Not Idealistic Gas

After reading my Bible this morning, I turned to my copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I know that I've talked about this book before, and this morning, I am going to share its wisdom once again.

I read the chapter entitled "Counting the Cost". In this chapter, or lecture as it was originally produced, Lewis discussed his comment of God desiring us to be perfect. He immediately clarifies that he does not mean that if we are not perfect, God will not accept us. Lewis believes that God wants us to strive for perfection and nothing less. But as humans we want less, and God wants to inspire us to more.

After Lewis gives an anecdote about dentists (a dentist does not just fix the hurt; he gives the whole mouth treatment), he says:

Now if I may put it that way, Our Lord is like the dentists. If you give Him an inch, He will take an ell [about 45 inches or so]. Dozens of people go to Him to be cured of some one particular sin which they are ashamed of (like masturbation or physical cowardice) or which is obviously spoiling daily life (like bad temper or drunkenness). Well, He will cure it all right: but he will not stop there. That may be all you asked; but if once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment. (Lewis 174)

Lewis goes on to explain that this is one of the reasons Christ told people to "count the cost" before coming to Him. Christ wants us to strive for perfection in Himself: "To shrink back from that plan is not humility; it is laziness and cowardice. To submit to it is not conceit or megalomania; it is obedience" (Lewis 175).

The job of making us perfect will not be completed in this life; however, Christ wants us to strive hard after the goal so that His Father may look on us in the end and say He is well-pleased with us.

The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible.... 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. (Lewis 176)