Mere Christianity - Virtues
I'm into the third section of this book now, which is entitled "Christian Behavior." Lewis begins by speaking about morality, what it's thought to be by some and what it truly is. And where I am reading right now, Lewis is discussing the four Cardinal Virtues which are accepted by most people and the three Theological Virtues which are usually embraced by Christians. As I said before, the radio talks that became this book took place in the forties. So some of the words are not used in exactly the same way today as they were then. Lewis explained that cardinal was just another word meaning pivotal.
The four Cardinal Virtues are Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Fortitude. His comments about temperance were the ones I wanted to share. I am not sharing this because I'm trying to make a case for drinking. I am sharing it because of the point he makes at the end, which I am in complete agreement with. I don't feel it is even necessary for me to add my comments to his, except to say that many Christians are guilty of the attitude Lewis describes as that of "a certain type of bad man." I don't want to be one of those, although I have been in the past.
Rather than paraphrase, I think I will just quote Lewis. Everything in italics is a direct quote from the book "Mere Christianity."
Temperance is, unfortunately, one of those words that has changed its meaning. It now usually means teetotalism. But in the days when the second Cardinal virtue was christened 'Temperance,' it meant nothing of the sort. Temperance referred not specially to drink, but to all pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going the right length and no further. It is a mistake to think that Christians ought all to be teetotallers; Mohammedanism, not Christianity, is the teetotal religion. Of course it may be the duty of a particular Christian, or of any Christian, at a particular time, to abstain from strong drink, either because he is the sort of man who cannot drink at all without drinking too much, or because he is with people who are inclined to drunkenness and must not encourage them by drinking himself. But the whole point is that he is abstaining, for a good reason, from something which he does not condemn and which he likes to see other people enjoying. One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting every one else to give it up. That is not the Christian way. An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons -- marriage, or meat, or beer, or the cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.
One great piece of mischief has been done by the modern restriction of the word Temperance to the question of drink. It helps people to forget that you can be just as intemperate about lots of other things. A man who makes his golf or his motor-bicycle the centre of his life, or a woman who devotes all her thoughts to clothes or bridge or her dog, is being just as 'intemperate' as someone who gets drunk every evening. Of course, it does not show on the outside so easily: bridge-mania or golf-mania do not make you fall down in the middle of the road. But God is not deceived by externals.
The four Cardinal Virtues are Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Fortitude. His comments about temperance were the ones I wanted to share. I am not sharing this because I'm trying to make a case for drinking. I am sharing it because of the point he makes at the end, which I am in complete agreement with. I don't feel it is even necessary for me to add my comments to his, except to say that many Christians are guilty of the attitude Lewis describes as that of "a certain type of bad man." I don't want to be one of those, although I have been in the past.
Rather than paraphrase, I think I will just quote Lewis. Everything in italics is a direct quote from the book "Mere Christianity."
Temperance is, unfortunately, one of those words that has changed its meaning. It now usually means teetotalism. But in the days when the second Cardinal virtue was christened 'Temperance,' it meant nothing of the sort. Temperance referred not specially to drink, but to all pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going the right length and no further. It is a mistake to think that Christians ought all to be teetotallers; Mohammedanism, not Christianity, is the teetotal religion. Of course it may be the duty of a particular Christian, or of any Christian, at a particular time, to abstain from strong drink, either because he is the sort of man who cannot drink at all without drinking too much, or because he is with people who are inclined to drunkenness and must not encourage them by drinking himself. But the whole point is that he is abstaining, for a good reason, from something which he does not condemn and which he likes to see other people enjoying. One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting every one else to give it up. That is not the Christian way. An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons -- marriage, or meat, or beer, or the cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.
One great piece of mischief has been done by the modern restriction of the word Temperance to the question of drink. It helps people to forget that you can be just as intemperate about lots of other things. A man who makes his golf or his motor-bicycle the centre of his life, or a woman who devotes all her thoughts to clothes or bridge or her dog, is being just as 'intemperate' as someone who gets drunk every evening. Of course, it does not show on the outside so easily: bridge-mania or golf-mania do not make you fall down in the middle of the road. But God is not deceived by externals.
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