C.S. Lewis

A lot has been said about C.S. Lewis the writer, the professor, the theologian, the apologist. But what about C.S. Lewis the friend? Joseph Kohm has written extensively about the surprising, yet tragic, friendship between Lewis and his childhood pal, Arthur Greeves.

On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Kohm joins David Wollen to discuss how Lewis considered friendship to be the chief source of happiness—and his friendship with Greeves lasted for half a century. This conversation also covers Lewis’ life story, the unique approach he took to defending Christianity, and how his words continue to speak to us in our modern world.

Whether you are a longtime fan of Lewis’ writing or you’re just wanting to learn more about his life and work, this conversation will likely shed new light on one of Christianity’s most beloved writers.

More Related to C.S. Lewis

  • LISTEN: Last week, David Wollen spoke with Max McLean on the experience of embodying C.S. Lewis as an actor. Listen to the episode.
  • WATCH: Experience C.S. Lewis’ profound journey from vigorous debunker of Christianity to become, as he said, “the most reluctant convert in all England.” Receive your copy of the DVD as our thanks for your gift to haven.
  • READ: As an apologist, Lewis went to great lengths to share his conversion story and defend the truth of the Christian faith. Read more in this article.
  • READ: Joseph Kohm’s book delves deeper into the surprising friendship of Lewis and Arthur Greeves. Learn more.

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The Most Reluctant Convert (DVD)

Experience C.S. Lewis’ profound journey from vigorous debunker of Christianity to become, as he said, “the most reluctant convert in all England.”The Most Reluctant Convert

Through Max McLean’s detailed and masterful performance, Lewis’ story of grief, loss and redemption comes to life on screen in his own magnificent words. Whether you are young in your faith or have been following Jesus most of your life, The Most Reluctant Convert is a much needed reminder that the Gospel never stops working.

Over 2 million books were published in the United States during the 20th century. Most of those books have been forgotten, yet some have stood the test of time. The writings of novelist, theologian, and apologist C.S. Lewis stand out prominently among them.

Most know him for The Chronicles of Narnia. These books have resonated with so many people, young and old, Christians and non-Christians alike.

The story of Narnia is not just another fantasy story. There are rich biblical truths to be found throughout the series. Like in the stunning creation scene from The Magician’s Nephew, or when Aslan removes Eustace’s dragon scales in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The stories were meant to point us to the transforming power that is found in the true lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ.

[ Discover 7 ways Jesus shows up in Narnia ]

But there is another side: Lewis the friendly Christian apologist. As an apologist, Lewis went to great lengths to share his conversion story and to defend the truth of the Christian faith.

Lewis knew the gospel sounded too good to be true, so he presented a question that could change the trajectory of any conversation: What if it is true? What if Jesus did truly live, die, and rise again? Well, this would change the whole world!

C.S. Lewis had the uncanny ability to make even skeptics wish Christianity were true. Then he provided convincing reasons for why it must be true. It’s a compelling way of sharing the faith, which continues to inspire theologians today. People like the late pastor in New York City, Tim Keller, were greatly shaped by Lewis the apologist.

Lewis’ winsome approach is still a great way to share Jesus with our neighbors. It’s one reason why so many continue to read his books now over a half-century after his death. It’s also why I’ve been talking about Lewis and his legacy all week on the daily Haven Today radio broadcast.

For me, it is a joy to dive into the mind of C.S. Lewis. He was a clear communicator, and I think hearing his story will help any of us better share Jesus with others. I hope you’ll listen in to this week’s series here, where I also look at what you might call “friendship apologetics.”

This series is also interacting with the unlikely conversion of C.S. Lewis captured in the film The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis. This movie is unique. It traces Lewis’ move from a bold atheism to a bold Christian faith. Max McLean plays an older Lewis reflecting on how God worked on his heart to not only bring him to faith, but to also become a great apologist for Christ.

For your gift to this listener-supported ministry, sending this DVD is our way of saying “thank you” for supporting Haven. This film is sure to inspire your walk with Christ and help you share your faith with friends and family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

President of Haven Ministries since November 2023, David Wollen is the host of the daily Haven Today radio broadcast. He resides in the greater Chicago area with his wife, Marci, and their three children. They are active leaders in their church where David serves as an elder and part of the preaching team, and Marci leads women’s ministries. David is passionate about teaching God’s Word with God’s heart. He sees this as synonymous with Haven’s longtime tagline: “Telling the Great Story … it’s all about Jesus!”

The Most Reluctant Convert (DVD)

Experience C.S. Lewis’ profound journey from vigorous debunker of Christianity to become, as he said, “the most reluctant convert in all England.”The Most Reluctant Convert

Through Max McLean’s detailed and masterful performance, Lewis’ story of grief, loss, and redemption comes to life on screen in his own magnificent words. Whether you are young in your faith or have been following Jesus most of your life, The Most Reluctant Convert is a much-needed reminder that the Gospel never stops working.

Originally recorded in 2013, 50 years after the death of C.S. Lewis, Charles Morris had a conversation with Dr. Alister McGrath to shed new light on the most famous atheist-turned-Christian of the 20th century.

Dr. McGrath has written one of the most comprehensive biographies on the life of C.S. Lewis. After reading everything Lewis had ever written—including recently published correspondence—Dr. McGrath challenges some of the previously held beliefs about the timing of the beloved author’s shift from atheism to theism and then to Christianity. But he also paints a definitive portrait of Lewis’ life as an eccentric thinker who became an inspiring, though reluctant, prophet for our times.

In addition to his work at Oxford, Dr. Alister McGrath is Senior Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and serves as associate priest in a group of Church of England village parishes in the Cotswolds.

For more on Dr. McGrath’s book on C.S. Lewis’ life, click here.

For more on how WWI impacted the writing and faith of both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, find out more about Dr. Joseph Loconte’s book A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and A Great War.

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The Screwtape Letters is C.S. Lewis’ satirical book of letters where Hell is imagined as a gruesome bureaucracy and demons labor in a vast enterprise to lure and deceive humans away from the “enemy”, a.k.a. God. Among Lewis’ best-known works, Paul McCusker brought the source material to life when he turned it into a full-cast audio drama starring Andy Serkis as Screwtape.

On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, McCusker joins Charles Morris to discuss how this project came about, how he adapted a book of letters into a compelling drama, and how this story brilliantly conveys the subtleties of darkness while reinforcing a biblical perspective that leads to Jesus.

Paul McCusker is an American writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, and for his work with Focus on the Family’s Radio Theatre, including The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia (Collector’s Edition). He has written over 50 books, 21 plays and 4 musicals.

 Going Deeper

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What would it have been like to live in the same house as C.S. Lewis? For many fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, it would be a dream come true. For Douglas Gresham, it became a reality after his mother married Lewis toward the end of her life.

In 2005, as The Chronicles of Narnia reached new heights with the release of Disney’s take on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Charles Morris sat down with Douglas Gresham to talk about his late stepfather’s faith, work, and family life. More than a biographical look at the famous writer and apologist, today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast paints a unique picture of C.S. Lewis from the vantage point of a child in his home.

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A hundred years ago, no one had ever heard of a hobbit. But you would be hard-pressed today to find anyone who didn’t immediately recognize this short fictional creature with large fuzzy feet. Most amazing of all is the faith behind J.R.R. Tolkien, the man who created the myth behind The Lord of the Rings.

As Amazon Studios launches the most expensive show in history based on the appendices of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, we thought now would be a good time to call professor and historian Dr. Joseph Loconte, author of the New York Times bestselling book A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and A Great War, to talk about Tolkien’s faith, wartime experiences, and influence on the conversion of C.S. Lewis.

On this episode of the Great Stories Podcast, you’ll get to hear Loconte offer a unique perspective on how the first mechanized war in history affected Tolkien’s faith and led him to write one of the most revered stories of all time.

 More on J.R.R. Tolkien

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Have you ever heard it said that you have to be a fool to believe in God? John Lennox has come toe-to-toe with many of Christianity’s harshest critics, some of them colleagues at Oxford where he is a Professor of Mathematics (emeritus). Many of those critics argue that science and faith are like two ships passing in the night — John Lennox wholeheartedly disagrees.

Charles Morris conducted this interview with Lennox at C.S. Lewis’ old home, “The Kilns,” which seemed an appropriate place to have a conversation about how those who believe in God can absolutely live and work in the world of science. It’s an inspiring conversation that proves how science and belief have more in common than meets the eye.

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C.S. Lewis’ conversion story is a true testament to the to the work of Jesus through one man’s life. You will be delighted by the performance of award-winning actor, Max McLean, who plays C.S. Lewis. You will likely recognize his voice as the narrator of several Bible translations.

Whether you are young in your faith or have been following Jesus for most of your life, The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis is for you. His journey through faith is a much-needed reminder that the Gospel never stops working.

The Most Reluctant ConvertThe Most Reluctant Convert (DVD)

Experience C.S. Lewis’ profound journey from vigorous debunker of Christianity to become, as he said, “the most reluctant convert in all England.”

Through Max McLean’s detailed and masterful performance, Lewis’ story of grief, loss and redemption comes to life on screen in his own magnificent words. Whether you are young in your faith or have been following Jesus most of your life, The Most Reluctant Convert is a much needed reminder that the Gospel never stops working.

If you’ve ever listened to an audio version of the Bible, chances are you were hearing the captivating voice of Max McLean. A classically trained actor, McLean dedicates his talents for the presentation of Scripture and other Christian material. And though many may recognize his voice as the narrator of multiple translations for the Listener’s Bible, he also received great acclaim for his theatrical presentations of The Screwtape Letters, Mark’s Gospel, and Genesis.

In this conversation, Charles Morris speaks with Max McLean about his experience writing, starring, and now filming his newest production: The Most Reluctant Convert. Hear what went into telling this groundbreaking story behind C.S. Lewis’ long, heel-digging conversion to Christianity, along with how this film is now touching countless lives around the world.

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They were friends with two things in common — great literature and a great war. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien both fought in World War I, which profoundly influenced their writings and drove them to Christ.

On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Dr. Joseph Loconte joins Charles Morris to discuss the beloved books written by both authors in light of the spiritual crisis sparked by the conflict in WWI. Loconte has spent years exhaustively researching how these two men’s traumatic experiences in the first world war shaped their faith and their writing . . . and the way millions would later read and be influenced by their work.

Going Deeper

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