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Gary G. Hoag
““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.””— Matthew 23:27-28
“In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.”
C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in The Abolition of Man (London: Oxford University Press, 1943) 23.
Click here to download this classic work compiled after C.S. Lewis delivered a series of three lectures on 24-26 February 1943 at the University of Durham.
Today’s marks the third of seven excerpts from The Abolition of Man. This one comes from the ending of the first lecture entitled, “Men Without Chests.”
The educators during the time of Christ appear to have the same problem as the modern educators that Lewis has in view. They are hypocrites. Their words sound good or appear as right, and yet, they have things all wrong.
This is what I would say about the propaganda the world feeds us related to money and finances. It’s pretty much the opposite of what God’s Word teaches.
We make “men without chests” and wonder why we see terrible behavior in society and even in our churches. For example, pastors stand up in front of congregations like a teacher of the law and a Pharisee and tell everyone to tithe.
What happens? We see three outcomes. I know it because it was my story for years!
First, we tithe. Second, then we become prideful when we tick that box. Third, we live like the rest is ours to do with as we please, so we look no different from the world.
This three-part summary mirrors how Jesus described the Pharisees in Luke 16:14-15.
“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
Remember in that same passage, Jesus did not say to tithe but to use worldly wealth to make friends for eternity.
So what’s my aim today? Using the language of Lewis, I want make you into “men with chests.” I want you to have substance, integrity, and aim at generous and fruitful living that is consistent with the teachings of Jesus.
The alternative is you can keep living as a fruitless traitor.
If today’s reflection sounds like strong language, I have only aimed to join my favorite professor in echoing Jesus.
The Lord woke me early in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to watch the sunrise. I posted the photo so you could enjoy the view.
And He reminded me of our role. We must bring light to dark places.
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