The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
Week 6: Charity (Agape)
Read Chapter 5 of The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis ("Charity"). Key theme verse: 1 John 4:7–12; Romans 5:5.
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We arrive now at the love that Lewis calls the capstone and the judge of all the others — Agape, or Charity: the love that God himself is and that he pours into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This chapter is the key to the whole book, and it is worth reading slowly.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Lewis argues that the natural loves, left to themselves, are insufficient — they need to be 'completed, corrected, and cleansed' by Agape. In your own words, what does he mean, and do you agree?
2.He makes the striking claim that when the natural loves are operating at their best, they are already participating in something beyond themselves — they are anticipating and reflecting Agape without knowing it. Can you think of an example of this from your experience?
3.Lewis says that God does not simply want us to love each other with our natural loves; he wants his own love to flow through us to others. What is the difference between loving someone in your own strength and being a conduit for God's love? What does the latter feel like in practice?
a.What would need to change in your own life for you to be a more open channel for divine love?
b.Lewis connects this to prayer — can you think of a time when praying for someone changed the way you felt about them?
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