Christianity And

“The real trouble about the set your patient is living in is that it is merely Christian. They all have individual interests, of course, but the bond remains mere Christianity. What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to keep them in the state of mind I call ‘Christianity And’”.
- CS Lewis


It is very interesting to me that Lewis uses the phrase “mere Christianity” considering that is the title of what is most likely his most famous work. This really hit home with me because it talks about belittling Christianity as something that the devil does. He attempts to combine Christianity with other things so that it no longer becomes true Christianity or purely Christianity. It becomes “Christianity and”. Christianity and anti-abortion. Christianity and healthcare. Christianity and good causes. I think this happens way too often today. There are so many causes and things going on that are so closely related to Christianity, that sometimes they even cease to be Christianity and simply turn into a “good cause”. This is very important for the church to recognize because “good causes” are not Gospel centered causes. Good causes are not necessarily tied with Christianity. Satan is seeking to make Christianity nothing more than a “good cause”. He wants you to think what you are doing is a good thing for Christ, when in fact, it is nothing more than a good thing. 

Good Cause ≠ Christian Cause

As Christians and churchgoers, we must make sure that our Christianity is true Christianity, not just a good cause, not “Christianity and”.