Advent celebration (as should rightly to be referred as) is made holy (set aside as significant) because it IS significant. It’s easy to point out the peripheral errors (Christ MASS, pagan aspects, or greed), but teaching and displaying dedication toward a universally or cosmic event of the upmost grandeur and meaning should not be dismissed because of cultural piccadillos some may find inappropriate.
Again, the deferring lies in your court by refefrencing opinion rather than the source material. I’m not trying too hard to defend the untrainable, I’m stating fact. To say Lewis was unequivocally embracing witchcraft in practice is connecting something nefarious to his writing which is simply not present.
I’ll leave it alone, Lewis knows for certain now and rejoices in the presence of God. Thanks for proper debate.
B. McCausland, Correction- never stated not paganism is witchcraft. You actually quoted my statement, but did not comprehend. Paganism LIKE witchcraft IS sinful. Paganism being anything not of the true God. Yet, Paul used pagan poets and pagan athletic games to illustrate truth. Lewis used mythological illustrations to do the same.
Again, unless you have read the material, you cannot make claims for or against.
I appreciate your commitment to preservation of purity, we all need to remain so, hence why discernment is necessary to make distinctions between illustration and practice
B. McCausland, Why not reference Lewis material rather than someone’s opinion? Again, Paul used pagan illustrations because the crowd would understand. Pagan is no less sinful in PRACTICE than witchcraft. You would be hard pressed to provide an actual example of Lewis approving or supporting witchcraft/occultism in his writings.
Paul quoted pagan poets and made divinely inspired points using analogies referencing Greek/pagan athletic games. The use of mythological imagery to illustrate truth is no different when it was done by Lewis. This notion he was somehow infiltrating young minds with witchcraft and occultism is real stretch and actually reveals that some have never really read his material. A Problem with Pain and A Grief Observed are two examples of a Christian’s wrestling with pain in all its forms, and grief in particular.
C.S Lewis never referred to himself as a theologian, in fact, he was professor of Medieval literature. His writings do not presume to e theological treatises, but one man’s experiential understanding and use of conspicuous talent to express it. Does his work have errors? Yes. But does his work express what God has done in man and highlight His divine creation of imagination? Absolutely.
America is not the home of Christians, we are sojourners. This does not mean we cannot have political opinions, but not to the point of interfering with the worship of Christ.
Ladybug wrote: “I said in due time, I cannot speak for every elect believer as to the length of time. I know God teaches truth. Those who hold to error and reject truth, fighting against it prove they do not have the Spirit of truth within them. No amount of time will change that.” You acknowledge there are various levels and timing for God’s elect to advance in the truth, but then say those who fight against it (sound doctrine) prove they do not have the Spirit of truth. The Scripture states we were chosen “before the foundations of the world.” Therefore, even if some are not at your level of understanding or even may fight against it ( as I did at one point in my life) NOW does not mean they are without the Spirit.
“If there are no absolutes by which to judge society, then society becomes absolute.”
Francis Schaeffer The denial of moral absolutes and objective truth will result in a professor’s kicking a student out of class for stating the obvious.
The church will never become “extinct”. I pray those who are persecuted and displaced find their peace and strength in Christ. Our “history” on earth becomes irrelevant in light of eternal glory.
Science seems to be multiple choice for those on the political Left. In one hand they will assert the world will end “in like 12 years”. In the other, the assertion is a baby is merely a body part of a woman like an appendix, though their beloved god Science reveals otherwise. As for “fundamentalists”, the push is to outlaw what is already a crime, mainly, murder.
The kingdom of God advances as planned. The name and Gospel of Christ cannot be hindered or stopped; this is worthy of celebration and joy. May His children in China remain faithful and committed to His truth and will. Praise God in Christ!