![]() ![]() The text supports Lewis's repeated insistence that God judges our will, not the outward appearance of our actions or emotions. The theological virtues-faith, hope, and charity-are the subject of a very famous passage from the First Book of Corinthians, Chapter 13, which identifies charity as the greatest of the virtues. ![]() While it is translated as "charity" in the King James Bible, this virtue is translated as "love" in newer versions. What matters to God is our will, not our feelings. Therefore, the Christian behaves charitably no matter how he feels toward the object of his charity, while the non-Christian reserves his charity for those he likes.Īcting "as if" we had charitable or loving feelings toward God is the way we can learn to genuinely love God. Because of the compounding nature of virtue and vice, our smallest actions assume the largest significance. The Christian knows charity begets charity while hatred begets more hatred. We can cultivate charity toward difficult persons by "acting as if" we loved them, even if the feeling of affection or approval is not there.Ĭharity, according to Lewis, highlights the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian. Liking can aid in charity, but it can also act as a barrier. Charity has now come to mean giving to the poor, but it originally referred to the configuration of the will known as "love." Charity, or love, does not depend on liking. ![]() The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity. ![]()
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