The Screwtape Letters: Letters 25-27

This is the next to last meeting for the Screwtape Letters study and I would like to say how much I enjoy this type of meeting! I thoroughly love engaging other Christians and listening to their thoughts about different topics that pertain to our walk in God’s Kingdom. I really love hearing the revelations from the Word of God that many of you have received over the years, as these are nuggets of wisdom that can affect others of us in the Body!

Quick reminder, so that we are all on the same page here. The week after next, what is going to be happening with our Wednesday evening meetings?----------------------------Right, our prayer meetings start!

We will handing out the little 3 ring binders, with some tabs in them and then beginning our weekly prayer time and journal entries.

I may include an extra sheets within each tabbed section, so that as we are discussing and praying over these sections and using the specific verses for that night, if you, individually receive something from Holy Spirit about that particular topic or verse, then you will have a dedicated place to write it down.

Then over the next year, or years, when you go back and look at what you were praying about, whether in here, corporately, or at home and on your own, you will see the revelation that the Lord showed you!

In light of this, everyone bring with them, next week, a few topics that you would like to gain some scripture passages about for your prayer journals and over time, we will begin to add these in, as Holy Spirit leads.

Letter 25: (Summary) - Because humans exist within time, we naturally desire change. In this letter, Screwtape wants Wormwood to capitalize on the patient’s natural desire for change. By increasing his fear of the “Same Old Thing”, he can become restless in his never-ending search for something new and exciting.

Highlighted thoughts and statements and questions:

Question: Screwtape is uneasy with the patient’s new friends and describes them as being “merely Christian”. What does he mean by “merely Christian”? Why would he be concerned?

Answer: In Lewis’ book, Mere Christianity, being “merely Christian” is characterized as Christianity that is not attached to anything but its own unchanging precepts. If you are “merely Christian”, you are nothing else but Christian. Screwtape would naturally be concerned because Christians of this sort are bound by the fundamentals of their faith and are not swayed by trends, fads, or culture. Their continued association with the patient will most likely have an influence over him.

Question: Why would Screwtape want to keep the patient in a state he calls, “Christianity and”? What are some examples of fashionable trends being added to Christianity today to keep it fresh?

Answer: Utilizing the state he calls “Christianity And”, Screwtape wants the patient to associate Christianity with new thoughts and ideas. He wants to convince the patient that Christianity is dull and must be kept fresh by combining it with some new cause or pursuit. Examples of trying to keep Christianity fresh would be the prosperity gospel concept, certain healing ministries, or altering Biblical truth in favor of a Christianity that is more palatable to our taste.

says,

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Thus, it is by the GRACE of God that we have our salvation and that we are found in right standing with the Lord God Almighty!

Nothing that we do, or add to the mix, can give us this relationship with the Lord; it is in place by His GRACE alone.

If anything else that we bring into the gospel message and the Christian walk, can bring about salvation and holiness, then it is no longer God’s GRACE, but our works!

Again, in says,

2 Corinthians 4:1–2 ESV

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Jesus and the Gospel Message plus anything else, equals NOTHING!

Question: How can the restlessness associated with the “Same Old Thing” impact and influence our lives? Change may bring temporary satisfaction, but what do we do when the novelty wears off?

Answer: This search for endless change disrupts our ability to make intelligent decisions, and instead of being an influence, we become influenced by the latest fashions and trends. As a result, we end up not liking the “Same Old Thing”, even in our religion. This demand for novelty is not only expensive and disruptive, but it influences the media we consume as well as where we live, the things we buy, and the clothes we wear. The problem with novelty is that everything eventually becomes “not new”. When the new wears off, we are left looking for that next new high.

Question: Why do we have such a desire for change? How does the creation story in introduce change? How did God balance out our desire for change?

Answer: Since we live within time, we experience and desire change. In fact, God gave us that desire and placed us in bodies and in environments that experience change. In the story of creation, God initiates change by creating morning and evening. He then provides different topography by creating lands and water. Next, He provides a variety of different vegetation and animals as well as the seasons by causing the sun, moon, and stars to mark time. Finally, He creates man with the innate sense that he needs something other than himself (a change), so He creates woman. God designed us for change, but He also balanced out our desire for change with a desire for stability or permanence in life. This perfect union of both change and stability creates a natural rhythm in our lives.

Question: The law of “diminishing returns” states that there is a point in production where with every additional unit of input added, there will be smaller increases in the amount of output - will all other variables remaining the same. How does this law apply to increasing desires and diminishing pleasures?

Answer: As our thirst to satisfy our desires continues to increase, we tend to invest our resources (our time, talents, and money) on frivolous items of little meaning that rapidly depreciate. In addition, the more greedy the desire for change, the more likely we are to be drawn into sin and corrupt other innocent pleasures. Only a desire for spiritual matters will suppress and diminish our desire for worldly pleasures over time.

Question: Read and . What does Paul tell us about living with contentment in these two passages? How is contentment ultimately a heart change?

1 Timothy 6:6–11 ESV

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Answer: Paul was not against wealth or even change. He just realized how dangerously seductive they are. The word contentment here refers to general self-sufficiency or the state of being content in one’s circumstances. As Christians, we should focus our efforts on pursuing holiness in our conduct, attitude, and thought. Paul exemplifies this for us while he writes to us from a jail cell.

Letter 26: (Summary) - In this letter, Screwtape talks about the difference between unselfishness and charity. He suggests Wormwood sow seeds of unselfishness during the patient’s courtship in hopes of causing marital discord later in life. Since the two are enchanted in the early days of natural attraction, they are putting their best foot forward in order to hide any weakness. However, after the honeymoon phase ends and the real marriage begins, each will start expecting the other to maintain their unselfishness which neither of them will be able to do.

Highlighted thoughts and statements and questions:

“teach a man to surrender benefits not that others may be happy in having them, but that he may be unselfish in forgoing them.” - Screwtape

Question: Screwtape says, “courtship is the time for sowing those seeds which will grow up ten years later into domestic hatred.” What are some things that couples might do for each other during the courtship that they fail to do in marriage?

Answer: (Answers will vary). Going on regular dates, simple niceties and manners, opening the door and other common courtesies, gifts and tokens of affection, etc.

Question: God created us to experience and enjoy both eros and agape love. (Read , where eros is used for love and , where agape is used for love. What is the difference between the two forms of love? Why are each important to the marriage relationship?

Song of Solomon 1:1–4 ESV

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you. Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Answer: Eros is the erotic or physical form of love shared between a husband and a wife. It is what generally attracts us to our spouse. Agape is divine love or unconditional love. It is deliberate, consistent, and transparent. It does not change based on the way we feel on any given day. It seeks the good of those we are called to love and compels us toward action. They are both important to the marriage relationship because agape love is the commitment to your spouse that remains constant even after eros fades. Eros is needed, because it brings the pleasure on intimacy, which God created, into the marital relationship and in doing so, the very chemicals and hormones that God put into our bodies, are released, which produce bonding between the husband and the wife!

Question: What is the difference between “unselfishness” and “charity”? Why would Screwtape want to substitute one for the other?

Answer:

Unselfishness – Unselfishness is having or showing more concern for other people than yourself.

Charity – Charity is benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity.

Unselfishness sounds good and could be. It all depends on our motives. If we are primarily concerned with the well-being of others then it is good. However, if we are being unselfish because it nets us something in return then it becomes a vice that Satan can use.

Question: Screwtape says that we often compete with others to see who can be the most “unselfish”. Why would we do this?

Answer: We do this to make ourselves feel more righteous and often to make the others feel guilty or bad.

Question: Describe the game that Screwtape likes to play called the “Generous Conflict Illusion”.

Answer: The Generous Conflict Illusion is when we make it clear that we are being unselfish not so that others will be happy but so that we can be the unselfish party giving in to their request. The other parties quickly withdraw their request because they do not want to be used in the first person’s fake generosity. Soon everyone is upset and quarrels, and resentment begins on both sides. (IN THE BOOK, SCREWTAPE USES THE SITUATION OF ONE FAMILY MEMBER SUGGESTING THAT THEY MEET FOR TEA IN THE GARDEN AND THE OTHER SAYS THAT THEY WOULD RATHER NOT, BUT SINCE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE “UNSELFISH”, THEY WILL DO IT ANYWAY! THEN THE 1ST PERSON RETRACTS THEIR OFFER ON THE GROUNDS OF THEIR “UNSELFISHNESS”, WHEN IN REALITY, “they don't want to be used as a sort of lay figure on which the first speaker practices petty altruisms”.

Letter 27: (Summary) - Wormwood has failed. As the patient’s love for the girl continues to grow stronger and war efforts loom, his prayers have shifted from normal “daily bread” prayers to attentive appeals directly to God for guidance. Since satan is a master at distraction, Screwtape instructs Wormwood to attack the legitimacy of prayer. If he cannot create in the man a pious prayer life, then the next best thing is to convince him that the answers to his prayers are what is going to happen or not happen anyway. If successful, Wormwood might be able to convince the man to stop praying altogether.

Highlighted thoughts and statements and questions:

“Don't forget to use the "heads I win, tails you lose" argument. If the thing he prays for doesn't happen, then that is one more proof that petitionary prayers don't work; if it does happen, he will, of course, be able to see some of the physical causes which led up to it, and "therefore it would have happened anyway", and thus a granted prayer becomes just as good a proof as a denied one that prayers are ineffective.” - Screwtape

Question: According to Screwtape, what can happen when distractions or sins surface during prayer? What specifically should Wormwood do when distractions or sins surface during the patient’s prayers?

Answer: Screwtape does not want the distractions or sins that surface when the patient prays to lead the patient to sincerely pray about those things. When we offer sincere prayers to God, he listens and acts. Wormwood is to encourage the patient to “thrust away” the distraction and try to continue normal, everyday prayers that are said with little sincerity.

Question: Read . What does Jesus say about the “false spirituality” of the Pharisees prayers? Why would the devil want to encourage and promote this “false spirituality” in our prayer life, versus allowing us to petition God with sincere prayers and questions?

Matthew 6:5–6 ESV

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Answer: Jesus calls the prayers of the Pharisees hypocritical. The focus of their prayers had become more about being heard by those around them than direct communication with God. In the same way, Satan wants our prayers to be pious and eloquent but lacking any faith or substance that might actually cause true change in our lives.

Question: Do to the man’s spiritual obedience, Wormwood’s efforts to encourage this “false spirituality” will probably not work. What other tactics does Screwtape recommend to steer the patient away from prayer?

Answer: Wormwood is to worry him with the haunting suspicion that the practice (of prayer) is absurd and can have no objective result. We have become a microwave generation where we expect prayers to be answered immediately according to our standards, or obviously they do not work. He tells Wormwood to employ the “heads I win, tails you lose” argument.

Question: What is Screwtape’s “heads I win, tails you lose” argument? How can being too focused on the results of prayer hinder our prayer life?

Answer: This “heads I win, tails you lose” argument is designed to make the patient feel that his prayers are useless. If his prayers are answered, he will see some evidence that leads him to rationalize that it was going to happen anyway. If they are not answered right away, then this will confirmed his suspicions that asking God for things is absurd and that prayer has no impact upon the universe whatsoever. When we dwell on the results of our prayers, it becomes more about God being a genie in a bottle than about seeking His best for us—regardless of the answer.

Question: Read . What is the human perspective of time? According to this verse, what is the perspective of time for God? How does this impact your prayer life?

Revelation 22:13 ESV

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Answer: Man lives within the constraints of time and has difficulty understanding any reality that does not include time. He sees some things as the present, remembers others as the past, and anticipates others as the future. God operates in the unbounded now. He is the beginning and the end. He created time, and therefore, He lives outside of it. When it comes to our prayer life, we can find it difficult to separate God from the restraints of time we experience. Therefore, we limit our prayers to our reality rather than God’s sovereignty.

Question: Read , , and also . What do these verses tell us about our praying to God and about the questions like, “Why doesn’t God answer our prayers”, or, “If God is just going to do whatever He wants to do, then why waste our time asking Him to do something specifically on our behalf?”