Learning in War Time

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." ~Romans12:2

In this address, C.S. Lewis encourages the students at Oxford to diligently continue their studies in spite of the distraction of World War II. He does this in answer to the idea that taking an interest in the "placid occupations" of studying in the university is almost a waste of time when they may be killed or enlisted in the military, or because the lives their friends and their liberties are in the balance because of the war. To approach this topic, he demonstrates that the activity of man in his wars, etc. are really frivolous when compared to the weight of the afterlife, especially when the gospel needs defending and spreading. "To admit that we can retain our interest in learning under the shadow of these eternal issues, but not under the shadow of a European war, would be to admit that our ears are closed to the voice of reason and very wide open to the voice of our nerves and mass emotions."

He then goes on to explain that no matter what our circumstances in life, whether there be war or peace, whether we are sent to a university or maintain a job sweeping floors, we must do it all to the glory of God. And then, as this is an address to students at Oxford, he says this: "The intellectual life is not the only road to God, nor the safest, but we find it to be a road, and it may be the appointed road for us. Of course it will be so only so long as we keep the impulse pure and disinterested." What I believe he means by this is that as students, we must pursue our work for the glory of God; if at any time we perform a work in our studies that is for our own glory, it is impure and thus does not lead us to God, but rather away from him.

This is a hard thing which Lewis is saying. It is not easy to remain free from distraction when the calamity of the world pervades every aspect of our lives. But when referring to work, which must be to the glory of God, the Bible has a clear warning: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:...(Proverbs 6:6)." When we do our work for ourselves, we are being a sluggard. When we refuse to do our work because something in our lives distracts us from it, we are being a sluggard. This is tough, and would be utterly impossible to do any work for God without His grace!