The Weight of Glory

The nine essays in this book were originally speeches or sermons given by C. S. Lewis on different aspects of the Christian life. Topics include friendship, forgiveness, and looking at life with eternity in mind. Lewis is so darn intelligent but doesn't talk down to his listeners or readers. He uses reason and wisdom to help us better understand our human nature and that indefinable longing for something missing in our lives.

Lewis gives much to ponder in these loosely related discourses. This would be a good introduction to C. S. Lewis and his view of Christianity or, for his fans, a way of getting even further into his brilliant mind and quiet charisma. I know this is a book I will read many times to gain new insights. I'm giving it a show more solid four stars on my first reading, and I highly suspect that subsequent readings will raise the level of my appreciation. show less

I have always loved the title of this collection of addresses, pulled from the passage in 2 Corinthians 4 that says, "For this momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison." In the title sermon, arguably one of Lewis's finest, he identifies our problem not as too much desire for personal happiness, but desires for happiness that are too weak and too easily satisfied with sin's empty pleasures. In an oft-quoted passage, Lewis writes:

The New Testament has lots to say about self-denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself. We are told to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses in order that we may follow Christ; and nearly every description of what we shall ultimately show more find if we do contains an appeal to desire. If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. (26)

Later writers — notably John Piper, in his Desiring God which I just finished and which served, in one of those delightful spiritual "coincidences" of God's, to hammer home the point to me — have caught on to the incredible truth represented here. It is wonderful to feel the freedom to eagerly pursue one's own happiness, and to know that happiness can only be found in God.

Other small nuggets of truth from the other eight addresses are still with me. In one address, Lewis is speaking to a graduating class, and instead of preaching the usual about working hard and being ambitious, he describes the endless struggle to be in what he calls "the inner ring" — and what we sacrifice along the way for that insipid status. It's very thought provoking. Another idea that has stuck with me is from his sermon "Transposition," in which he discusses the tongues-speaking of Acts 2 and some possible reasons that the Holy Spirit manifested in this way; it is the translation of a higher language to a lower.

In "Membership," Lewis talks about the refreshing acknowledgment of our inequalities in the Church. Again, Lewis is the forerunner of truths I have been learning from other sources of late:

But the function of equality is purely protective. It is medicine, not food. By treating human persons (in judicious defiance of the observed facts) as if they were all the same kind of things, we avoid innumerable evils. But it is not on this that we were made to live. It is idle to say that men are of equal value. If value is taken in a worldly sense—if we mean that all men are equally useful or beautiful or good or entertaining—then it is nonsense. If it means that all are of equal value as immortal souls, then I think it conceals a dangerous error. The infinite value of each human soul is not a Christian doctrine. God did not die for man because of some value He perceived in him. The value of each human soul, considered simply in itself, out of relation to God, is zero. (170)

Not a popular view nowadays, to be sure, in our culture of precious self-esteem and positive thinking, but very refreshing. There is a lot of freedom for the creature when it stops viewing itself as the reason for its own (and God's) existence.

I enjoyed the introduction by Walter Hooper and the little anecdotes he relates about Lewis. Sometimes it seems almost a little like hero-worship. But the more I know of Lewis's work and the profundity of his thought, the more understandable this level of admiration appears. show less

This is the first book I’ve ever finished by C.S. Lewis—including the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe series (yes, I know!). I assumed that I would find myself bored or confused by his books. I never knew how sharp his arguments are. I found myself constantly just impressed at how he weaves through this complicated theology in such a profound way. I’m sure that about five re-reads would have to be in order for me to even grasp half of what he’s saying, but for my first read, I gained a lot. This is one for those who like to argue, those on the fence, those who doubt the depth of faith. It was GOOD!

A few of these sermons are good, but the others just feel condescending. Lewis clearly believes Christianity is the perfect way of life (but only if you understand it the way he understands it) and all the other faiths disappoint him. A slog to get though, but it will give a bit of insight into man behind the Narnia books.

This wasn't my favorite Lewis so far, but mostly because I preferred some of the sermons/essays to others. "The Weight of Glory" in and of itself was awesome. I would give that sermon 5⭐️s. "On Forgiveness" gave me a lot to think about. But some of the ones in between are so specific to the culture of the time that I had a hard time paying attention. I also, as always, have some fundamental differences with Lewis, so that makes some of his assertions hard to swallow. But I can appreciate hearing the logic behind a different point of view from a different era. It helps me make stronger arguments about my own beliefs.

I give Julian Rhind-Tutt 5/5⭐️s. It doesn't take much for someone to give a good Lewis reading - if they're a show more literate British dude... that's pretty much all that matters. show less

C. S. Lewis has a way of taking your brain, blending it up, stomping on it and somehow putting it back better.

This book is a collection based on talks that Lewis gave over the years. He edited them for reading but said he did not change them because they are a record of his ideas at the time of the talks. All of them are worth reading and rereading. This time through “On Forgiveness” really sent me a message that I need. “Why I Am Not a Pacifist” still carries impact especially in these uncertain times during the Iraq War and “learning in War-Time” also speaks to continuing to learn as your “days become shorter.” All of the talks are good and I suspect any time I reread them I will get new “messages” from them. He was a very special Christian and these talks also show his “human” side.