That's funny. This guy concocts from the parable of the sheep and the goats that one has to do more than believe in the Incarnation, one also has to subscribe to sola fide.
Ah, so that's why all those people who didn't feed the hungry, care for the sick or comfort the afflicted were sent to Hell.
And I thought it had something to do with love.
The guy doesn't mention the sheep and the goats, that's Mark being snarky. The guy couldn't mention the sheep and the goats, not without doing serious damage to his case against Lewis (who was a pretty generous guy).
(True story: Lewis & Tolkein, walking down the road in Oxford, happened upon a beggar, who made supplication to them along the lines of "gizza bit of change, guv". Lewis responded by taking all the coinage he had in his pocket and dumping it in the guy's hand.
They walked on, and Tolkein spake, saying, "You shouldn't have done that, he'll spend it all on drink." To which Lewis replied, "Yes, but if I'd kept the money, I'd have spent it all on drink myself.")
From page 4:
Lewis’ conversion to Christianity, by his own account, is tantamount to acceptance of the doctrine of the Incarnation. But is that saving faith? Is that Christianity? If it is, then everyone who believes the deity of Christ is saved. But we have, in Scripture itself, examples of those who accept the deity of Christ who are not saved. Even at the last judgment, there will be many who address Christ as Lord, acknowledge his deity, and yet are sent to Hell (see Matthew 7:21-23).
The Apostle Paul saw at least one other doctrine as the sine qua non of Christianity: justification by faith alone. Not only does he make this clear in his cursing of those who teach another Gospel in his letter to the Galatians, but he makes this doctrine of justification the foundation of his argument in his letter to the Romans.
The question that arises, then, is this: Did Lewis be-lieve and teach the doctrine of justification by faith alone?
Matthew 7 may not be the sheep and goats, but it is about doing the will of the Father, which is pretty close.
Still it's impressive how the author can go from a story about doing God's will to believing sola fide without blinking.
Reason 67875673756734637845 not to be a Protestant?
Because salvation isn't by either faith or works. It's by doctrine. Sola doctrina, as it were.
Is there any minimum belief required to get into Heaven, or have we all accepted the Antichristian notion that God loves all men and desires to save all, regardless of their beliefs?
Yikes!
Anonymous:
Simplistic much?
"have we all accepted the Antichristian notion that God loves all men and desires to save all, regardless of their beliefs?
Yikes!"
You said it, Mr. Anonymous...!
Reason 67875673756734637845 not to be a Protestant?
Hey now, we're not all like that! ...but then I suppose the nature of Protestantism is that whatever example you dredge up, there's always some Protestant who doesn't fit.
(Also, is there a reason why your number does not contain the digits 0, 1, 2 or 9? Mark's latest "Reasons not to homeschool" was only missing 1 and 2.)
(Also, is there a reason why your number does not contain the digits 0, 1, 2 or 9? Mark's latest "Reasons not to homeschool" was only missing 1 and 2.)
I suspect it's a matter of poking a lot at the middle of the number row of the keyboard and not getting the ends.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
They walked on, and Tolkein spake, saying, "You shouldn't have done that, he'll spend it all on drink." To which Lewis replied, "Yes, but if I'd kept the money, I'd have spent it all on drink myself.")
Whoa! That's a darn good story, I'm normally for Tolkien above Lewis in all things, beggin' your pardon, good Hobbit, but Lewis got him there.
The one sentence that is worth his trouble in the whole thing is the most obvious one: "This paper, a portion of a book-in-progress, examines his teachings on these subjects and concludes that Lewis cannot accurately be called an Evangelical"
Well, duh! Started out Belfast Church of Ireland, drifted into agnosticism, made it all the way to atheism, was reeled back to Christianity via some sneaky Catholics 
and ended up fairly High Church Church of England.
American Evangelical? Not so much.
I have no idea if the man made it to Heaven, but I'm willing to say he had as good a shot at Purgatory as the rest of us 
"The demons believe, and tremble."
I've heard the beggar story before, but I don't remember Tolkien being part of the story. Did I hear it wrong, or is the whole thing apocryphal?
Lewis scholars regard the beggar story as apocryphal.
Tolkien scholars consider it deuterocanonical.
Tom,
I don't get Mark's 12-01 6:51pm shot at Anonymous 12-01 6:46pm. Is Shea just bringing a little prisoners pushed out of airplanes combox testiness over to this combox?
Aaron: aha, that makes sense.
Mark !Shea: the story was related by Lewis' stepson here, he says he thinks it was Tolkien that Lewis was with (I was quoting from memory, so forgot the caveat). Interesting interview, also touches on Lewis vs. evangelicals.
Tom: pfft.
Sheesh! What a hatchet job! 8 pages on Lewis without even a hint of praise? That is calousness you don't see everyday
8 pages on Lewis without even a hint of praise? That is calousness you don't see everyday
Unless you frequent the comboxes.
I emailed it to my calvinist brother. This oughtta be good for a lark.
The entire concept of debating the destination of another person's soul is ridiculous and appalling. If any thought is given to that subject it should be done in the spirit of prayer. I often consider deceased loved ones during prayers with a plea that they be welcomed into the Kingdom of God and that I may someday join them.
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