The Devil's Noose
Pope John Paul II once wrote, “Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure!” If you’ve been a Christian for long, you know this to be true. But you also realize that “adventure” is not all feel-good positive stuff. Life with Christ includes battles against evil, against the schemes of the devil, who tries to usurp lordship from Jesus. There is a spiritual battle going on around us we must be aware of.
In the C.S. Lewis book The Screwtape Letters, Lewis provides us with a glance at the devil’s playbook. In the book Lewis has Screwtape (a demon) writing letters to his nephew, Wormwood, instructing him in the art of temptation. In these letters we can see ourselves, as we deal with everyday things, often victims of Satan’s tactics. What are some of the lessons we can learn as Screwtape teaches Wormwood?
One key point made, as Screwtape instructs the young demon, is to be subtle and tactful in tempting humans. Patiently pursue your prey. Screwtape states that, “real worldliness is a work of time.” With time the novelty of the victim’s conversion will wear off. If he or she does not seek Bible knowledge and encouraging relationships faith will not take root, and the normal struggles of life will eat away at what little faith remains. Ease the Christians sense of discipleship into complacency and time will do its work.
Another lesson from uncle to nephew is that deception and half-truths are important for luring humans toward vice. Praying is all right, according to Wormwood’s uncle, if it stays divorced from Bible study. It’s OK to talk to God as long as he’s not allowed to talk back. Jesus says of the devil, that he “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is the father of lies” (John 8:44). Satan knows the Bible better than the typical Christian, so Screwtape hopes to hide this truth from sight, and string the Christian along with half-truths and lies as the Bible sets idle.
The lessons continue. “You can’t be too careful to see that the patients remain completely fixated on politics,” the nephew is told. Government exists for good reason and rightly managed it is a tool God can use for good in this corrupt world (Romans 13:1), but it often fails due to leaders unresponsive to God. It is not the answer to our ultimate need, and we are side-tracked by the devil if we allow it to consume us.
“It is funny how mortals always picture us putting things into their minds,” says Screwtape, “when in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” Christians who mindlessly go about their daily lives, little thought about the spiritual realm, little attention to the God they “claim” as Lord, sparse attendance to the church gatherings, few mature Christian alliances to keep them on track; such Christians wander aimlessly away from heaven. The devil does not want you aware of the words said by the apostle Paul, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
“A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all – and more amusing,” laughs Screwtape as he fixes his eyes on you. In such ways we walk the gallows toward the devil’s noose.
Question: What subtle tricks has Satan used on you? What is your plan to keep him at bay?
In the C.S. Lewis book The Screwtape Letters, Lewis provides us with a glance at the devil’s playbook. In the book Lewis has Screwtape (a demon) writing letters to his nephew, Wormwood, instructing him in the art of temptation. In these letters we can see ourselves, as we deal with everyday things, often victims of Satan’s tactics. What are some of the lessons we can learn as Screwtape teaches Wormwood?
One key point made, as Screwtape instructs the young demon, is to be subtle and tactful in tempting humans. Patiently pursue your prey. Screwtape states that, “real worldliness is a work of time.” With time the novelty of the victim’s conversion will wear off. If he or she does not seek Bible knowledge and encouraging relationships faith will not take root, and the normal struggles of life will eat away at what little faith remains. Ease the Christians sense of discipleship into complacency and time will do its work.
Another lesson from uncle to nephew is that deception and half-truths are important for luring humans toward vice. Praying is all right, according to Wormwood’s uncle, if it stays divorced from Bible study. It’s OK to talk to God as long as he’s not allowed to talk back. Jesus says of the devil, that he “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is the father of lies” (John 8:44). Satan knows the Bible better than the typical Christian, so Screwtape hopes to hide this truth from sight, and string the Christian along with half-truths and lies as the Bible sets idle.
The lessons continue. “You can’t be too careful to see that the patients remain completely fixated on politics,” the nephew is told. Government exists for good reason and rightly managed it is a tool God can use for good in this corrupt world (Romans 13:1), but it often fails due to leaders unresponsive to God. It is not the answer to our ultimate need, and we are side-tracked by the devil if we allow it to consume us.
“It is funny how mortals always picture us putting things into their minds,” says Screwtape, “when in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” Christians who mindlessly go about their daily lives, little thought about the spiritual realm, little attention to the God they “claim” as Lord, sparse attendance to the church gatherings, few mature Christian alliances to keep them on track; such Christians wander aimlessly away from heaven. The devil does not want you aware of the words said by the apostle Paul, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
“A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all – and more amusing,” laughs Screwtape as he fixes his eyes on you. In such ways we walk the gallows toward the devil’s noose.
Question: What subtle tricks has Satan used on you? What is your plan to keep him at bay?
Posted in Waking Up Eutychus