C.S. Lewis on Arguing Theology Over the Internet

I've started reading Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis' monumental apologetic work.

In the opening pages, he says something that applies to internet arguments. Of course, Lewis lived long before the internet existed. But the warning he issues to believers are especially relevant for our internet age:

"Ever since I became a Christian I have thought that the best, perhaps the only, service I could do for my unbelieving neighbours was to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times. I had more than one reason for thinking this. In the first place, the questions which divide Christians from one another often involves points of ecclesiastical history, which ought never be treated except by real experts. I should have been out of my depth in such waters: more in need of help myself than able to help others. And secondly, I think we must admit that the discussion of these disputed points has no tendency at all to bring an outsider into the Christian fold. So long as we write and talk about them we are much more likely to deter him from entering any Christian communion than to draw him into our own. Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son." 

Years ago in the early days of the internet, there was a Christian site called ChristDot that I participated in. On that site, we argued theology with one another almost daily. Over many months, a Christian leader of the site decide he was no longer a Christian. (And, of course, not a single non-believer became a Christian because of our arguments.) I remember a post asking him, "Did all our arguing on Christdot contribute to your unbelief?" And as I recall, the answer was, to a degree, yes.

On this blog of 20 years, I've seen several people vehemently argue about everything from the relevance of the Torah, the age of the earth, the deity of Yeshua, the meaning and context of Old Testament commandments, and a million other things. I've argued with a Messianic rabbi who later committed repeated sins and left his congregation. I've argued with family members who left the faith. For a few years I argued with a Jewish believer who later denied Yeshua.  I've argued with other Messianics about the role of Gentiles in the Messianic movement. I've argued with Karaites, Christians, Jews, conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, Muslims, atheists, gay-affirming Christians. 

To what end? 

Maybe it's good to discuss theology with other believers. For me at least, it helps clarify and shape my thinking. It's been a real purpose of this blog.

Lewis argues that theology disputes have no tendency to bring in people to the faith. He even says it deters people from entering the faith. In my experience, it can even lead people away from their faith, especially as people tend to be less gracious vicious when hidden behind a screen and keyboard.

This speaks to me: arguments about high theology in the public sphere are dangerous: if non-believers see us arguing about them, it is likely to push them away from God.