jesus saying they performed deeds in his name but Jesus says he never knew them. I think it's crystal clear that among the different types of people this passage refers to - overly judgmental people, false teachers, etc - are also the folks who use God's love as an excuse to ignore blatant sin. To them "meet sinners where they are at" invariably translates to "let people keep sinning". That's what this guy's vision of education is - kids aren't capable of rationality and facts do not convince them, so instead let's join them in wallowing in childish emotion and make them Christian by telling them what a supper happy fun time it is so we can capture their ever dwindling attention spans. This strategy has been tried now for the past 20 years with rock music and smoke machines and giant movie screens and the result has been falling church attendance.
Sorry to burst your demographic, Pastor Wiley, but I'm over 60. On a side note, I would appreciate more tie-ins into Scripture and how God's Word influenced and infused Lewis' thought and writings.
Incredible insights into the need for appealing not only to truth, but also meaning. Huge implications for my preaching ministry here.
Excellent podcast, McGrath is superb - what a mind and a wonderful ability to explain things clearly. Great interview and discussion. Thanks from a new listener in the UK.
Listening to a conversation like this is a wonderful way to start the day!
As mentioned along the way, people are looking for examples of lives being well lived. I suggest checking out Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and the sermons of Pastor Doug Wilson.
The points you and your local guest and CSLweis expert made were outstanding and frankly profound ! I too have long been a CS Lewis fan and have studied his life and read many biographies written about him. This excellent podcast brought back to memory so many deep truths that Lewis was so effective at illustrating to the mind and heart. Truly - any person who truly has any interest in investigating a faith at all or Christianity in particular always has had this amazing author’s words and wisdom to learn from. I would say that our generation is without excuse for knowing about and believing in the Christ in the Bible because of this man.
My one wish was that, as easy as I think Lewis is to understand - I do think it would be good to remove any last barrier to unbelievers - to republish many of his works in current vernacular. Almost like there is a NKJV as a “translation” of the KJV Bible.
For those who lack the scholarship and reading skills to easily grasp Lewis’s older English style and references - perhaps someone could write or record a version in current American English - just to help a few more get across the faith finish line.
The real question is - would it benefit others or would they still choose not to read the even easier to understand wisdom.
One theological question I have always had is - are people willfully blind to the things of God or has Satan been effective or has Gid given then over to a depraved mind and heart that they lose any love of the truth and any sense of the need to wrestle with matters of God and faith and eternity?
Creation itself is evidence so that men are without excuse for knowing that there is a God and I suppose that means they are without excuse for having both the inspiration and the opportunity to know in their hearts that God is real and they had better investigate the matter further. And even without a NCSL translation of his works - people are probably without any excuse for NOT reading the Bible on their own, or not reading accounts from apologists like Lewis, etc.
I simply can’t understand people who claim to deny God and refuse to take the time
Or make the effort to give the matter their honest attention and inquiry.
So a modern translation should not be necessary and may not even affect a single soul - but it may still be helpful for the young believer being discipled and who knows - a modern translation may just save a few more people .
Thank you so much for this amazing exchange about the works of one of God’s more brilliant evangelists / I am glad Lewis was guilty of being somewhat aggressive with his faith explanations - we know what non-aggressive proclamation can accomplish . We could use a few more Lewis’s in each generation.
Bravo guys!!
wonderful conversation.
Pugsters, in the spirit of locating resources that speak to the imagination as a way of pointing to Christ and faith, please consider reading the fictional 'Theo of Golden,' and then interviewing the renaissance man/author, Allen Levi. Both the novel and the man are imaginative and inspiring.
Great talk! Thanks, TheoPugs.
recently found this channel, keep up the great work i'm a fan!
Those were interesting questions about how it is important to point out concerns and get people thinking about how to handle it. And the best answer probably is to provide examples of how to live wisely with the issue that you are addressing.
I assume you were referring to Ai and how to respond to that potential evil. And I do think it will come to pass whether we want it or warn about it or not. So what is left is simply providing good examples of wise Christian response to the evil that will or already is here. It can’t be stopped but you can provide wisdom for those who discover the narrow path and resist the evils of the world
Great job, guys.
I liked the comment about finding some writers who speak wisdom to is to be traveling companions for life. I would share one of my traveling companions - it is the American author John Eldredge. And frankly, I have long described Eldredge as a modern day CS Lewis. He speaks biblical truth in a modern and whimsical way - he speaks rational truth and imaginative meaning about the gospel
I'm only halfway through this video and the list of books I need to acquire and read is already quite large. My newfound interest in theology, philosophy and history is getting expensive. 🤔
Have an ice cream 🎉. 😊
Yes, and pair it with a cardamom-dusted cherry turnover. 🍒
Libraries still exist! 😉👍
Perfect.😊😂
There are unlimited books you can download off internet for free. Especially the Puritans and older commentaries which in my opinion the old paths need to be regenerated!
I enjoyed this interview. I got the sense that Dr.McGrath is unwilling to acknowledge, or unaware of, the extent to which science has been captured by politics and ideology. The problem isn't Christians being unwilling to allow science it's place, but scientists no longer being willing to engage in actual science. When you can no longer question or challenge certain established narratives, you're no longer even having a honest conversation.
14:30
Here's an idea: If you're looking to win souls for God and you come across a suffering addict, pick him up, get him a meal, and give him a place to detox. That's what the Good Samaritan did. He didn't toss the suffering victim a band-aid and then walk away. Don't hand an addict a clean needle and a gospel pamphlet and then walk away feeling self satisfied that you're a faithful Jesus follower for meeting the sinner where he's at. because that is probably 90% of what I hear from these types of people - "Jesus ate with sinners, he loved everyone" - as an excuse to enable sin. The thing most of you self-styled do-gooders miss is that Jesus didn't stop after he'd met sinners where they're at. He met them and then took them over to the side of righteousness. But today's Christians forget that part. They meet the sinner where they're at and then stay there, patting themselves on back about how warm and accepting they are.
That is the attitude this guy is promoting. Instead of lifting his students up to greatness, he lowers himself to wallow on their shallow level.
There's a passage in Revelation where people call to Jesus saying they performed deeds in his name but Jesus says he never knew them. I think it's crystal clear that among the different types of people this passage refers to - overly judgmental people, false teachers, etc - are also the folks who use God's love as an excuse to ignore blatant sin. To them "meet sinners where they are at" invariably translates to "let people keep sinning". That's what this guy's vision of education is - kids aren't capable of rationality and facts do not convince them, so instead let's join them in wallowing in childish emotion and make them Christian by telling them what a supper happy fun time it is so we can capture their ever dwindling attention spans.
This strategy has been tried now for the past 20 years with rock music and smoke machines and giant movie screens and the result has been falling church attendance.
Sorry to burst your demographic, Pastor Wiley, but I'm over 60.
On a side note, I would appreciate more tie-ins into Scripture and how God's Word influenced and infused Lewis' thought and writings.
I agree with this. Thanks for mentioning it.
You can start with his "Reflections on the Psalms" 👍
Poor McGrath. Still hasn't recovered from the intellectual beating he got from Chris Hitchens back in 2007