As World War II was breaking out, C. S. Lewis began writing his Space Trilogy. (1) Today’s readers of these works may have greater trouble than his original readers accepting the premise that Mars and Venus were populated by sentient beings and civilizations. Trust me, it will be worth the effort! Part of the premise we need to see is that earth, because of its fallenness, is quarantined. It is “Thulcandra,” the silent planet. The protagonist is significantly named Dr. Ransom, an Oxford Philologist. The antagonist for the first two books is a brilliant, but evil, scientist, named Dr. Weston. Weston, at the Enemy’s leading, is trying to export sinful rebellion to these two unfallen planets.
The second volume takes Ransom to Perelandra (Venus), which is inhabited by an original Adam and Eve like pair. Weston arrives to play the role of the serpent, trying to convince the woman (Green Lady) to disobey God (Maledil).(2) Weston, who claims that his goal now is “true spirituality,” is, in fact, a mere vessel for the Evil One, an Un-Man. Though armed with wisdom and truth, Ransom cannot convince the Green Lady that Weston was seeking to tempt her into rebellion through deceit (Serious philosophical/theological dialogues form much of the book).
The climax comes when Ransom understands that he must live up to his name and, for the sake of this world, confront the Un-Man in mortal combat, whatever the personal cost. [Spoiler Alert] After a long battle, much in a pitch-black cave, Ransom killed Weston, depriving the Evil One of his host-body. The planet is spared earth’s fate, and an unknown number of the offspring of the two inhabitants are spared the evil of wars by the battle Ransom waged.
I want to take two messages from Lewis’ imaginative work. First, lies and propaganda are powerful and effective. Today, we hardly need to be convinced of this. Weston forcefully, but deceitfully, argued that disobedience was ironically the obedience God really wanted. Evil can wear beautiful masks, keeping us from seeing the Un-Man lurking behind them. Eventually, as we see today, those who accept the lies, will choose Evil, even when unmasked. We are not called to be ugly, hateful, verbal pugilists, but we need to know what and in Whom we believe, to recognize and answer the lies of the Evil One.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of +God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)
Second, at some point, for the sake of others, evil must be forcefully opposed. The issue of the Christian and carnal warfare is difficult, and I will not attempt to treat it here. By personal conviction and probably by inclination, I am a pacifist. Yet, I know criminals must be stopped to keep people safe. Lewis and his good friend Tolkien were both in World War I and hated war, and yet, as they stared evil in the face of Hitler’s Nazis, they knew that they must be defeated by physical force. Both writers in their fictional books depict war as the necessary response to true evil, while also knowing many wars for personal or national pride are themselves great evil.
Did Lewis betray the teaching of Jesus in Perelandra? Of course, we are free to make our own judgements, but let me speak of my judgement. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed personal revenge and retribution in the face of personal attacks. He does not forbid His disciples from protecting their families or themselves. We turn the other cheek after receiving the backhand of insult or challenge, refusing to take the bait.(3) This is not about passively accepting a deadly assault.
Paul is very helpful here. The last part of Romans 12 strongly echoes the Sermon on the Mount (Romans 12:9-21), and yet his next words (no chapter divisions when he wrote) speaks of the role of governments to be God’s servants to protect people and to punish evildoers. It includes the note that they do not carry the sword in vain (Romans 13:1-7). The book of Revelation, which is full of visions of blood and carnage, knows that the very Roman government of which Paul spoke became a beast of the Dragon.
We can see in this present moment that not all are shades of gray. There is horrid evil present in our world. How should we respond? If we take Jesus seriously, it cannot be through personal retribution or revenge. Our first and best response is to pray to our just and loving God to bring a just and loving peace, in His way, through those He chooses.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (4)
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21 NIV)
Tim Kelley
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(1) First book was published in 1938, Perelandra was published in 1943. Its latest editions were published by Simon & Schuster; Reissue edition (January 1, 2011).
(2) For a synopsis, go to: https://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-perelandra/#gsc.tab=0.
(3) Jesus’ hearers would assume the assailant was right-handed, striking another on the right cheek. This, then, would be the back of the striker’s hand, not the closed fist.
(4) This is a saying that suggests repaying evil with good may make one’s enemy repent.