“When the apostles preached, they could assume even in their Pagan hearers a real consciousness of deserving the Divine anger. The Pagan mysteries existed to allay this consciousness, and the Epicurean philosophy claimed to deliver men from the fear of eternal punishment.
It was against this background that the Gospel appeared as good news. It brought good news of possible healing to men who knew that they were mortally ill. But all this has changed. Christianity now has to preach the diagnosis– in itself very bad news– before it can win a hearing for the cure.”
–C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: HarperCollins, 1940/1996), 48.
[HT: Tolle Lege]
great quote...he is such an amazing writer
ReplyDeleteWitnessing has to start with the sin problem! I think that's why the Way of the Master is such an effective philosophy. It doesn't seem like that's an entirely modern issue, though, since the NT so clearly spells out the role of the Law in exposing man's need for a savior.
ReplyDeletePreach on!