Pop Quiz: Theology of C.S. Lewis or Dorothy Sayers?
- Elaine R Kelly
- Nov 6, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Pop Quiz: Who was the better theologian
A. C.S. Lewis
B. Dorothy L. Sayers
What's C.S. Lewis's position?
C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) was a British writer, literary scholar, and Anglican lay theologian. He was an English literature faculty at Oxford and Cambridge. He wrote fiction, including The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, and non-fiction including Mere Christianity.
C. S. Lewis believed the church should act in keeping with history and tradition that only males could be priests. He wrote against ordaining women as priests in the Anglican church, using the logic that a priest represents Jesus who was a male, and women cannot represent God or speak to us for God. He believed that if one says masculine imagery originates from human writing or language, then one is saying it does not originate from God, which to him was an argument against the Bible and Christianity as a whole. He thought that Christianity lay a burden on the male gender to lead as priests. He may have agreed with Rudyard Kiping that bringing British civilization and Christianity to savage colonies was a white man's burden. Lewis concludes his 1948 “Notes on the Way”:
“It is painful, being a man, to have to assert the privilege, or the burden, which Christianity lays upon my own sex.” - C.S. Lewis
What's the Bible's position?
The Bible teaches that your appearance, gender, race, physical abilities, traits, or addictions are irrelevant. God looks at the heart. Jesus represents all humanity, saves all humanity from guilt and shame, and empowers and authorizes all humanity to employ their gifts.
Both the Old and New Testaments say that it is what is inside that counts.
The Prophet Samuel was surprised when the Spirit told him to anoint the youngest and smallest of the brothers to be the next king. Why David? "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7.
In the Gospels, Jesus teaches listeners to look beneath the surface to discern correctly (John 7:24). Your gender is your outward appearance. God looks at your inner mind and spirit.
God asks us to love and serve one another, to follow God's calling in our lives. Our gifts are given according to God's grace, having nothing to do with our outward appearance, gender or race. The Bible not only says there is no reason not to have women in ministry, it says that when you are gifted, you must use those gifts to build up the church.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8
"You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was! Psalms 139:13-14 ERV
Both women and men are formed in the image of God. God makes women and men wonderfully, giving us gifts and talents that are not related to our gender. Being made female is not an accident or detriment. God requires both male and female to fully use their gifts.
What's Dorothy L. Sayers' Position?
Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957) was a professional British writer, educated at Oxford and an Anglican lay theologian. She wrote many crime novels, short stories, plays, poems, and essays. She also translated Dante's Divine Comedy and other classic works. Her writing had strong female characters and explored Christian themes. Sayers herself led an independent life, not conforming to the female norms of the day. Her 1938 essay, "The Greatest Drama Ever Staged,", presented Jesus as a real person; his life as an important historical event. She also wrote a BBC Nativity Play and several radio scripts about Jesus's life in relatable ways for the common person.
When her contemporary, C.S. Lewis, wrote to Dorothy Sayers, he stated that the message of male-only priests would be better coming from a woman. He felt that since he was of the privileged male gender, then him delivering the message might look like it was in his own self-interest. He asked her to write a public article supporting the position that the role of priests and ordained ministers be for men only. She declined, saying:
"I can never find any logical or strictly theological reason against [women's ordination].... If asked point-blank whether Christ Himself is the representative of male humanity or of all humanity, I should be obliged to answer of all humanity; and to cite the authority of St. Augustine for saying that woman is also made in the image of God." No logical or theological reason exists to prohibit female priests (much less preachers and teachers),
Answer to Pop Quiz: Who was the better theologian
B. Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy L. Sayers is the one who reflects biblical theology, showing that women are also made in the image of God and since Jesus represents all humanity, either men or women can represent God as priests. Jesus brought equality and mutual submission, not authoritarianism.
My historical fiction, Forgotten Followers: from Broken to Bold, shows that Jesus created a safe space where women and men could ask theological questions and work out their own beliefs about who he was. My female main characters are proactive in overcoming traumas from abuse and racism. Healing and self-care requires thought, work, and specific action steps. I hope that my readers will be encouraged to work out their own beliefs about Jesus.
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1 (2022)
The Sword A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role (2023)
Because She Was Called: from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church, imagines Mary Magdalene's trip to testify before the emperor (2024)
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience (2024)
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