4.7 Let's Pretend
In this chapter, the author says that pretending could help us develop the behavior God wants of us. By pretending to be a good person even if you are not, we begin to become that reality. He says when we get on our knees and say our prayers, we say "our father". We are assuming the role of a son of God. In a sense, you are pretending because you know you are not a son of God. Pretending is not always bad; it sometimes leads us to good things. When we pretend, we seize an opportunity to practice those virtues, and over time, that practice can make those virtues become a reality. Also by pretending, Dr. Lewis says, we begin to make at least two discoveries: (1) we begin to notice and become alarmed by the fact of discovering …show more content…
Therefore, it is important after our conversion that we are mindful of our behavior. On the other hand, he argues that this expectation is unreasonable for several reasons: (1) In the Christian camp, everyone is not at the same level of conviction. Some may be getting stronger in their beliefs, while some may be getting weaker, (2) Even if two people start the growth process with the same level of conviction, each starts at a different level of growth, and (3), Progress in Christian growth is directly related to the willingness of the individual to freely give himself to God. Therefore, it is important for non-Christians and Christians alike to remember that God became man, not necessarily to make men nicer, but to make sons of God — a new kind of
In this chapter, the author says that pretending could help us develop the behavior God wants of us. By pretending to be a good person even if you are not, we begin to become that reality. He says when we get on our knees and say our prayers, we say "our father". We are assuming the role of a son of God. In a sense, you are pretending because you know you are not a son of God. Pretending is not always bad; it sometimes leads us to good things. When we pretend, we seize an opportunity to practice those virtues, and over time, that practice can make those virtues become a reality. Also by pretending, Dr. Lewis says, we begin to make at least two discoveries: (1) we begin to notice and become alarmed by the fact of discovering …show more content…
Therefore, it is important after our conversion that we are mindful of our behavior. On the other hand, he argues that this expectation is unreasonable for several reasons: (1) In the Christian camp, everyone is not at the same level of conviction. Some may be getting stronger in their beliefs, while some may be getting weaker, (2) Even if two people start the growth process with the same level of conviction, each starts at a different level of growth, and (3), Progress in Christian growth is directly related to the willingness of the individual to freely give himself to God. Therefore, it is important for non-Christians and Christians alike to remember that God became man, not necessarily to make men nicer, but to make sons of God — a new kind of