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Vaus presents a guide to C.S. Lewis
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
 | | Will Vaus spoke recently at the Highland County Public Library about his book, "Mere Theology: A Guide to the Thought of C.S. Lewis." |
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MONTEREY - Will Vaus grew up reading the books of C.S. Lewis, author of many books including, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Perelandra," "The Screwtape Letters," and "Mere Christianity."
Vaus says Christian convictions are reflected throughout Lewis' writings.
Vaus' book, "Mere Theology," is an attempt to examine Lewis' theology. In the introduction, Vaus explains, "This book is written to answer those many questions about what Lewis believed."
Vaus says the term "mere" used by Lewis and mirrored by Vaus in "Mere Theology" comes from Middle English and means "pure, unmixed, unadulterated."
Among the 25 chapter headings in "Mere Theology" are Defending the Faith, Scripture, God's Sovereignty and Human Personality, Marriage and Divorce, War and Peace, and The Church.
Vaus began reading Lewis in fourth grade. "My teacher read to our class 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,'" writes Vaus. "My parents immediately bought me the whole set of 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' and I devoured each book."
Vaus later traveled to the British Isles, read Lewis' explicitly Christian works, and visited the places Lewis lived, worked and worshiped.
Douglas Gresham, stepson of Lewis, writes in the introduction to "Mere Theology," "For me this is a very good book … I can only surmise how useful it will be to anyone with a serious scholarly interest in Jack (Lewis) and his life's work, but for those of us trying to grow in our faith and thus come closer to the Lord Jesus this is a valuable addition to our libraries."
As one reads through "Mere Theology" one may gain not only a better understanding of the theology of Lewis, but also that of Vaus.
"At times I disagree with Lewis in some of his theological conclusions," writes Vaus. "However, one great value of Lewis' writings is that they make you think through issues in a creative way … While I may disagree with Lewis at times, I am always grateful for what he has written.
"Don't simply accept what Lewis teaches; compare it with Scripture to find out the truth," writes Vaus.
He says 6,000 copies of his book have been sold in the United States so far. "Mere Theology," published by InterVarsity Press in 2004, can be ordered at any bookstore, Vaus says.
An ongoing C.S. Lewis discussion is being held at Barnes and Noble bookstore in Harrisonburg at 7:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month. For more information, call Vaus' at (540) 292-8544 or visit his Web site at: www.willvaus.com.
Vaus holds a master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, has served as a pastor in California, the Carolinas and Pennsylvania and is the president of Will Vaus Ministries, an international creative communications outreach.
He lives in Monterey with his wife, Becky, and sons, James, Jon and Josh.
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