An Outsider's Obituary

[Y]ou have met the phenomenon of an Inner Ring. You discovered one in your house at school before the end of the first term. And when you had climbed up to somewhere near it by the end of your second year, perhaps you discovered that within the ring there was a Ring yet more inner, which in its turn was the fringe of the great school Ring to which the house Rings were only satellites. It is even possible that the school ring was almost in touch with a Masters’ Ring. You were beginning, in fact, to pierce through the skins of an onion. And here, too, at your University—shall I be wrong in assuming that at this very moment, invisible to me, there are several rings—independent systems or concentric rings—present in this room? And I can assure you that in whatever hospital, inn of court, diocese, school, business, or college you arrive after going down, you will find the Rings.

  C.S. Lewis, The Inner Ring.


   Although until I was writing this blog I had never read "The Inner Ring", I think that Lewis and myself have been in complete agreement. An Insider's Guide to being In was a slightly cynical glance at the social 'circles' which Lewis uncovered in his book.

   Why do we all seek out these cliques and desire so passionately to gain acceptance and equality amongst their members? These special groups can hardly been considered as 'good' or 'kind'- all they seem to do is to isolate the poor people not involved- the 'outsiders'. 
   In fact if you read the bible you will find that Jesus was a real clique-breaker. He ate with both the rich and the poor, the religious and the irreligious, the moral and the wicked, the tax collector and the pharisee. He cared little for the respect or admiration of his contemporaries, rather he spoke the truth without fear. The Gospel of Mark gives us this account:

John said to him [that is, Jesus], “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. 

How about that? When the disciples saw an 'outsider' who claimed to be doing his stuff in Jesus' name they were outraged! How dare he pretend to be a badge-carrying member of the 'Jesus Followers'. What right did he have to assume to their level?!
   Jesus, on the other hand, accepted him and silenced his disciples. He wasn't out to build cliques.


   So why do we all crave the acceptance and respect which comes with being part of 'the inner circle'? May I humbly suggest an answer? Our desire to be one of the selected few comes from the burning of our consciences. Our knowledge, deep down, that we are fallen and imperfect; the knowledge that, if truth be told, we are unworthy of even the slightest affection or friendship; that we are selfish beings. Maybe attaining 'the inner circle' will give us a sense of worth and acceptance? To be chosen for something is a great honour- it means that we are worthy in some way- surely? To be chosen means that we 'made the grade', while other (less worthy persons) have fallen behind us. 
   Maybe I exaggerate, maybe our motives are much purer. And of course, friendships and close relationships are good (when not twisted or warped from their true purpose). But, as Lewis says, if one approaches a 'ring' with the wrong motives, and attain their entrance through 'dodgy deals' or by 'turning a blind eye' (etc. etc.) then idolatry has taken root.

I believe that in all men’s lives at certain periods, and in many men’s lives at all periods between infancy and extreme old age, one of the most dominant elements is the desire to be inside the local Ring and the terror of being left outside.

Lewis continues to tell of how this desire (especially when you are on the brink of becoming an 'insider') can lead to compromising one's principles and morals. He paints a sorry picture. 

It is the very mark of a perverse desire that it seeks what is not to be had. The desire to be inside the invisible line illustrates this rule. As long as you are governed by that desire you will never get what you want. You are trying to peel an onion: if you succeed there will be nothing left. Until you conquer the fear of being an outsider, an outsider you will remain.

In his lecture, Lewis concludes with the thought that when you lay aside the worry of these 'rings' and work for work's own sake, and become friends with people who you are comfortable around, simply because you like them, then you can gain a happiness that no inner ring can provide. 
    But is the act of merely ignoring these cliques enough? Can one really cast off the shackles that bind one and walk free? I am not so sure. Why? Because these shackles are deeper than we fear. If, as I have suggested, the desire for acceptance comes from a deeper knowledge of one's own sin and unworthiness, then merely ignoring the means by which one can feel 'worthy' (or the means which one thinks will lead to feeling worthy) will be like shooting yourself in the foot. Does this mean that we are destined either to strive for an acceptance that we cannot achieve or to give up entirely and wallow in self-despair? 
    No, because the bible contains the Good News of Jesus Christ! God knew, before he had even made us, that we would sin and rebel wickedly against him. So he prepared his own son to come and live on earth, to be killed and to die (unlawfully and unfairly) and to rise from the grave! In doing so, Jesus paid the price for our wrongs. On that cross he bore every wicked and evil thing that we have done. Through his death and resurrection we are accepted by the Lord God. When God looks on his people he doesn't see wicked sinners, who are unworthy of anything good, but he sees the righteousness of Jesus!! Every diseased and sick person that Jesus healed, we healed; every widow and orphan that Jesus comforted, we comforted; everyone who was blessed by Jesus, we blessed. Do you see how amazing this is?! Through the Lord Jesus Christ we can have acceptance! We can be 'in' as it was truly meant to be! 
    Jesus said "Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and you shall find." Jesus died to set his people free, all they need do is confess their sin and ask him for forgiveness. 
    


    Do you really want to remain an 'outsider'? 

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.