There is no need to be worried by facetious people that try to make the Christian hope of ‘heaven’ ridiculous by saying that they do not want ‘to spend eternity playing harps.’
The answer to such people is that if they cannot understand books written for grown-ups, they should not talk about them. All the scriptural imagery (harps, crowns, gold, etc.) is, of course, a merely symbolical attempt to express the inexpressible.
Musical instruments are mentioned because for many people (not all) music is the thing known in the present life which most strongly expresses ecstasy and infinity. Crowns are mentioned to suggest the fact that those who are united with God in eternity share His splendor and power and joy. Gold is mentioned to suggest the timelessness of heaven (gold does not rust) and the preciousness of it.
People who take these symbols literally might as well think that when Christ told us to be like doves, He meant that we were to lay eggs.”
Mere Christianity, Book III, ch.10
— C. S. Lewis
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8 comments:
Amen. I so enjoy C.S. Lewis' writings.
Have a blessed day dear Trish !
What nonsense some people allow themselves to say!
I'm dreaming and longing for the day I'll join the Hallelujah choir. (hopefully with maestro Händel as a conductor!)
Here my voice is strictly limited,
mostly lullabies, there I finally shall be allowed to sing of a full heart.
I know my dad was looking forwards to the same.
"They shall see and not see, they shall hear and not hear."
From Felisol
I love this post, and CS Lewis did put it very well, didn't he?
Hope you have a great day today!
Love
Lidj
I had never read that before. Thank you for sharing, it's very good.
i read the first two lines and thought, trish stole that from c.s. lewis! ha! so much truth in that man's heart.
C.S. Lewis just had a way with words! And a heart for Jesus!
Preach it Mr Lewis!! I told Dave that I don't want a mansion, that God can put me up in my log cabin. As far as streets of gold, I'd rather be hiking a trail in the mountains! So many people have missed the boat when it comes to the afterlife! But let's face it, with this crazy, hectic and stressed-out lifestyle that we live today, don't you think a little harp playing and cloud flouting sounds appealing!?
Connie
I have an award for you.
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