http://www.irr.org/MIT/Millet-misquote.html

I don’t that’s accurate. The context of the quote is that Lewis was posed with the question: “Aren’t some people who don’t believe in God or traditional Christian doctrine much more ‘Christian’ than many who do because they are closer to the spirit of Christ because of their love for others? And therefore shouldn’t they be called a ‘Christian’ while those who claim to adhere to the doctrines of Christianity but don’t practice love should not be?”

Lewis agreed with the premise that some people are much more ‘Christian’ in the deep sense than those who claim to be Christians, but that it is very impractical to use that type of language because “It is not for us to say who, in the deepest sense, is or is not close to the spirit of Christ…” Therefore, we should use the term ‘Christian’ in the traditional sense rather than the deeper sense.

I think it is accurate to say that Lewis believed it is sinful to judge the state of other people’s souls.

1. Ian, how do you propose that I obey the last clause of 2 Timothy 2:22?

2. And, assuming by the fact that you agree with the idea that it is “sinful to judge the state of other people’s souls”, isn’t a bit hypocriticial to promote your blog entry, “Donald Miller cares more about truth than 99% of conservative evangelicals”. So Donal Miller can judge the hearts of conservative evangelicals, but I can’t discern who has the Spirit of Christ for fellowship?

1) I think the author of 2nd Timothy intended that be a bit of an educated guess on your part. I’m not saying that you can’t get a good idea of a person’s character or devotion to a set of beliefs by looking at their actions most of the time, but you cannot know for sure the state of their soul.

2) No. I’m not claiming that anyone is or isn’t saved. I’m claiming that (it appears) that Miller cares much more about truth than those who criticize him for not caring about truth. And Miller isn’t judging anyone’s salvation either, where did you get that idea?