The Necessity of Rooms

Few writers have matched the influence which C. S. Lewis has had upon evangelicals in the 20th, and now the 21st, century. While many of his writings, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce, are incredibly popular, his most important contribution to evangelicalism is probably Mere Christianity, his apologetic work for the Christian faith. In the preface to this volume, Lewis clarifies his reasoning for limiting the doctrines which he defends to the primary, or absolutely essential, doctrines of the Christian faith. Lewis’ goal in Mere Christianity is to move people into the “hall” of Christianity, as opposed to the “hall” of religions such as atheism or agnosticism.

However, Lewis does not see the “hall” of Christianity as the final resting place for an individual. Eventually, Lewis stresses that those who come to Christianity must decide upon which denomination, or “room,” that they will make their home. Lewis writes:

I hope no reader will suppose that ‘mere’ Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions – as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think, preferable. . . .

But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and panelling. In plain language, the question should never be: “Do I like that kind of service?” but “Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?

When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more. . . (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, New York: HarperCollins, xv-xvi).

As those who live in an age which holds to an extremely low view of denominations and local churches, Lewis’ words are timely. The Lord does not intend for his people either to be lone ranger Christians or to not form convictions on second and third level doctrines. Regarding lone ranger Christianity, the New Testament is clear that believers need fellowship with other believers, that is, “fires and chairs and meals.”

Lewis also recognizes that the basis for biblical local church fellowship is theological in nature. Christians don’t form local church communities on the basis of “mere taste.” Instead, we unite over agreement on what is commonly called secondary or third level doctrines.

As Lewis correctly argues, we are united with true Christians on the basis of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, what may be called “mere Christianity.” But upon entering the “hall” of Christianity, we must move forward, using Scripture and our mind to ask and answer theological questions on other doctrines, eventually entering the “room” of a denomination. It is at this point that we may engage in and receive the benefits of true local church fellowship. As Lewis insightfully points out, those who profess Christ must not camp in the hall. They must press forward and enter a room.