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Christian apologist Clive Staples Lewis
(1898-1963) was born in Belfast to an emotionally distant father, who sent him
away to boarding school after his mother died of cancer in 1908. Before the age
of five he had renamed himself "Jack," after his dog Jacksie was
killed by a car. He and his older brother invented imaginary worlds populated
by talking animals.
As a teen, Jack abandoned the church in which he had been raised, threw himself into the study of mythology and the occult and declared himself an atheist. He later wrote that he was "very angry with God for not existing." Wounded in World War I before he was 20, he suffered from grief and depression over the loss of fellow soldiers.
After resuming his studies, Lewis earned a "Triple First" (top rankings in three different areas akin to what today we would call "majors") and became what today we would call a professor at Oxford University. There, he and The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien were both members of the "Inklings" group of literary lights who met to discuss their craft and the big questions of life. Aided by the writings of George MacDonald and G.K. Chesterton, as well as by Tolkein, Hugo Dyson and others, Lewis began, if reluctantly, to reexamine Jesus Christ.
In his autobiography Surprised by Joy, Lewis wrote that he came out of atheism into faith like a prodigal, "kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape," every night feeling "the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In ... 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." Within two years he had fully embraced Christianity.
Lewis' return to faith from skepticism and his reasonable defense of Christianity earned him the nickname "The Apostle to the Skeptics." Those who identify Lewis as key in their own conversions and faith development include Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project, who called Lewis "the 20th century's most articulate proponent of the rationality of Christian faith"; Thomas S. Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza; and too many leading professors and scientists to name here.
In 1956, Lewis married another convert from atheism to Christianity, Jewish-American writer Joy Davidman Gresham, who died four years later of cancer at the age of 45. Ironically, in an effort to comfort him, clueless friends suggested he read A Grief Observed, a book he himself had written using a pseudonym, describing his struggle with sorrow after his wife's death. His life and relationship with Gresham are depicted -- with much directorial license -- in the 1993 movie Shadowlands.
Later this month, on the 50th anniversary of his death, Lewis will be honored with a memorial in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, in London.
More on this story can be found at these links:
Celebrating 50 Years of C.S. Lewis's Enduring Legacy (2:02 video). C.S. Lewis Foundation via YouTube
C.S. Lewis: Life Story With a Purpose (1:05:17 video). YouTube
Discipleship of Heart and Mind. C.S. Lewis Institute
The Big Questions
1. A TWW contributor who holds a PhD in physics states: "Lewis made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled believing Christian." Wilfred M. McClay states that Lewis shows how "a profound Christian faith and a profound commitment to learning can be combined ... and can fruitfully influence one another." How did Lewis embody the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God, including "with all your mind," by refusing to check his brain at the door of the church? How could your church encourage greater engagement of the intellect in discussions of spiritual importance?
2. Another TWW team member, who did some of his master’s degree work on C.S. Lewis, says Lewis enjoyed engaging in lively debate with non-believers, and would admit defeat on those rare occasions when he felt someone had undone one of his arguments. On what basis can discussions take place between those with radically different beliefs and worldviews?
3. Author Philip Yancey has said: "[Lewis] was deeply Christian, and yet he saw that that made him larger, not smaller, and it made him more engaged with the culture around him, not less engaged." How does your faith motivate you to engage with your culture?
4. Comment on this argument -- sometimes called "Lewis' Trilemma: Jesus as lunatic, liar or Lord" -- from Mere Christianity: "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." Can you think of any other options other than the three Lewis proposes?
5. C.S. Lewis' story mirrors the "slow and laborious" journey people often take toward faith. Francis Collins characterizes Lewis' road to faith as "setting out to disprove God and converting himself by accident." His thinking was shaped largely by conversations with other Christians meeting together in small groups as a means of introspection and growth. Who has had the most impact on your faith journey? Share about a conversation you have had that was pivotal in your faith development.
6. How do you understand the relationship between science and faith? You may wish to consider this comment from Constance Kalbach Walker, Senior Research Scientist and Nuclear Physicist at Duke University: "I was attracted by Lewis's cogent logic couched in relaxed, everyday language. Apparently one could be a serious Christian without either shutting off one's brain or becoming a theologian! My understanding of how science relates to biblical faith has also grown. They are friends, not enemies. Science tells us about the physical world we inhabit and how it works, while Scripture tells us about its loving, holy, powerful Creator and the kind of relationship he desires with us, his creatures. Rich insights flow back and forth across their frontier. How could it be otherwise? Since God is the author of both the Bible and the material universe, they must be speaking in harmony."
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
John 8:25, 53-54, 56-58
They said to him, "Who are you? ... Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?" Jesus answered, "... Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad." Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am." (For context, read 8:12-59.)
Based on texts such as this one, Lewis asserted that the claims Jesus made about himself are so audacious that one must either believe he is the Son of God and worship him, or reject him as a madman or as demon-possessed. The question of Jesus' true identity is key to understanding the testimony of the New Testament. In John 8, the Pharisees assume (incorrectly) that Jesus does not speak with God's authority, and therefore label him a Samaritan (a pejorative term), a liar and demon-possessed. They were ready to kill him for blasphemy when he stated that he existed before Abraham, whose body had lain in the grave for centuries. Lewis writes in The Magician's Nephew: "What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are."
Questions: What do you hear Jesus saying about himself? What is your understanding of who Jesus is? Has your view of Jesus and the way you hear his words changed over time depending on where you were "standing" in life? Has your understanding of his identity and the way you relate to Jesus changed as you have changed?
Mark 8:27-29
Jesus ... asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." (For context, read 8:27-32.)
After performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God, Jesus debriefs his disciples to see what they have learned about his identity. First they give their sense of Jesus' approval rating among the people. Then Jesus asks them where THEY stand. Peter "gets" that Jesus is more than one of the prophets and affirms that he must be the Messiah -- the One for whom they have waited all their lives. Even so, when Jesus follows this up by teaching them about the suffering, rejection, death and resurrection he will experience, Peter can't wrap his mind around that and tries to shut him up.
Questions: Jesus asked his disciples what others were saying about him. What do you hear people saying about Jesus? How do you respond to people who have a different understanding of who Jesus is? What does it mean to you that the disciples' understanding of Jesus' identity seemed to develop in fits and starts? When have you been surprised by a new revelation (for you) of who Jesus is?
John 1:45-46
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (For context, read 1:45-51.)
At the start of Jesus' earthly ministry, Nathanael had his doubts about Jesus' true identity, especially when he heard that he hailed from the notorious town of Nazareth. His friend Philip bore witness toJesus and simply invited Nathanael to come see for himself. Because Jesus seemed to know his heart and his habits, even though they had never met, Nathanael accepted him as the Son of God and King of Israel.
Questions: Nathanael's prejudices were initially a barrier to faith in Christ. What barriers to faith have you faced in your own spiritual journey? What friend(s) helped you get past those barriers, and how did they aid you? How is Philip's invitation a model for conversations you might have with non-believers today?
John 20:25-28
So the other disciples told [Thomas], "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" (For context, read 20:24-29.)
After Jesus' resurrection, his disciples rejoiced to see him alive. But Thomas, who "was not with them when Jesus came" (v. 24), could not accept their testimony as fact until he saw Jesus for himself. He wanted to verify their story before committing his heart and life to it. Second-hand faith was not good enough for him. It has been said that God has no grandchildren, only children. In other words, we cannot develop deep, authentic faith by riding piggyback on the shoulders of someone else's faith. Yet, when Thomas does see Jesus, his confession of faith is one of the most astounding in all of Scripture: "My Lord and my God!"
Questions: How does Thomas' initial absence from the fellowship of believers when Jesus revealed himself to them, and his subsequent rejoining of the community of faith, relate to his struggles with doubt? What does Jesus' response to Thomas mean for doubters today? How can Thomas be an example for modern-day skeptics? How is his path of faith similar to that lived by C.S. Lewis? Does it bear any resemblance to your own faith journey?
Jude 3
Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (For context, read Jude 1-4.)
Questions: What author have you read who has expanded your understanding of "the salvation we share"? Who challenges you "to contend for the faith"? How might you contend for the faith in your own circle of contacts?
For Further Discussion
As time permits, discuss Lewis quote(s) that interest you. A selection follows.
On God's indispensability:
"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with him. He walks everywhere incognito." --Letters to Malcolm
"When you are arguing against God you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all. It is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on." --Mere Christianity
On earthly toys and eternal treasure:
"One road leads home, and a thousand roads lead into the wilderness." --The Pilgrim's Regress
"I sometimes wonder if all pleasures are not substitutes for joy. ... God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. ... If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. ... Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither." --Mere Christianity
"All these toys were never intended to possess my heart. My true good is in another world, and my only real treasure is Christ." --The Problem of Pain
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." --The Problem of Pain
"Christianity, if false, is of no importance and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important." --God in the Dock
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen -- not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." --"Is Theology Poetry?" (lecture presented to the Oxford Socratic Club)
Responding to the News
Now might be a good time to dive into Mere Christianity or another of C.S. Lewis' classics. You might also consider watching the movie Shadowlands with a view toward learning from Lewis' own brush with grief.
Scientists in your class might consider checking out an organization called The American Scientific Affiliation, self-described on their website as "A Network of Christians in the Sciences." Members must have at least a bachelor's degree in science. Their website is http://network.asa3.org/.
Closing Prayer
Son of Man, Messiah, our Lord and our God, when you reveal yourself to us, give us courage and grace to honor you as the great I AM who is worthy of our worship and service. Teach our tongues to contend for the faith and to winsomely persuade others to come and see for themselves who you really are, that they too may be "surprised by joy." Amen.
As a teen, Jack abandoned the church in which he had been raised, threw himself into the study of mythology and the occult and declared himself an atheist. He later wrote that he was "very angry with God for not existing." Wounded in World War I before he was 20, he suffered from grief and depression over the loss of fellow soldiers.
After resuming his studies, Lewis earned a "Triple First" (top rankings in three different areas akin to what today we would call "majors") and became what today we would call a professor at Oxford University. There, he and The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien were both members of the "Inklings" group of literary lights who met to discuss their craft and the big questions of life. Aided by the writings of George MacDonald and G.K. Chesterton, as well as by Tolkein, Hugo Dyson and others, Lewis began, if reluctantly, to reexamine Jesus Christ.
In his autobiography Surprised by Joy, Lewis wrote that he came out of atheism into faith like a prodigal, "kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape," every night feeling "the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In ... 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." Within two years he had fully embraced Christianity.
Lewis' return to faith from skepticism and his reasonable defense of Christianity earned him the nickname "The Apostle to the Skeptics." Those who identify Lewis as key in their own conversions and faith development include Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project, who called Lewis "the 20th century's most articulate proponent of the rationality of Christian faith"; Thomas S. Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza; and too many leading professors and scientists to name here.
In 1956, Lewis married another convert from atheism to Christianity, Jewish-American writer Joy Davidman Gresham, who died four years later of cancer at the age of 45. Ironically, in an effort to comfort him, clueless friends suggested he read A Grief Observed, a book he himself had written using a pseudonym, describing his struggle with sorrow after his wife's death. His life and relationship with Gresham are depicted -- with much directorial license -- in the 1993 movie Shadowlands.
Later this month, on the 50th anniversary of his death, Lewis will be honored with a memorial in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, in London.
More on this story can be found at these links:
Celebrating 50 Years of C.S. Lewis's Enduring Legacy (2:02 video). C.S. Lewis Foundation via YouTube
C.S. Lewis: Life Story With a Purpose (1:05:17 video). YouTube
Discipleship of Heart and Mind. C.S. Lewis Institute
The Big Questions
1. A TWW contributor who holds a PhD in physics states: "Lewis made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled believing Christian." Wilfred M. McClay states that Lewis shows how "a profound Christian faith and a profound commitment to learning can be combined ... and can fruitfully influence one another." How did Lewis embody the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God, including "with all your mind," by refusing to check his brain at the door of the church? How could your church encourage greater engagement of the intellect in discussions of spiritual importance?
2. Another TWW team member, who did some of his master’s degree work on C.S. Lewis, says Lewis enjoyed engaging in lively debate with non-believers, and would admit defeat on those rare occasions when he felt someone had undone one of his arguments. On what basis can discussions take place between those with radically different beliefs and worldviews?
3. Author Philip Yancey has said: "[Lewis] was deeply Christian, and yet he saw that that made him larger, not smaller, and it made him more engaged with the culture around him, not less engaged." How does your faith motivate you to engage with your culture?
4. Comment on this argument -- sometimes called "Lewis' Trilemma: Jesus as lunatic, liar or Lord" -- from Mere Christianity: "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." Can you think of any other options other than the three Lewis proposes?
5. C.S. Lewis' story mirrors the "slow and laborious" journey people often take toward faith. Francis Collins characterizes Lewis' road to faith as "setting out to disprove God and converting himself by accident." His thinking was shaped largely by conversations with other Christians meeting together in small groups as a means of introspection and growth. Who has had the most impact on your faith journey? Share about a conversation you have had that was pivotal in your faith development.
6. How do you understand the relationship between science and faith? You may wish to consider this comment from Constance Kalbach Walker, Senior Research Scientist and Nuclear Physicist at Duke University: "I was attracted by Lewis's cogent logic couched in relaxed, everyday language. Apparently one could be a serious Christian without either shutting off one's brain or becoming a theologian! My understanding of how science relates to biblical faith has also grown. They are friends, not enemies. Science tells us about the physical world we inhabit and how it works, while Scripture tells us about its loving, holy, powerful Creator and the kind of relationship he desires with us, his creatures. Rich insights flow back and forth across their frontier. How could it be otherwise? Since God is the author of both the Bible and the material universe, they must be speaking in harmony."
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
John 8:25, 53-54, 56-58
They said to him, "Who are you? ... Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?" Jesus answered, "... Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad." Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am." (For context, read 8:12-59.)
Based on texts such as this one, Lewis asserted that the claims Jesus made about himself are so audacious that one must either believe he is the Son of God and worship him, or reject him as a madman or as demon-possessed. The question of Jesus' true identity is key to understanding the testimony of the New Testament. In John 8, the Pharisees assume (incorrectly) that Jesus does not speak with God's authority, and therefore label him a Samaritan (a pejorative term), a liar and demon-possessed. They were ready to kill him for blasphemy when he stated that he existed before Abraham, whose body had lain in the grave for centuries. Lewis writes in The Magician's Nephew: "What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are."
Questions: What do you hear Jesus saying about himself? What is your understanding of who Jesus is? Has your view of Jesus and the way you hear his words changed over time depending on where you were "standing" in life? Has your understanding of his identity and the way you relate to Jesus changed as you have changed?
Mark 8:27-29
Jesus ... asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." (For context, read 8:27-32.)
After performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God, Jesus debriefs his disciples to see what they have learned about his identity. First they give their sense of Jesus' approval rating among the people. Then Jesus asks them where THEY stand. Peter "gets" that Jesus is more than one of the prophets and affirms that he must be the Messiah -- the One for whom they have waited all their lives. Even so, when Jesus follows this up by teaching them about the suffering, rejection, death and resurrection he will experience, Peter can't wrap his mind around that and tries to shut him up.
Questions: Jesus asked his disciples what others were saying about him. What do you hear people saying about Jesus? How do you respond to people who have a different understanding of who Jesus is? What does it mean to you that the disciples' understanding of Jesus' identity seemed to develop in fits and starts? When have you been surprised by a new revelation (for you) of who Jesus is?
John 1:45-46
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (For context, read 1:45-51.)
At the start of Jesus' earthly ministry, Nathanael had his doubts about Jesus' true identity, especially when he heard that he hailed from the notorious town of Nazareth. His friend Philip bore witness toJesus and simply invited Nathanael to come see for himself. Because Jesus seemed to know his heart and his habits, even though they had never met, Nathanael accepted him as the Son of God and King of Israel.
Questions: Nathanael's prejudices were initially a barrier to faith in Christ. What barriers to faith have you faced in your own spiritual journey? What friend(s) helped you get past those barriers, and how did they aid you? How is Philip's invitation a model for conversations you might have with non-believers today?
John 20:25-28
So the other disciples told [Thomas], "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" (For context, read 20:24-29.)
After Jesus' resurrection, his disciples rejoiced to see him alive. But Thomas, who "was not with them when Jesus came" (v. 24), could not accept their testimony as fact until he saw Jesus for himself. He wanted to verify their story before committing his heart and life to it. Second-hand faith was not good enough for him. It has been said that God has no grandchildren, only children. In other words, we cannot develop deep, authentic faith by riding piggyback on the shoulders of someone else's faith. Yet, when Thomas does see Jesus, his confession of faith is one of the most astounding in all of Scripture: "My Lord and my God!"
Questions: How does Thomas' initial absence from the fellowship of believers when Jesus revealed himself to them, and his subsequent rejoining of the community of faith, relate to his struggles with doubt? What does Jesus' response to Thomas mean for doubters today? How can Thomas be an example for modern-day skeptics? How is his path of faith similar to that lived by C.S. Lewis? Does it bear any resemblance to your own faith journey?
Jude 3
Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (For context, read Jude 1-4.)
Questions: What author have you read who has expanded your understanding of "the salvation we share"? Who challenges you "to contend for the faith"? How might you contend for the faith in your own circle of contacts?
For Further Discussion
As time permits, discuss Lewis quote(s) that interest you. A selection follows.
On God's indispensability:
"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with him. He walks everywhere incognito." --Letters to Malcolm
"When you are arguing against God you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all. It is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on." --Mere Christianity
On earthly toys and eternal treasure:
"One road leads home, and a thousand roads lead into the wilderness." --The Pilgrim's Regress
"I sometimes wonder if all pleasures are not substitutes for joy. ... God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. ... If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. ... Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither." --Mere Christianity
"All these toys were never intended to possess my heart. My true good is in another world, and my only real treasure is Christ." --The Problem of Pain
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." --The Problem of Pain
"Christianity, if false, is of no importance and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important." --God in the Dock
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen -- not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." --"Is Theology Poetry?" (lecture presented to the Oxford Socratic Club)
Responding to the News
Now might be a good time to dive into Mere Christianity or another of C.S. Lewis' classics. You might also consider watching the movie Shadowlands with a view toward learning from Lewis' own brush with grief.
Scientists in your class might consider checking out an organization called The American Scientific Affiliation, self-described on their website as "A Network of Christians in the Sciences." Members must have at least a bachelor's degree in science. Their website is http://network.asa3.org/.
Closing Prayer
Son of Man, Messiah, our Lord and our God, when you reveal yourself to us, give us courage and grace to honor you as the great I AM who is worthy of our worship and service. Teach our tongues to contend for the faith and to winsomely persuade others to come and see for themselves who you really are, that they too may be "surprised by joy." Amen.
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