Pensees: Quote of the Week (Who said it?)

C.S. Lewis.

C’mon Bob, can’t you say that you cringe a little at the over-the-top didacticism and/or sappy sentimentality of some hymns? And don’t you want to switch to blank-verse hymns every time another hymn-writer, in an appalling dearth of creativity, rhymes “love” with “above” and “tears” with “fears”?

C.S. Lewis is responsible for the quote. He had some surprising (then again, maybe not) feelings about church gatherings and corporate worship as well.

Wow. I was going to say it sounded like Scott Aniol.

aw! i’m so proud of my daddy! i didn’t think it would be fair for me to participate, so i’m glad some mccarnan did. go, family!

be it duly noted, though, that CSL’s mind and heartset were not unmalleable. his personal tastes and preferences did undergo change; they were subject to both truth and love. i’m sure he fought pride and arrogance, but he reveals himself to be quite humbled (and not so revolted or revolting) in these words which he also penned:

When I first became a Christian, about fourteen years ago, I thought that I could do it on my own, by retiring to my room and reading theology, and I wouldn’t go to churches and Gospel Halls;…I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nonetheless, being sung with such devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.

Was that in Surprised by Joy?

In context (Letters to Malcolm) Lewis is arguing against liturgical innovation, which he found to be a distraction from the direction of the liturgy (from Introit to Pulpit to Altar). That divine drama takes years to sink in; by introducing hymns to substitute for portions of the liturgy (as Luther did, though he doesn’t mention Luther specifically), Lewis thought that the overall sense of the text of the Mass would be lost, and the liturgy would be viewed as a mere order of service with interchangeable parts. Also, for him, any innovation makes the pastor (or, today, “worship team”) the focus, instead of the Word.

St. Ambrose thought differently, however, and he was certainly a fan of liturgy. Ambrose used (his own) hymns to combat heresy, particularly the Arian one. Whereas Arius, the first Christian rock star, traveled around teaching his popular-sounding heteroousios ditties to the young people.

Right, true, good, dead on, and correct!

Chris, we all got a chuckle at your guess, but I hope Aniol knows that you were being funny. I would have guessed Jason Janz….! LOL

I personally LOVE the organ… I bet C.S. Lewis does too, now that he is in heaven and knows better.

I’m deeply offended and will now have to separate from all of you.

(actually, I’m just aiming for another free lunch, but this time from Chris!) ;)

Hey, Scott. It’s been a while. I’ve been busy, and my only contributions to the blogworld have been snide remarks. It’s always easier to joke than think.

Concerning lunch, if you can get to Madison, Ohio, we have a great cafe across from my office. It’s on me.

Hope you’re well.

Chris

Hey, Bob, we were hoping with the BJ Chorale coming next week that Mr Flower (their normal accompanist and an accomplished organist) could play some numbers and really show off our year-old organ. Unfortunately he has not been well and won’t be coming. It would have been nice, though!

I’m sure the choir will do just fine. :)

Scott,

You’re having the Chorale? I’m jealous! I’m a proud Chorale alum…much prouder of them than they are of me, I wager. :-)

Please tell Doc Cook hello for me. He’s an extremely gifted and gracious man.

Chris

p.s. Your [@sign here] email gave me fits. Probably another commentary on my dullness, but I couldn’t figure out how it works. Perhaps it’s your way of filtering out email from stupid people?! Brilliant! Just fyi.

Hey Chris,

I live a but closer to you than Aniol . . . when should I come over for lunch?

Andy

Andy, Andy, Andy.

Friend, you’ve made a common exegetical mistake by assuming that a promise made to one person (or group of people) can be appropriated by another person (or group of people). Apply your dispensational hermeneutic to this thread and you’ll understand why I cannot buy you lunch. Sorry.

Besides, I only promise lunch to those whom I know can’t take me up on it. I wouldn’t mind taking in the Chinese place near your church, though. :-)

Chris