UPDATE: This is a repost (with certain edits/improvements) of my most popular blog series in honor of the 50th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’ death.

Click here to get your copy of the 50th anniversary annotated edition.

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Chapter 4

The topic of  this chapter is prayer.

Uncle Screwtape writes:

“The best thing, where it is possible, is to keep the patient from the serious intention of praying altogether.”

Oh how weak and irregular is the prayer life of so many Christians. How tragic that the prayer life that Jesus modeled doesn’t motivate us to be more diligent in our intention and practice of prayer. Father, make me more like your Son.

To better understand the intent of such a prayer see, for example, Mark 1:35, Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 14:23, Luke 6:12, Luke 22:32, Luke 22:41-44, John 17:1-26, and Hebrews 5:7.

Two more thoughts from Uncle Screwtape:

“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

“Teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment.”

To be continued…

UPDATE: This is a repost (with certain edits/improvements) of my most popular blog series in honor of the 50th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’ death.

Click here to get your copy of the 50th anniversary annotated edition.

____________________________________________

Chapter 3

Screwtape offers his nephew some thoughts that will probably draw the “nod of recognition” from most readers. While he chooses the scenario of a mother-son relationship, I think Lewis would have done better to portray a husband-wife relationship as the context of this chapter. However, this is not to say Screwtape’s advice is not applicable to parent-child relationships, too. See if you can relate to the following selection:

“When two humans have lived together for many years it usually happens that each has tones of voice and expressions of face which are almost unendurably irritating to the other. Work on that. Bring fully into the consciousness of your patient that particular lift of his mother’s eyebrows which he learned to dislike in the nursery, and let him think how much he dislikes it. Let him assume that she knows how annoying it is and does it to annoy – if you know your job he will not notice the immense improbability of the assumption. And, of course, never let him suspect that he has tones and looks which similarly annoy her. As he cannot see or hear himself, this is easily managed.”

UPDATE: This is a repost (with certain edits/improvements) of my most popular blog series in honor of the 50th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’ death.

Click here to get your copy of the 50th anniversary annotated edition.

____________________________________________

Chapter two opens with Uncle Screwtape expressing his great displeasure that Wormwood’s “patient” has become a Christian. In an effort to recover, if possible, Screwtape offers his understudy some hopeful advice toward his future work against his “patient”:

“All the habits of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favor.”

Interestingly, Screwtape’s advice to Wormwood should serve as a warning also to Christians to be aware that being spiritually born again, doesn’t necessarily eradicate the flesh’s sinful desires. Our flesh remains unredeemed!

The New Testament is clear that a process of maturing spiritually is necessary for believers and the process involves both our bodies and minds. Below are some Bible verses that have been helpful to me in this regard. (All references are NASB.)

I Corinthian 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

I John 1:8-9
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Galatians 5:16-17
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

II Corinthians 10:3-6
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

II Corinthians 12:7-10
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:6-9
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Colossians 3:1-17
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

I Timothy 4:6-9
In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.

UPDATE: The most popular series I have written is the Screwtape Letters series. A number of university students continue to access it, which suggests somewhere someone is teaching a C.S. Lewis course. That the hits continue to be consistent suggests the series is helpful to students. So, in honor of the 50th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’ death, which coincides with the assassination of John Kennedy, I am going to repost that series (with certain updates/improvements).

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In this book (click here to get your copy of the 50th anniversary annotated edition), Lewis provides the reader with correspondence between Uncle Screwtape, a management-level demon, and his entry-level demon nephew, Wormwood, whose purpose is to tempt humans to avoid encounters with the Enemy. In the context of this book, God is identified as the Enemy, which is uncomfortable for me to read, but understandable in this context since God is Satan’s ultimate enemy.

In this fictional tale, C. S. Lewis offers an “insider’s view” of the presumed thought process and training program in the bureaucracy of the demon world. While it is admittedly fictional, on several occasions Uncle Screwtape’s instruction and/or encouragement to his young nephew left me thinking “that is a very reasonable possibility.” And, whether or not the demon world operates precisely as portrayed, the imagery is helpful in assisting the reader to think more biblically regarding the battle between the Spirit and the flesh (e.g., see John 3:6), and to recognize that demonic temptations toward unbelief aren’t coincidental occurrences. Rather, they are well-orchestrated events that start in apparently benign ways: a glance here, disbelief there or a misplaced trust elsewhere.

I offer the following quotes from the Preface for your consideration. Perhaps they will be as thought provoking for you as they were for me.

PREFACE

1. “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”

Clearly it is both naïve and spiritually dangerous to disbelieve in the existence of devils [demons]. The Bible is clear in this matter: See for example, Luke 8:26-39. On the other hand, to become obsessed with the demon world is also dangerous and can take away attention more appropriately directed toward Jesus. The apostle Paul encourages Christians to think on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, things of excellence or worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).

2. “Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar.”

See John 8:44.

To be continued…