Lewis describes how after giving a speech to the Royal Air Force an old officer exclaimed that he had no time for creeds of Christianity because they were meaningless. He believed in God and had in fact experienced him in his own life. But, the creeds and theology of Christianity felt less real than that type of experience.
Lewis compared this to seeing the Atlantic ocean in real life and seeing it on a map. Of course seeing it in real life was a more tangible experience, but the map is made from thousands of persons' experience with the Atlantic Ocean. You, as a single person, can experience the Atlantic Ocean in a one-on-one level as much as you like. But, to sail across it one will need maps. It's the same thing with Scripture and theology. You can experience God at a one-on-one level, but without a map you're going to have a lot of walks on the beach, but your not going to make it across the Atlantic.
Interestingly, he notes that the experiences we have with God at that one-on-one level are certainly exciting, but like the old officer, often nothing comes of it. "It leads nowhere. There is nothing to do about it... It is all thrills and no work" (Lewis, from Mere Christianity). But, when using the maps (theology and Scripture) requires work to get to God. It's relying on hundreds of people's experience with God, mapping out a way to get to God on a deeper level.
No comments:
Post a Comment