C.S. Lewis on theosis

By now regular readers know that I am a fan of C.S. Lewis, and I was a fan of him before becoming Orthodox. In fact, I consider him one of the influences that led me to Orthodoxy, though I would not have thought of it that way before I became Orthodox. You see, it was not until I became Orthodox that I realized just how much of C.S. Lewis’  thinking reflected a more “Eastern” viewpoint, or perhaps, I had better say a more “universal” or catholic viewpoint.

One of his statements has to do with the whole issue of theosis or deification. Most people in “Western” churches think that it is merely this odd little idea that the Orthodox have and that perhaps it is just a little too “Eastern.” That is, some people suspect that perhaps we had a little too much traffic with Persia and India, to the east of the traditional Orthodox lands. But, many of you have read C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity without realizing just how much Orthodox theology was embedded in this book. In fact, it is Lewis’ capability to take complex theological language and turn it into mere Christianity that makes him so beloved by so many.

This time, let’s take a look at two quotes from that book and see what he says is the goal of a Christian:

“He came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life He has – by what I call ‘good infection.’ Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else”

“The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were ‘gods’ and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him – for we can prevent Him, if we choose – He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.”

Finally, there is this quote from him about God: “turning you permanently into a different sort of thing; into a new little Christ, a being which, in its own way, has the same kind of life as God; which shares in His power, joy, knowledge and eternity”

Let’s look at that first line, that he came to this world and became a man in order to spread His life and that we are to become a little Christ. Notice that he says that, “The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” Look closer at how he says it. He does not say that we are to be “declared” to be little Christs. Rather he uses the word “infected.” That is, Christ’s incarnation had a purpose, and according to C.S. Lewis it sounds just like several of the Church Fathers said:

• St. Athanasius wrote that “God became man so that men might become gods.”
• St. Cyril of Alexandria says that we “are called ‘temples of God’ and indeed ‘gods,’ and so we are.”
• St. Gregory of Nazianzus implores us to “become gods for (God’s) sake, since (God) became man for our sake.”
• St. Irenaeus of Lyons stated that God “became what we are in order to make us what he is himself.”
• St. Augustine of Hippo preached “To make human beings gods, He was made man who was God.”

I could go on with more quotes, but that should suffice. But, I must admit that I like the way that C.S. Lewis puts it, “He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess . . . a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness.”

C.S. Lewis puts it in a way more understandable to us. He writes with the cadences of the West, and his examples are good solid Celtic/Anglo-Saxon examples. More than that, he has a sensitivity to the Western emphasis on God’s amazing grace that shines through his writing. I am not in the least saying that the East did not. However, C.S. Lewis inherits both the catholic sensitivity of the Early Church Fathers and the protestant sensitivity of the great Anglicans like Fr. John Newton, ex slave trader, and eventual Anglican priest. If the East often points us to the heights to which God shall take us, the West often points to the depths from which we have come.

As a Latino who is Orthodox, I can identify with both sides. On the one hand, the Orthodox icons always picture the saints in glory, having won their battles. On the other hand, the Latino holy images are often suffering images, reminding us, as did C.S. Lewis, that “?The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.” We need to be in for the long haul. Sadly that is what is so often lacking in all too much of modern American theology. Latinos have never come from rich countries nor from stable societies. We all too well understand the process, and our holy images reflect that.

Do you remember the words to Amazing Grace? Reflect on them, and commit yourself to the great process of becoming a god, a little Christ.

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.