“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this” (C.S. Lewis).

This looks like a very fascinating series of lectures by Alister McGrath on how the Christian might use literature “to explain and defend the gospel.”  I’m particularly interested in lectures 3a and 3b where he discusses the apologetic use of the writings of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Laurence O’Donnell writes:

“Dr. Alister McGrath, professor of historical theology at Oxford University, has released free audio lectures from Wycliffe Hall’s summer school program. These fascinating lectures begin by briefly defining Christian “apologetics” and then proceed to pithy presentations on using various genres of literature apologetically. With British wit and humor Dr. McGrath explores the question, ‘In what ways can Christians use literature to explain and defend the Gospel?’”

You can listen to these lectures here.

(HT: Dave Cruver)

“Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is Hell” (C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves, Chap. 6).