Today marks the 50th anniversary of the death of C.S. Lewis. The Northern Irish-born writer died on the 22 November 1963. However, Lewis’ legacy has lived on through his works of literature, most famously in the Chronicles of Narnia.
Photo: Albert Bridge (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Why has his legacy lasted in this way? One significant reason is due to his ability to adapt his style to meet his audience in a different way. Alister McGrath, in his book C.S. Lewis: A Life , points out that one of Lewis’ major reasons for writing the Chronicles of Narnia was due to his desire to take a step back from public apologetics after World War II, feeling the strain of the public eye and family problems, and feeling out of touch with current debates (2013, Hodder and Stoughton). He decided then to concentrate on teaching his apologetics through a different medium, using stories that evoke the imagination. The Narnia writings have become classics of English literature and popular children’s stories.
Lewis changed his style of writing to meet a new audience. He gave the same message in a new, fictional form that would evoke emotions from the reader in a different way and to help them engage with the gospel anew.
Jesus did this when he told stories and parables, and the message of God touched the lives of his hearers in a powerful way. However there are millions of people today worldwide who do not have access to Gods word, because there is no Scripture in their language, or it’s in a written format that an illiterate community can’t understand.
Bible translation changes this. When Scripture is translated into another language it gives the reader access to God’s word and there is clarity in the newly translated text. One mother-tongue translator recently talked about the first time when she heard the Bible being read in her heart language. She said, ‘It was as though it was my own father just talking to me.’
The Bible is the Story everybody needs. Give the Story.
Our thanks to Richard Ferguson, who wrote this post.
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