The Weight of Glory - Week 1
Here on Christian Book Club we are beginning our selection for July, C.S. Lewis “The Weight of Glory”. This book is a compilation of nine sermons or discussions from C.S. Lewis. I believe that each one of them will cause you to stop and reflect. You may agree or disagree with Lewis but I think you will be interested in his writing. when I read his lectures I always have this picture of C.S. Lewis from the movie Shadowlands. In that movie Lewis was played by Anthony Hopkins. So, as I read these discussions I will have this picture of Anthony Hopkins speaking them. (If you have never watched the movie, Shadowlands, I recommend that you do. I think it is an excellent movie)
Here is how we will read the book for the month.
Week 1 - Read “The Weight of Glory” and “Learning in War Time”
Week 2 - Read “Why I Am Not a Pacifist” and “Transposition”
Week 3 - Read “Is Theology Poetry?” and “The Inner Ring”
Week 4 - Read “Membership” and “On Forgiveness” and “A Slip of the Tongue”
I look forward to reading your comments on this book. I was looking over the book to write this post and I started reading “The Weight of Glory”. On the very first page Lewis uses the word philological. What a great word. I don’t ever remembering seeing this word before. Philo means love and logos means word, so the term refers to a lover of words or literature. As a believer we know that Jesus is the Word (logos). So we are all philologians (lovers of Jesus). I think I have my new word for the month! Enjoy the book. I am sure you will find it stimulating!
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Comment by Wendy on 2 July 2008:
CS Lewis is absolutely amazing. I truly look forward to meeting him! I’ve read most of his books but this one escaped me…glad you picked it.
I enjoyed reading the introduction. What an impression CS Lewis made on everyone he encountered. I would love to think that someone would truly enjoy my company to that extent.
Shadowlands is an excellent movie. I won free tickets to see it and that is the only reason I went but afterwards I was delighted. I now own the movie.
THE WEIGHT OF GLORY
It is a shame how society has watered down the word “love”. We have no concept of how to truly love people anymore. God’s agape love is so very foreign to us but such a wonderful thing to be the recipient of …I know it first hand (and pray that anyone reading this has experienced it also).
Lewis’ honesty about his ideas of glory had me nodding my head in agreement. I believe I would have defined glory as he did (famous or a light bulb). Then to realize that I could actually have fame with God was sweet to me. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” is what we all want to hear one day from Jesus. Praise from my parents or husband can be the highlight of my day….can you imagine when Jesus praises you????
I think I read most of this essay to my husband because everything just kept jumping out at me. Page 38 really intrigued me. We need to truly realize that what God thinks of us is so much more important than our take on Him. Standing before Him to be inspected is frightening but understanding that with Jesus we can survive the inspection is crucial. I am going to start using this to share the gospel. It is possible to actually please our Creator by accepting His Son (how simple).
Page 41
Doesn’t God know all things? Great question and then to be told that some will hear “I never knew you” should be the catalyst to make us share the gospel. People are dying and going to hell daily and do we care? People are being “both banished from the presence of Him who is present everywhere and erased from the knowledge of Him who knows all”. Wow…..that should hit us all right between the eyes and get us up off the couch!
Page 46
“There are no ordinary people. YOu have never talked to a mere mortal” We are immortal not all the stuff that surrounds us. This statement has literally changed how I view people. People matter and I should be telling them about Jesus!
LEARNING IN WAR TIME
Very interesting article because the country responded to WWII in a different manner than they have to the war in Iraq.
I like how Lewis explains that our activities (except sinful acts) can be acceptable to God. We all like to do the BIG things that people notice. What about humble activities done just for God? The Bible tells us that if you do your deeds for man to reward you then that is all the reward you will receive. We should live our lives with God at beginning, middle and end. We are given talents and gifts to be used for His glory not ours.
I believe unfortunately that people as a whole do not learn during war time since it is repeated so very often. Those who think that there will ever be true peace on earth are kidding themselves. I don’t think we should live in despair but we should also have our eyes opened to the real world. Heaven will come to earth when Jesus returns.
Comment by Gwen on 3 July 2008:
I’ve never joined a book club. Maybe this will be a first. Wanted to see if anyone has read “Starving Jesus” yet. Someone told me about it and it looks interesting. I’m enjoying reading the comments here! :0) Heres to more reading! After we adopted our daughter in 2006, I forgot what reading was like. Her crib was in our bed room for like a year so the whole reading in bed thing was out! Now she has her own room and its lights on baby! I’m so excited to have my room back! Its the simple things that thrill me! ha ha…… Nighty night everyone! Gwen
Comment by stephenlawes on 3 July 2008:
Hi Wendy,
Hope you had a blessed trip. Thanks for all you comments this week. I am enjoying them as always. I will comment on your comments tomorrow.
Comment by stephenlawes on 3 July 2008:
Hi Gwen,
We would love to have you join our club. I haven’t heard of “Starving Jesus” but I will check into it and we can add it to our club early next year. We read one book a month which I think is a nice pace for busy people. Right now we just started an interesting collection of discussions by C.S. Lewis as our July selection. In August we will be reading What’s So Amazing About Grace by Phillip Yancey. I hope you can get involved!
Comment by Gwen on 4 July 2008:
Ok. I’m in. I just bought 3:16 Numbers of Hope, Starving Jesus, Heaven by Randy Alcorn (I like him alot) and this Weight of Glory. I’ll probably not be as serious as you guys are. Just fair warming! I like to have fun so if I get silly, don’t hold it against me. Ok………….pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Look forward to chatting. I’m also a fairly liberal thinker too so hopefully that won’t be a problem. I love the Lord so hopefully you’ll be able to see past my crazy ideas!
Thanks for sharing!!! Gwen
Comment by stephenlawes on 4 July 2008:
Hi again Wendy,
I feel the same way about wanting to share what I am reading with others. Lewis seems to awaken things in me when I read. It is like, Yes, that is exactly how I was feeling! His concept of Love and unselfishness is very good as well.
Comment by stephenlawes on 4 July 2008:
Hi again Gwen,
We look forward to your input and your point of view! Jump in to the discussion on the Weight of Glory as soon as you start reading!