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War
Memorial
The remains of a bombed-out hotel still
stand in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia, as a reminder of wartime destruction.
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The Weight of Glory
and Other Addresses
by C.S. Lewis
“Lewis combines a novelist’s insights into motives
with a profound religious understanding,” says The
New York Times of C.S. Lewis’ The Weight
of Glory and Other Addresses. First published in
England under the title Transposition and Other Addresses,
this small but mighty volume received its first U.S. printing
in 1949. In his preface Lewis wrote, “This book contains
a selection of the too numerous addresses which I was induced
to give during the late war (World War II) and the years
that immediately followed it. All were composed in response
to personal requests and for particular audiences, without
thought of subsequent publication.”
According to the cover notes, the collection of nine Lewis
addresses shows the “beloved author and theologian
bringing hope and courage in a time of great doubt. ‘The
Weight of Glory,’ considered by many to be Lewis’
finest sermon of all, is an incomparable explication of
virtue, goodness, desire, and glory. Also included are ‘Transposition,’
‘On Forgiveness,’ ‘Why I Am Not a Pacifist,’
and ‘Learning in War-Time,’ in which Lewis presents
his compassionate vision of Christianity in language that
is both lucid and compelling.”
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Supply
Line
Refugees wait their turns
as Kreko and his church distribute rice from California, blankets
from England, watermelons from Spain, and other much-needed supplies.
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an you explain what’s happening?” Lydia said. “I
am trying to follow the news since this morning. Is it possible
that...?” These are the words with which my wife greeted me
as I entered our home in Burnsville, Minnesota. It was 2 p.m. Tuesday,
September 11, and I had just returned from my classes at Bethel
Seminary St. Paul.
“You got it right,” I said. “America is under terrorist
attack…” As we shared our initial thoughts and feelings
about this horrifying event, three of our children came running
home from school. They crowded through the doorway and as in one
voice asked, “Do you know what happened today?”
Moments later we all found ourselves sitting speechlessly before
the television, staring at unbelievable scenes while reminding ourselves
that this was not a movie, but reality. After praying with my family
right there in front of the TV, I thought, This feels somehow
familiar.
Conflict in Croatia
In 1991 our home country was brutally attacked, too—by Serbian
nationalists and terrorists. We spent day after day in front of
the television, just as many in the United States have done, watching
horrific scenes of buildings falling, bridges exploding, houses
burning, and thousands of people fleeing for their lives. I began
to connect the events, feelings, and issues we went through as a
family and a nation during wartime in Croatia (1991-1996) with what
my American friends, and the United States as a whole, have experienced
since September 11.
The comparison became even more vivid to me when I received a phone
call from Seattle later that week. Friends of ours, a Bosnian family
with two daughters, had immigrated to the U.S. to seek a more secure
home. The father described to me the effect the terrorist attacks
had on his wife. Terrifying scenes from New York and the Pentagon
brought back to her such intensely painful memories of the war in
Bosnia that she collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Our conversation brought to mind some of the thoughts and questions
that plagued us during Croatia’s wartime days. Will others
outside of our country understand and care about us as this tragedy
unfolds? Many Croatians felt frustration, fear, and even anger because
of the international community’s apathy toward what was happening
to us. How, after seeing in pictures and on video the utter destruction
of cities like Vukovar and the deportation of thousands of women,
children, and the elderly, could anyone remain so indecisive and
hesitant about getting involved?
Buoyed by the body
On the positive side, I recalled how some basic
biblical truths we previously had taken for granted became very
precious to us. What a great consolation it was to know that we
are children of God—to be certain that the Lord Jesus Christ,
the King of the universe, is our personal Lord and Savior. Belonging
to the Body of Christ also was a source of hope. The encouragement
and help we received from Christians around the globe meant so much
to us during those times. Letters, emails, visits, food, clothing,
and other supplies spoke to us in powerful ways about the wonder
and the majesty of Christ’s body worldwide.
Especially moving was the decision of our American
friend and missionary Mark Vanderwerf to stay with us through those
difficult days. His wife had died suddenly in early 1990, leaving
him alone to care for his three young children. Even so, Mark decided
to live in Croatia and minister with us. That left us breathless.
Wisdom from the Word
I also remember God’s call to us to plant
a new church in western Zagreb. But as the war in Croatia gained
momentum, we saw all our plans for the church evaporate. Overnight
our country’s borders had changed, bringing thousands of refugees
to our front door. A verse from Acts opened my understanding of
God’s purposes for such things: “He made from one man
every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having
determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
that they would seek God…” (Acts 17:26-27, NASB).
The first part of the verse showed me where
to turn for answers to ethnic 
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tension and
strife: the biblical truth about creation. God is creator of all
nations; such knowledge must shape my attitude toward every ethnic
group in the world, including those who were attacking my country.
The second part of the verse
helped me understand missiological purposes for our predicament.
God appoints times in history, and He determines the geographical
borders of countries and nations so that they may seek and find
Him.
A particular challenge during those times was
to help people, both Christians and non-Christians, cope with emotions
and attitudes of confusion, anger, hatred, fear, and panic. And
as Christians we had to wrestle with issues like:
- What is the truth about our country; is our
cause just; is it worth dying for?
- What about going to war and killing; supporting
the government versus resisting; patriotism versus nationalism?
- Will the values we hold and the decisions
we make in these critical moments stand the test of time?
How glad I was to discover The Weight of
Glory and Other Addresses by C. S. Lewis, and find in it two
essays that were of enormous help to me. I uncovered many satisfying
answers, both to my head and heart, and with confidence shared them
with others. The first essay, “Why I Am Not a Pacifist,”
helped me think soberly and biblically, and to speak up clearly,
about the Christian view of war and what the believer’s role
in war should be. The second essay was “Learning in War-Time”
which we adapted, published, and distributed to college and university
students, encouraging them to continue living, working, studying,
and researching even while their lives were in constant danger.
Appropriate patriotism
I especially praise the Lord that in those difficult
times He gave us courage to identify and stand with those ethnic
groups who were considered enemies of our country. In uncontrolled
“patriotism” our new government and nation acted like,
as someone put it, “a jealous goddess.” One could prove
to her his love only by hating those she considered her enemies.
We as Christians could not love our country that way. Christ commands
us to love even our enemies; we are not free to do otherwise.
But there is a place for patriotism. I remember
saying to many Croats: “We as Christians can die for the cause
of our country, but we must not live for it. Rather, we must live
for Christ and His cause, which is the kingdom of God, and which
extends far beyond our national borders.”
With that attitude, we distributed food and
clothing to Serbs, Muslims, and Croats alike. When people began
losing their jobs because of their ethnicity, we stood with them.
We tried to help meet their needs and find new jobs. It was very
uneasy and even dangerous, but in this way Christ was glorified,
and we greatly rejoiced in seeing God’s love manifested, shining
in the darkness and bringing light to many.
Affirming America
On my way back to classes at Bethel the Friday
after the attacks, I heard on the radio an appeal from a Canadian
reporter saying, “Now is the time to speak up for America.”
The temptation to remain silent in the face of another’s trouble
is just as strong when the victim is as great and mighty as the
United States as it is when the victim is considered small and insignificant.
Knowing what it meant for us as Croatians to have someone speak
for our case, I began to think about how I can speak up for America
in these hard times: I can start with my little circle of influence.
That evening I sat down and began writing to
my church in Croatia, to American missionaries there, to the churches
in the U.S. with which I have contact, and to a number of individuals
I know personally here in the U.S. My letter began: “Dear friends.
This week your homeland has been brutally dishonored. I feel with
you. I understand…”
I am glad that in a unique moment like this,
by the grace of God, I refused to remain silent. •
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