In Defense of Mere Christianity

The phrase “mere Christianity” was popularized from the title of C.S. Lewis’ book published in 1952. Christianity Today placed Lewis’ Mere Christianity third on the list of most influential books since 1945. Famous physician-geneticist and author Francis Collins and popular Christian author Charles Colson are two among many others who point to this influential book as the starting point to their Christian faith. Even Grammy award winning band Sixpence None the Richer is named from a phrase out of Mere Christianity.   So why has this book had such a significant impact on so many people from various backgrounds and beliefs? Lewis stresses in his book that his desire is for his unbelieving neighbor to come into the Christian fold, not to convince him or her of his own theological positions.  He says in the preface, “But in this book I am not trying to convert anyone to my own position. Ever since I became a Christian I have thought that the best, perhaps the only, service I...