Beyond Words
The Power of Language to Point Beyond
Reflections on C.S. Lewis and the Language of Faith
In his essay The Language of Religion, C.S. Lewis delves into the remarkable capacity of language—especially poetic language—to stretch beyond the confines of our direct experience. His observation is simple, yet profound: language, though rooted in the ordinary, has the ability to point us toward the extraordinary. Lewis describes this process using a compelling metaphor. Just as roads on a map lead us to a destination that may lie beyond its visible boundaries, so too can words lead us toward experiences and realities we may not yet have, or may never fully grasp.
Lewis highlights the example of Wordsworth’s phrase "the visionary dreariness" from Prelude XIII, often titled "Imagination and Taste, How Impaired and Restored. In this part of the poem, Wordsworth is describing the aftermath of an intense, revelatory experience during a visit to the Alps. He reflects on how the grandeur of nature can at times lead to feelings of both awe and melancholy, creating a sense of “visionary dreariness.” Though many of us have not shared that particular experience of desolation, we nonetheless catch an inkling of its emotional weight. Through the power of language, we can connect to an experience beyond our own, sensing its depth and mystery.
This insight does not apply only to poetry—it extends to how we understand faith, spirituality, and the language of Scripture. So much of our walk with God involves mysteries beyond human comprehension. We speak of concepts like eternity, divine love, the nature of God, and the kingdom of heaven, all of which lie far beyond our human capacity to fully experience or explain. But, through metaphors and symbols, Scripture offers us glimpses of these realities. The Bible uses everyday objects and concepts—light, bread, water, wind—to communicate truths about God that are, by nature, beyond our full understanding. These words, like the roads on a map, point us toward something greater: a divine reality that transcends human experience.
The Limits and Strength of Human Language
One of the great paradoxes of language is that while it is limited, it can still be a powerful tool for accessing the infinite. Lewis knew this tension well. In the same way that poetry can evoke feelings we have not personally experienced, so too can religious language evoke in us a sense of awe and wonder for things we cannot yet fully comprehend. When Scripture speaks of God as a "Father," "shepherd," or "light," we are not confined by the literal meanings of these terms. Instead, they serve as starting points, leading us toward deeper, more mysterious truths about God’s character.
It is through these metaphors and descriptions that we begin to understand, even if only in part, the grandeur and love of God. Just as Lewis described, the roads on the map point us toward a destination we cannot yet see. Similarly, faith's language leads us toward an encounter with God, whose depths surpass our current knowledge but who invites us into His mystery nonetheless.
Faith as an Invitation to Journey
In many ways, this is what faith is—a journey toward a reality that we cannot yet fully see but can sense through the glimpses God provides. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul writes, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” We live in this tension of the "now" and the "not yet." While we cannot yet fully comprehend the realities of heaven, God’s love, or the future glory He has prepared for us, Scripture and faith offer us signposts that lead us there.
Language, in this sense, becomes a tool not only for description but for transformation. When we speak of God's mercy, grace, and love, we are not merely describing concepts—we are pointing to the very character of God, inviting others and ourselves to step into a relationship with Him. This is the role of spiritual language, just as Lewis described: it points beyond itself, using the familiar to lead us into the unfamiliar, the known to hint at the unknown.
Living in the Mystery of God
Understanding this power of language calls us to live in the tension of mystery and revelation. We do not have to have all the answers to journey toward God. Instead, we trust in the glimpses He gives us—through Scripture, through nature, through moments of grace. We trust that even though we may not yet fully understand God’s ways, the language of faith is a gift that draws us deeper into His presence.
As we reflect on this, it’s helpful to remember that while language can point beyond itself, our ultimate hope is not in words but in the Word made flesh. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, is the perfect revelation of the Father. He is the one toward whom all the roads of Scripture point, the living embodiment of the mysteries we seek to understand.
Just as poetic language gives us an inkling of experiences we may never have, the language of faith gives us an inkling of divine realities we will one day fully experience in God's presence. Our hope, then, is in the day when we will no longer see through a glass darkly, but will behold Him face to face. Until then, we journey, guided by the signposts of language, toward the eternal reality of God's kingdom.
From Metaphor to Mystery
C.S. Lewis reminds us that language, even in its limitations, has the power to open up new worlds for us. Whether through poetry or Scripture, words can lead us toward experiences beyond our own, inviting us into deeper reflections and mysteries. In the life of faith, language becomes a tool not only for communication but for revelation, offering glimpses of the divine reality toward which we journey.
May we continue to embrace the mystery, trusting in the glimpses God gives us and allowing the language of faith to draw us ever closer to Him.
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