The following is part of a series exploring quotations attributed to C.S. Lewis that are questionable for one reason or another. My book (THE MISQUOTABLE C.S. LEWIS, releasing by May, 2018) collects material presented so far and will contain expressions not yet posted here (plus existing online material is updated in the book). That book will contain 75 quotations, so there are many quotes not yet posted (over two dozen). With so much material left, I hope to post a new quote each week.
There is an “at a glance” page (CLICK HERE) to quickly see what has been posted so far in this series, which also includes a list of the other quotes I’ve identified as questionable. Also, if you haven’t already, consider reading the INTRODUCTION to this series to gain an understanding of the three main categories.
“The grand point is not to wear the garb, nor use the brogue of religion, but to process the life of God within, and feel and think as Jesus would have done because of that inner life. Small is the value of extended religion, unless it is the outcome of a life within.”
If you go searching for this expression online, fortunately, you’ll not find it in too many places. Do I say this because it is a bad expression? Not at all, I happen to think it is a great saying! Just wait until you find out who actually said it. You can find out pretty easily by doing a search. The correct author, Charles Spurgeon, who died six years before Lewis was born, is identified in several places. Spurgeon said these words in a sermon given on October 21, 1883, in a message entitled “Abijah, or some Good Thing Towards The Lord.”
The key points that I get out of this quotation is that a person should not be so focused on their outward appearance, but be more concerned with how faith is influencing them internally. It is fair to say that Lewis would agree with these ideas. In fact, in Mere Christianity Lewis writes (in chapter one of book three) about how people tend to forget about “what might be called tidying up or harmonising the things inside each individual.” Most people, he writes, would rather only focus on “fair play and harmony between individuals.” While those matters are important, Lewis warns it is foolish to neglect the individual behavior that does not appear to impact social relationships, because ultimately it does so either directly or indirectly.
The next article is:
“Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular.”
Related Articles:
Exploring C.S. Lewis Misquotes and Misconceptions (6-part podcast series)
What Lewis NEVER Wrote (Podcast)
Not Quite Lewis – Podcast Version
Not Quite Lewis – Questionable Lewisian Quotations (Conf. Paper)
Updated 3/3/2018
