Gravitas

I’m currently reading through C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity in which he has a chapter on Christian Marriage. He makes the interesting argument that “being in love” is not the same as “to love.” For context sake, I quote in length:

“Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. Now no feeling can be relied on to last in its full intensity, or even to last at all. Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go. And in fact, whatever people say, the state called “being in love” usually does not last. … But, of course, ceasing to be “in love” need not mean ceasing to love.

[A] notion we get from novels and plays is that “falling in love” is something quite irresistible; something that just happens to one, like measles. …When we meet someone beautiful and clever and sympathetic, of course we ought, in one sense, to admire and love these good qualities. But is it not very largely in our own choice whether this love shall, or shall not, turn into what we call “being in love”? No doubt, if our minds are full of novels and plays and sentimental songs, and our bodies full of alcohol, we shall turn any love we feel into that kind of love.”

The question that arises in my mind from this portion of Lewis relates to Christianity. It seems as though part of Christianity, its novels, plays, and songs, attempt to get the believer to hold on to, or maintain a certain feeling. “Remember when you first came to Christ! Remember the zeal, the love you first had for the Lord!” I have digressed. 

The question is this: Can a parallel be drawn between “being in love” and the experience many believers have at salvation? Then, based on that answer, can a parallel be drawn between “to love” in marriage, and the Christian experience in sanctification?

~ MR

If you are interested in architecture as an art form, I believe you will be interested in this discurses by Victor Hugo. This chapter is taken out of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and is not the only chapter of its kind in the book. It stands alone, so you need not have read the book to understand the piece I have posted here. Hugo juxtaposes the printing press with Notre Dame as demonstrated in the title, “This Will Kill That.”

 ~MR