Mere Christianity

1. Humans Have an Innate Moral Compass

Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.

Universal Moral Intuition. Humans across cultures and times share a fundamental understanding of right and wrong. This moral law is not merely a social convention but a deeper, more universal principle that exists regardless of individual or cultural variations.

Moral Consistency Across Cultures. Despite surface-level differences, fundamental moral principles remain remarkably consistent:

• Valuing fairness and justice
• Respecting human life
• Opposing theft and deception
• Recognizing the importance of keeping promises

Moral Law as a Unique Human Characteristic. Unlike animals or natural phenomena, humans have the unique ability to recognize and choose between right and wrong, suggesting a higher, spiritual dimension to our existence.

2. Morality Exists Beyond Personal or Cultural Preferences

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning.

Objective Moral Standards. Morality is not simply a matter of personal opinion or cultural relativism. There exists an objective moral standard that transcends individual preferences and social norms.

Moral Progress and Comparison:

• Societies can be compared based on their moral practices
• Some moral systems are demonstrably better than others
• The ability to critique existing moral frameworks implies an underlying absolute standard

Moral Reality as Evidence of Divine Design. The existence of a consistent moral framework suggests a purposeful, intelligent design behind human existence, pointing to something beyond mere materialistic explanations.

3. Humanity's Core Problem is Spiritual Rebellion

The moment you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first—wanting to be the centre—wanting to be God, in fact.

Self-Centeredness as the Root of Human Dysfunction. The fundamental human problem is not specific sins, but a deep-seated tendency to prioritize self over divine purpose, creating a state of spiritual alienation.

Consequences of Spiritual Rebellion:

• Persistent cycles of suffering
• Inability to find genuine happiness
• Continuous conflict between personal desires and higher principles
• Breakdown of relationships and social structures

Redemption Requires Surrender. Overcoming this fundamental spiritual condition necessitates a radical reorientation from self-centeredness to a God-centered perspective.

4. Christianity Offers a Unique Path to Transformation

Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.

Transformative, Not Just Prescriptive. Christianity is not merely a set of rules or moral guidelines, but a comprehensive process of personal metamorphosis that fundamentally reshapes human nature.

Distinctive Christian Approach:

• Emphasizes internal change over external compliance
• Offers grace alongside moral challenge
• Provides a pathway to genuine personal renewal
• Recognizes human weakness while offering supernatural empowerment

Holistic Redemption. The Christian narrative provides a complete framework for understanding human brokenness and offering comprehensive restoration.

5. God's Love Transcends Human Understanding

God is not hurried along in the Time-stream of this universe any more than an author is hurried along in the imaginary time of his own novel.

Divine Love Beyond Human Limitations. God's love is not constrained by human emotional or temporal frameworks, representing a profoundly different quality of relationship than human experiences suggest.

Characteristics of Divine Love:

• Unconditional and persistent
• Not dependent on human performance
• Simultaneously personal and universal
• Motivated by redemptive purpose

Transformative Potential. Understanding this transcendent love offers hope and potential for radical personal transformation.

6. Free Will Allows Genuine Love and Choice

God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.

Freedom as a Prerequisite for Genuine Relationship. The ability to choose implies the possibility of both alignment and misalignment, creating space for authentic love and personal development.

Implications of Free Will:

• Rejection is possible, but so is voluntary surrender
• Love becomes a choice, not a compulsion
• Personal growth requires genuine decision-making
• Moral responsibility emerges from free choice

Divine Respect for Human Agency. God's approach demonstrates profound respect for human autonomy, allowing genuine relational engagement.

7. Spiritual Growth Requires Humility and Surrender

Pride always means enmity—it is enmity. And not only enmity between man and man, but enmity to God.

Humility as a Spiritual Principle. True spiritual progress necessitates releasing self-centeredness and adopting an attitude of openness and surrender.

Barriers to Spiritual Growth:

• Excessive self-reliance
• Pride and self-importance
• Resistance to transformation
• Fear of vulnerability

Surrender as Strength. Counterintuitively, surrendering control becomes the pathway to genuine empowerment and spiritual maturity.

8. The Trinity Reveals a Dynamic, Relational God

God is not a static thing—not even a person—but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama.

God as Relational Being. The Trinity represents a complex, dynamic relationship of love and mutual interaction, challenging simplistic understanding of divinity.

Theological Implications:

• Love precedes and transcends individual existence
• Relationship is fundamental to divine nature
• Unity does not negate individual identity

Transformative Potential. Understanding God as relational offers a framework for human connection and personal growth.

9. Redemption is a Process of Becoming, Not Just Doing

Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before.

Continuous Personal Transformation. Spiritual growth is an ongoing process of internal reformation, not a one-time event or a series of external actions.

Key Transformation Principles:

• Gradual but fundamental change
• Consistent intentionality
• Embracing vulnerability
• Persistent openness to growth

Character Formation. Each choice contributes to a cumulative process of personal metamorphosis.

10. Christianity is About Personal Transformation, Not Just Rules

Christianity offers nothing else at all. And I should like to point out how it differs from ordinary ideas of "morality" and "being good."

Radical Reorientation. Christianity presents a comprehensive approach to personal transformation that goes beyond traditional moral frameworks.

Distinctive Approach:

• Focuses on internal renewal
• Offers grace alongside challenge
• Recognizes human limitation
• Provides supernatural empowerment

Holistic Redemption. The Christian narrative provides a complete framework for understanding and addressing human brokenness.

Last updated: January 4, 2025