Lewis B. Smedes
Encyclopedia
Lewis Benedictus Smedes (1921 — December 19, 2002) was a renowned Christian
author, ethicist, and theologian in the Reformed tradition. He was a professor of theology and ethics for twenty-five years at Fuller Theological Seminary
in Pasadena
, California
. His 15 books, including the popular Forgive and Forget
, covered some important issues including sexuality
and forgiveness
.
, Friesland
in the Netherlands
(Rena's name before being changed by the officials at Ellis Island
was Renske.) When he was two months old, his father died in the partially completed house he built in Muskegon, Michigan
.
Smedes married Doris Dekker. He died after falling from a ladder at his home in Sierra Madre, California
on December 19, 2002. He was survived by his wife, three children, two grandchildren and one brother.
(B.A.
), Calvin Theological Seminary
(B.D.
), and the Free University of Amsterdam (Th.D). He pursued other graduate studies at Oxford University in England
and the University of Basel
in Switzerland
.
After his time at Fuller, Smedes performed several years of pastoral service in the Christian Reformed Church
.
Smedes also taught at the Free University
in Amsterdam and Calvin College
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
author, ethicist, and theologian in the Reformed tradition. He was a professor of theology and ethics for twenty-five years at Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His 15 books, including the popular Forgive and Forget
Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don't Deserve
Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don't Deserve is a popular evangelical Christian book by Lewis B. Smedes. It covers various issues, including ethics, sexuality and forgiveness....
, covered some important issues including sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
and forgiveness
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. The Oxford English Dictionary defines forgiveness as 'to grant free pardon and to give up all...
.
Personal
Lewis Benedictus Smedes was born in 1921, the youngest of five children. His father, Melle Smedes, and mother, Rena, emigrated to the United States from OostermeerEastermar
Eastermar is a small village in Tytsjerksteradiel in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 1,600 citizens . Eastermar is the birthplace of model Doutzen Kroes.- History :...
, Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(Rena's name before being changed by the officials at Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
was Renske.) When he was two months old, his father died in the partially completed house he built in Muskegon, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Smedes married Doris Dekker. He died after falling from a ladder at his home in Sierra Madre, California
Sierra Madre, California
The city of Sierra Madre is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is located in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. ...
on December 19, 2002. He was survived by his wife, three children, two grandchildren and one brother.
Education
Smedes graduated from Calvin CollegeCalvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
(B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
), Calvin Theological Seminary
Calvin Theological Seminary
Calvin Theological Seminary is a seminary affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and closely tied to Calvin College, though each institution has its own board. Rev...
(B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
), and the Free University of Amsterdam (Th.D). He pursued other graduate studies at Oxford University in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the University of Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Professional
Smedes began his teaching career at Fuller Theological Seminary as a visiting professor in 1968. He joined the faculty as full professor in 1970. He retired in 1995.After his time at Fuller, Smedes performed several years of pastoral service in the Christian Reformed Church
Christian Reformed Church in North America
The Christian Reformed Church in North America is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. Having roots in the Dutch Reformed churches of the Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church was founded by Gijsbert Haan and Dutch immigrants who left the Reformed Church in...
.
Smedes also taught at the Free University
Vrije Universiteit
The Vrije Universiteit is a university in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch name is often abbreviated as VU and in English the university uses the name "VU University". The university is located on a compact urban campus in the southern part of Amsterdam in the Buitenveldert district...
in Amsterdam and Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
.
Major works
In addition to many articles, Smedes wrote many popular books including:- Forgive & Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don't Deserve, Harper, 1984
- A Pretty Good Person What it Takes to Live with Courage, Gratitude, & Integrity or When Pretty Good Is as Good as You Can Be, Harper, 1990
- Standing on the Promises
- Choices: Making Right Decisions in a Complex World
- How Can It Be All Right When Everything Is All Wrong?
- Caring & Commitment: Learning to Live the Love We Promise
- The Incarnation in Modern Anglo-Catholic Theology
- All Things Made New
- Love Within Limits
- Sex for Christians
- Mere Morality: What God Expects From Ordinary People
- A Life of Distinction
- The Art of Forgiving
- Shame and Grace: Healing the Shame We Don't Deserve
- Keeping Hope Alive
- My God and I, a Spiritual Memoir, Eerdmans, 2003