Christian Behavior by C.S. Lewis - a review

Christian Behavior by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found a first edition printing of C.S. Lewis’ second series of radio addresses during World War II, in a used bookstore in a tourist town near me. Delivered in 1943, published in 1945, Lewis reviews Christian ethics by looking at each cardinal virtue in turn.

The chapters are each exactly 6 small pages long, as he had 10 minutes to deliver each. This makes for easy reading.

Lewis first surveys morality, generally. It involves fair play between people, harmony within oneself, and the purpose of life. He then reviews the classical virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice. Then two fascinating addresses on psychoanalysis and its relationship to ethics, and sexual morality. An insightful chapter on marriage, likening the relationship to a violin and bow, making up one instrument. And finally Christian virtues: forgiveness, humility, charity, hope, and faith.

Lewis is so bracing. Simple, clear, and direct. I was struck by how out of sync his emphases are with my own conservative circles today. In a world of platforming and building your brand, even by the people we agree with, Lewis was the unassuming opposite. He spoke of the fledgling New Testament Christian Church as possibly leftist and socialist. Perhaps he was wrong, or perhaps he wasn’t constrained by political orthodoxies like we are today. His chapter on Hope calls us to look to the next world, in order to do the most good in this one. My anti-Gnostic friends would cringe, but Lewis is right. While we can and should enjoy the blessings of this world, we should even more be hoping for a better world.

Ironically, Lewis wrote in his day that we need to read old books, to balance our modern view. Now, we need to read Lewis’ old book, to balance our contemporary views on Christian living, whether you are a long time Christian, or considering the faith afresh.

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