Affection

Affection

Lewis paints a picture of a dog nursing and caring for puppies as an image of affection. It is usually not in isolation but mixes in with other loves. it is the broadest of loves; you can have affection for a wide variety of people or things. But, it is decidedly not the same thing as the love required in the Christian life.

Affection includes Need-Love. And, if it is carried to extremes can be problematical. Lewis gives several examples. 

Affection also includes Gift-Love. Again, he gives example, Mrs. Fidget being a good one. "But the proper aim of giving is to put the recipient in a state where he now longer needs our gift." He talks about pets and how our love for them can be a perversion.

On Jesus, he says, "You can't really be very well 'adjusted' to your world if it says you 'have a devil' and end by nailing you up naked to a stake of wood."

"If we try to live by Affection alone, Affection will go bad on us."

Charles Eklund 2018