We are all fallen creatures and all very hard to live with.
–C. S. Lewis Letters to an American Lady
Ouch. Many times we forget to actually consider how theology actually impacts our lives. That may be partially blamed on a modern church full of pastors who don’t really know much good theology let alone how to relate what it means to those of us sitting in the pews (or stackable padded chairs, if you prefer), but over all I think it is a problem of humanity in general. We like to keep things compartmentalized, and we’re often quite good at it. Lewis is referencing something that happened in Eden itself that has direct, uncomfortable consequences for understanding ourselves and the world around us.
The Bible teaches us that in the Garden of Eden, the first man, Adam, sinned and he took the first woman, Eve, with him. As a direct result of that humanity has inherited a tendency towards choosing evil–called “the Fall” in theological terms. Now, this idea has often fallen out of favor even among Christians these days (usually first among those who would prefer not to think it true of themselves), but I would argue that, whether or not you believe in Christianity, its reality is undeniable. As I tell history classes, if you don’t understand this basic fact about humanity, you won’t be able to comprehend 90% of what has happened in world history.
Lewis’s quote brings this down to a very practical level. As a fallen creature, I am hard to live with. I have a tendency in my nature to choose things that can be called “selfish” with charity and “evil” in all honesty. I would not like to live with myself–and yet I expect others to do so and be happy about it.
This, I think, reminds us of two very important things: First, I see the need to understand myself and do everything I can, through Christ, to head off the tendencies I know for a fact are there. I owe that as much to myself as I do others. Second, when others offend and anger me, I am reminded, “there, but for the grace of God [and often even with it], go I.” They are, in a very real way, mirrors of myself. I should grant them as much reasonable leeway as I do myself.
And that should be a sobering thought.
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Mere Lewis 