The Romantic Rationalist
Edited by JOHN PIPER and DAVID MATHIS
Publisher CROSSWAY
ISBN 1-4335-4498-9
“God, Life and Imagination in the Work of C.S.Lewis” is the subtitle of this series of lectures first given at the final National Conference of Desiring God Ministries held in Minneapolis in 2014. The contributors to this short volume are John Piper, Randy Alcorn, Philip Ryken, Kevin Vanhoozer and Douglas Wilson. The book closes with details of a conversation held between these men in answer to questions raised by David Mathis. Some regard C.S. Lewis as one of the most influential Christians of the twentieth century. A man of enormous breadth of intellect and heart commitment to Christ, this matter of the marriage of heart and mind is evident in all that he wrote. A man of great imagination and humour, in his writings he has manifestly affected the five men who take various aspects of his life and ministry as the subject matter of their contributions to this conference. There are Christians who regard Lewis as being questionable in various areas, not least his doctrine of Scripture. It is this subject that Philip Ryken examines. HIs analysis might help allay and clarify some negatives people raise against Lewis. Douglas Wilson looks at Lewis on salvation, another area of some controversy, what did he really believe about it? Again, there is helpful clarification here as are the other chapters about the way Lewis wrote about pain and suffering, heaven and hell and the use of the imagination. This book is a valuable contribution to the considerations of the life and ministry of C.S.Lewis, it might stir the desire of some who have avoided his books like the plague to read him. Others who perhaps follow his thought on some matters with reserve will be helped to perceive where perhaps he deviated from the usual Evangelical view and those who have been afraid of the use of imagination and mind might be stirred to really think a bit more. Here is a valuable contribution to the literature that is ‘out there’ as it does examine the writings of this amazing University professor and Christian apologist carefully and helpfully.
