Lewis addresses what Christianity says about society — and surprises both conservatives and progressives with his answer.

Discussion Questions

6 questions

1.Lewis states that the New Testament gives almost no direct political program, and he is deliberately reticent about translating Christianity into specific policy. Why does he take this position? Do you agree with his restraint, or do you think Christianity has more specific social implications than he allows?

2.He invokes the 'rule of thumb' that every penny more than the minimum necessary is taken from the pockets of the poor. This is a striking economic claim. What is Lewis driving at, and how does it challenge comfortable middle-class Christianity?

a.How do you decide how much generosity is enough? Does Lewis's rule of thumb help or unsettle you?

b.Lewis is careful to say he is not endorsing a particular economic system. Why might that restraint be important?

3.Lewis says that before we can fix society, we need to 'deal with' the problem of human selfishness — which no political program can solve from the outside. How does this relate to his earlier argument that God is after interior transformation, not just behavioral compliance?

4.He briefly addresses the relationship between Christianity and economic systems like capitalism and socialism, refusing to baptize either one. What is the principle he is applying, and how might it help Christians today engage political and economic debates more wisely?

5.Lewis says the Church's social message is undermined when Christians are not visibly more generous and just than the surrounding culture. Do you think this is fair? In your experience, is the Church more or less generous than its surrounding community?

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