SCILIGION : C.S. Lewiss analogy of Christianity using Evolution

1
Evolution as an Analogy for
ChristianityBernie Dehler representing C.S.
Lewis ideas(from Mere Christianity, the last
chapter)
2
MAIN POINTS

• The gospel is not merely about improvement, but
  transformation
• Evolution What is the next step? Being
  born-again and getting a new life in Christ
• It has already started and has been in process
  for the last 2000 years
• You must lose yourself to find yourself
• The stakes are high eternal life

3
KEY POINT
The gospel is not merely about improvement, but
transformation
4
Evolution What is the Next Step?

• It is not more of the same, and not adding
  things we could foresee (such as X-men mutants)
• Living with the dinos, we would have thought it
  meant more armour
• The trick was something new a different kind
  of power
• Evolution takes a turn (like CPUs at Intel
  going from single to multi-core, because of power
  constraints)
• The next step will likewise be radical. Not
  just a new change, but a new method of making the
  change. Maybe even evolution itself, as a method
  of change, will be superseded
• Likely, when such a thing happens, few will
  notice it. Evolution works that way, over time.

5
The Next Stephas happened

• It is not a change from brainy men to brainier-
  but a shift in direction from being creature of
  God to being sons of God.
• Jesus Christ was the first instance 2,000 years
  ago in Palestine.
• Not evolution from natural process, but coming
  into nature from outside.
• New novelties cant be grasped from analyzing
  the past because these are new directions

6
How the Next Stepis different previous steps
(1 of 6)
It comes from outside of nature
7
How the Next Step is different previous steps
(2 of 6)
It is not carried on by sexual reproduction
8
How the Next Step is different previous steps
(3 of 6)
Based on choice to go to the next step or not.
9
How the Next Step is different previous steps
(4 of 6)
Jesus Christ is not just the first instance of
the new man but is the New Man. Hes the
original and center of the new men. He entered
the natural world from outside, bringing with him
the new life. The new life spreads by
infection, from personal contact with Christ.
Others become new by being in Him.
10
How the Next Step is different previous steps
(5 of 6)

• The next step is happening extremely rapidly, in
  evolutionary time-scales 2,000 years is still
  quite young in evolutionary time.
• Christianity is still new. Some claim it is
  dying, but that is an old claim. It survives
  persecutions from within and without. Survived
  the rise of Mohammedanism, the rise of the
  physical sciences, and anti-Christian
  revolutionary movements. The world cant stop
  it- the first disappointment for the world was
  the crucifixion of Christ. When stomped-out in
  one place, it arises in another.

11
How the Next Step is different previous steps
(6 of 6)

• The stakes of missing out are much higher than
  before. Previous evolutionary changes went from
  one animal to another. But now, the chance is to
  go to infinity we can become gods, so to speak.
  
• For us to choose, it is like birth. The world
  has been working to this moment, and it is time-
  for the new birth. Different than natural birth-
  we have a choice. Do we want to sty in the womb
  or come out? What would a baby do? Seems like
  the womb means comfort and safety, but it
  actually means death to stay longer than planned.

12
What Next Steppeople are like (type)
The next step has been taken by many people all
over the world. They are sometimes recognized.
They begin where most leave off. They are not
like religious people you read about. They
dont draw attention to themselves.
13
What Next Steppeople are like (quotes)

• You tend to think that you are being kind to
  them when they are really being kind to you.
• They love you more than other men do, but they
  need you less. (We need to get over wanting to
  be needed, a big problem especially with women.)
• They will usually seem to have a lot of time
  you will wonder where it comes from.
• They probably recognize each other across all
  color, sex, age, class, and creeds. It is like a
  secret society. Fun!

14
New Life IllustrationLight
When exposed to light, all are in the light, and
their physical forms are now brought out. This
was impossible in the dark room. In the light,
their true form is revealed.
15
New Life IllustrationSalt
Tasting salt by itself gives a strong, sharp
taste. If you tell a uneducated foreigner that
your citizens put salt on food, they may think it
will then taste all the same. What they dont
see is how the salt brings out the (real) taste
of foods, such as egg. (Analogy breakdown too
much salt can harm taste, but not so with too
much Christ in our lives.)
16
Illustration Points

• In the same way, the more we get ourselves out
  of the way and let Christ take over, the more we
  can become ourselves. Millions of little
  Christs running around, but still too few to
  fully express Him fully.
• Christ made us like an author makes characters
  in a book. We need to discover our purpose in
  Him. You cant be yourself without Him. The
  more we resist, the more we become dominated by
  heredity, upbringing, surroundings, and natural
  desires.
• Until you have given up yourself to Him you will
  not have a real self. Sameness is for natural
  men not for those in Christ.

17
Summary

• Dont go to Christ for the sake of a life- it is
  a consequence, not the goal. Surrender all to
  Christ- even the personality. Forget about the
  self altogether. It will come when you are
  looking for Him, not when looking for it (the
  personality). Lose your life and you will
  save it. Submit with every fiber of your being.
  
• Nothing in you that has not died will ever be
  raised from the dead.