Are you a slave to freedom?
When most people think of C.S. Lewis, they remember The Chronicles of Narnia or perhaps Mere Christianity. His writings have captivated millions by weaving deep truths into accessible stories and arguments. But one theme that runs consistently through his work—sometimes subtly, sometimes directly—is his view of the slavery of mankind. Lewis argued that human beings are not as free as we often imagine. Left to ourselves, we are bound in chains—chains of sin, desire, fear, and pride. Understanding this theme not only gives us deeper insight into Lewis’s thought, but also into our own lives.
Slavery Disguised as Freedom
Lewis had a keen eye for exposing illusions. One of the greatest illusions of modern life, he argued, is the idea of total freedom—the belief that if we throw off all restrictions, we will finally be free. In The Screwtape Letters, the senior demon Screwtape trains his apprentice to encourage humans to think of freedom as “doing whatever I want.” But Lewis knew that this kind of freedom quickly turns into a new kind of slavery.
The person who insists on unrestrained freedom soon discovers that appetites take over. Food, lust, ambition, or approval can quietly become masters. “An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula,” Lewis warned. What begins as freedom becomes compulsion. The smoker who once said “I can quit anytime I want” eventually discovers that he cannot. The pursuit of freedom, apart from God, paradoxically enslaves.
Sin as Enslavement
This theme echoes the words of Jesus: “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Lewis leaned heavily on this biblical understanding. In Mere Christianity, he describes sin not simply as breaking rules but as falling into a kind of slavery to the self. We were made for God, but when we turn away, we start bending in on ourselves. Pride, resentment, and selfishness take root, and soon we find we are no longer in control.
Think of Edmund in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. At first, he chooses Turkish Delight freely, betraying his siblings in exchange for promises of power. But as he continues, he finds himself trapped—enslaved to the White Witch’s lies and to his own desires. Lewis uses Edmund’s story to show us what sin does: it lures us in under the guise of freedom, then tightens its grip until we realize we cannot break free on our own.
True Freedom: The Paradox of Surrender
If sin enslaves, then what brings freedom? For Lewis, the answer is clear: surrender to God. This is where his thought often challenges modern readers. We think freedom means independence. But Lewis insists the opposite: real freedom only comes when we submit to the right master.
In The Problem of Pain, he writes, “The human spirit will not even begin to try to surrender self-will as long as all seems to be well with it.” It is only when we recognize our bondage that we are willing to yield to God. And in yielding, we find release. As Lewis explains in Mere Christianity, “The more we get what we now call ‘ourselves’ out of the way and let Him take us over, the more truly ourselves we become.”
This is the paradox: by giving up our autonomy, we gain our true identity. By submitting to Christ, we are freed from lesser masters. By becoming “slaves to God,” as Paul says (Romans 6:22), we are liberated from slavery to sin.
Why This Matters Today
Lewis’s insights are as relevant now as they were in the mid-20th century. Our culture still preaches self-expression, autonomy, and unrestrained desire as the path to happiness. But addiction rates, loneliness, and despair show that many of us are still enslaved—just in different ways than people were in Lewis’s day.
The story Lewis tells is not one of moralism but of grace. He does not say, “Try harder to be free.” He says, “Admit you are bound, and let Christ set you free.” This message resonates with our daily struggles—whether with habits we can’t break, wounds we can’t heal, or longings we can’t satisfy. Lewis reminds us that true freedom is not found in running from God but in running to Him.
Conclusion
C.S. Lewis knew the human heart. He saw that beneath our pursuit of independence lies a deeper slavery. We all serve something—our desires, our fears, or our pride. But in Christ, Lewis found the one Master who doesn’t enslave but liberates. His vision of freedom through surrender remains a timeless invitation:
Not to cling to our false freedoms,
but to find our truest selves
by giving everything over to the One who can set us free.
