Screwtape #12

Many remember C. S. Lewis as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, a seven book series of which The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the most popular title. Lewis was a Christian, and biblical themes are evident throughout the series. He is also the author of classic Christian works such as Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, A Grief Observed, The Great Divorce, and The Screwtape Letters.

The Screwtape Letters is a guide for believers that assists us in recognizing the temptations by which Satan wishes to ensnare us. Lewis wrote the helpful work from a unique perspective. The main character of the book is a demon named Screwtape who offers advice to his somewhat inexperienced nephew Wormwood on how to entice people to reject a relationship of obedience to God in favor of sinful, destructive activities.

Letter #12 caught my eye because Screwtape explained how believers who once enjoyed a close walk with Christ may become cold and callused to spiritual things. Here is a synopsis of the letter:

1. Believers typically grow cold to God over a long period of time rather than quickly. Usually they do not even realize what is happening because of the gradualness of this “slow fade.” Screwtape wrote that the Christian “must not be allowed to suspect that he is now, however slowly, heading right away from the sun on a line which will carry him into the cold and dark of utmost space” (p. 57).

2. Believers who fade away from God tend to think that nothing is wrong because they continue attending church services and activities. Screwtape explained, “As long as he retains externally the habits of a Christian he can still be made to think of himself as one who has adopted a few new friends and amusements but whose spiritual state is much the same as it was six weeks ago” (pp. 57-58).

3. Believers must realize that anything that interferes with our relationship with God is harmful to us. Screwtape said that “it does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing” (p. 60)

May we be careful not to slowly fade away from our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, trading a priceless treasure for the trash of the world!

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.  
(2 Peter 3:14-18)

Resources: 

Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN: 978-0-06-065293-7

“Slow Fade.” Lyrics by Casting Crowns