All or Nothing

(This appeared in The North Augusta Star, our local newspaper, so I thought I'd post here as well.)

I love quotes. When I read a good one, I record it in my journal. I could easily fill this column with words of wisdom that I’ve collected throughout the years.

One of my all-time favorite quotes was written by C.S. Lewis many years ago. Lewis was a prolific writer and scholar best known for his Chronicles of Narnia fantasy series and his pro-Christian texts. He taught at Oxford University and became a renowned Christian apologist using logic and philosophy to support the tenets of the Christian faith. 

Lewis wrote, "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important." Basically, Lewis is saying Christianity is all or nothing. 

On a Sunday afternoon many years ago, I saw a friend who I knew was not a “church-going” man. He asked me what I talked about in my morning sermon. The title of my message was “Obsessed with God.” When I told my friend the title for the day, he wrinkled his face and said, “Obsessed?”

And maybe he was right.

Perhaps obsessed wasn’t the best word. We typically don’t consider obsession as a positive character trait. But I think I was trying to make a similar point as C.S. Lewis. When it comes to the Christian faith, you can’t sit on the spiritual fence. You’re either all in or not in at all. 

If the story of the Creator of the universe providing unlimited love and grace to His people through the cross of Christ is true, it should be of utmost importance to us. If it is merely a fairy tale, a myth, or a legend, we should pay no attention to it. 

It seems to me, however, that many Christians make their faith only moderately important - the one thing C.S. Lewis said it cannot be. We’ve learned how to compartmentalize our faith. It’s a part of our lives just like work, sports, music, and hobbies. We give our faith an hour or two each week and leave it at that.

But I don’t think that is God’s desire for us. I believe that God wants us to coat every part of our lives with his presence and power. I believe that we can live each moment in the awareness that God is truly with us. He is Immanuel, i.e., God with us.

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord” (Psalm 89:15).

He is with you all of the time. Don’t you think that’s important?